Election Information 10-11-2015

Election time is coming soon and ballots will arrive in the mail to be filled out and returned. This means there will be some issues related to the voting. Usually the Canvassing Board meets and resolves any issues on questioned ballots, but occasionally the Prosecutor’s office receives a referral related to ballots and voting. Most of the referrals are the result of persons who believe in the old (but incorrect) advice to “vote early, vote often.” Through some error, a person makes a mistake and sends in two ballots or someone signs the ballot for someone else. These errors are quickly noticed and resolved.

There is a very sophisticated procedure involved in the counting of ballots. The processes of counting and the machines and software programs used in the counting processes are very secure. Persons from each party watch the process, and anyone can be present when the counting and resolution of any questioned ballots occurs. Many people have examined the procedures and approved them and the instructions are simple and easy to follow, but if you want your vote to count, it is important to do it right, but vote only once. There are criminal penalties for certain violations of voting laws, but not for genuine mistakes or incorrectly filled out ballots. If you have a question about how to correctly fill out the ballot, or if you are going to be gone during the time the ballots are in the hands of the voters, ask some one to help you or contact the Auditor’s office. They are happy to help you.

I am certain the approved procedures are followed in our county, but I remember several elections ago, when in King County or some other heavily populated area, new ballots kept being found after the ballots were counted and they kept counting them over and over. Many folks have said that it seemed they kept counting and recounting the votes until they had the number they wanted. I have no idea how this occurred and never did understand what happened, but I do not understand many of the things that happen on the west side of our state particularly in the legislature.

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