Early Voting In-Person: ("no excuse") Beginning 20 days before the election and ending 3 days before the election (Note: For elections held on a Tuesday, the recorder's office must be open on the last 2 Saturdays before the election from 9 am - 5 pm.), any voter is permitted to vote during the early in person voting period. A voter does not have to provide a reason for voting during this time. This is very beneficial to voters who will be out of town on election day, those who are scheduled to be hospitalized on election day, and those who are working as election officials in a different precinct. There can be no electioneering in recorder's office or property of town hall during this time.
(a) Issuing Ballots: When a voter appears in person to vote during the early voting period, the procedure is much like that on election day. The voter will complete and sign the poll slip. The ballot is then issued according to procedures established for the voting system used. After voting, the voter cast the ballot into the ballot box. The permanent absentee voting record must be maintained for all persons voting early in person. This record should reflect all activity for the election cycle.
(b) Processing Absentee and Early Voting Ballots. At the close of polls, ballots voted early in person and absentee ballots are processed according procedures for the voting systems used. If you use paper ballots, absentee ballots and ballots voted during the early voting period are processed at the polling place. These ballots should be included in the precinct supplies for the polling place. If paper ballots are used and if a counting board is used, specific procedures must be followed. It is extremely important in this situation that No one is allowed in the counting board room during the day or that members of the counting board speak to persons outside of the counting board room about the tally of votes being cast. This is a violation of the oath and is, therefore, a misdemeanor. If you use an electronic voting system, absentee ballots and ballots voted during the early voting period are processed at the central counting center. Ballots must be reviewed for write-in votes by a resolution team that consists of two persons of opposite political parties. The counting center is open to the public. However, no one except authorized election workers may handle election materials and ballots.
(Ord. 05-07. Passed 10-20-05.)