Posted on 10/31/2010 8:45:59 PM PDT by narses
By MIKE PATRICK/Staff writer | 19 comments
COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County won't wait until election night to tackle the growing mountain of absentee ballots. Clerk Dan English said that as of noon Saturday, the county had received 11,360 absentee ballots. Preparation for handling all those ballots will begin Monday morning.
"It's a matter of physics and timing," he said. English said that each absentee ballot is contained in two envelopes. With 12,000 or more ballots needing to be opened - 24,000 or more envelopes - starting after the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday would mean a final count would not be possible until Wednesday or perhaps even Thursday.
He said preparations Monday will involve removing ballots from envelopes and weighing the ballots down so they'll pass smoothly through the ballot-counting machine - all performed under strict security and with election watchers from both parties present for all the ballot openings.
English said 13,500 absentee ballots were requested, and with more likely to arrive in Monday's and Tuesday's mail, surpassing 12,000 ballots to process appears likely. English said the county has similarly handled absentee ballots early in previous elections. Tabulating Tuesday's election results is expected to be a lengthy process, not just because high voter turnout is anticipated, but because two races feature write-in candidates.
Write-in Howard Griffiths is challenging Rep. Phil Hart of Athol, and write-in Commissioner Rick Currie is taking on primary election winner Jai Nelson. English said every write-in ballot will stop the ballot-counting machine and will have to be verified by at least two election workers. Results posted on the county election website Tuesday night will quickly show how many ballots were cast for "write-in" in a particular race, but the actual number of votes going to Currie and Griffiths is likely to be slightly less.
"(The machine) sees the bubble filled in for 'write-in' but not the name," English explained. "It could be a vote for Mickey Mouse."
Mickey Mouse might get quite a few votes, if official estimates are on the mark. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa recently upped his prediction of statewide turnout from the upper 50 percent region to the lower 60s. English said Kootenai County voters usually lag a percentage point or two behind the statewide average, but agreed that with so much interest in this election, Kootenai County could hit the lower 60s as well. In the past two non-presidential general elections, Kootenai County turnout was 58 percent.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For the first time, voters will need to show a photo ID.
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The article doesn’t point out what is illegal about what they are doing.
My county, Douglas county CO, began processing ballots last week. They are handled electronically, and no one will know the the results until 7:01 pm Tuesday. No one.
Idaho Code 34-1005 says the clerk “shall safely keep and preserve all absent electors’ ballots unopened until the time prescribed for delivery to the judges in accordance with this act.”
Idaho Code 34-1007 says “On receipt of such absent elector’s ballot or ballots, the officer receiving them shall forthwith enclose the same, unopened in a carrier envelope endorsed with the name and official title of such officer and the words: “absent electors’ ballot to be opened only at the polls.” He shall hold the same until the delivery of the official ballots to the judges of election of the precinct in which the elector resides and shall deliver the ballot or ballots to the judges with such official ballots.”
Idaho Code 34-1008 says, “Between the opening and closing of the polls on such election day the judges of election of such precinct shall open the carrier envelope only, announce the absent elector’s name, and in the event they find such applicant to be a duly registered elector of the precinct and that he has not heretofore voted at the election, they shall open the return envelope and remove the ballot envelopes and deposit the same in the proper ballot boxes and cause the absent elector’s name to be entered on the poll books the same as though he had been present and voted in person. The ballot envelope shall not be opened until the ballots are counted.”
Washington State went all absentee ballot a few years ago though I’ve been voting absentee for decades. Just prefer it.
I don’t take all our ballots down to the elections office until one hour before they close on election day.
King County hates that behavior!!!! hehehehe
“and in the event they find such applicant to be a duly registered elector of the precinct and that he has not heretofore voted at the election,”
Ah a big step to skip is it not? Why is it that fraud is so easy in the country anymore.
they have to know how many dead votes the democrat needs...
Why is it so important to count the votes and turn in the count so quickly ?
The winners are not going to be sworn in immediately. So it takes a day.
Follow the law. After the election, change the law in a lawfull manner.
Judges and officials do not make law.
why is this thread on the Catholic or pro-life thread?
The article indicates this has been done in previous elections. Were there any objections filed the other times, and were there any indications of irregularities?
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