Ballot counting
I have worked with Election Boards counting absentee ballots. Usually each table holds a representative from the Democratic party as well as from the Republican party if possible. Sometimes an independent is seated with a Dem or a Rep. These steps may differ from State to State, but I am 100% sure each State takes steps to make sure each ballot is validated and fairly counted. This is why it takes so long to count the absentee ballots. And the fact that so many have been counted so far is almost a miracle.
We don't just count the ballots. There are at least 4 steps that must be taken for each ballot. First step is making sure that each ballot is bona fide this is done by checking the personal code given to each voter & the personal information on the Voting Rolls. If the code does not match the ballot is set aside to be adjudicated separately.
After a training period, the following steps are carried out by the Dem & the Rep working together to open the envelopes and to remove the contents of the envelope:
The second step is opening the outer envelope itself very carefully to get to the privacy envelope. The outer envelope is then set aside to be checked again with the privacy envelope. And the privacy envelopes are set aside in their own stack.
Third step is the careful opening of the privacy envelope to expose the ballot. The names are checked and the privacy envelopes are set aside, and the ballots are removed from the envelopes and opened and set into their own stacks.
4th step is another check to make sure the voter's name squares with the information from the voter's credentials... then the votes are tallied. If there are any discrepancies, they are given to a group of three or more judges, who have been chosen before the voting season starts and trained.
If a voter is given a provisional ballot at the polls, the voter fills out the ballot and is given a code on the receipt and may then come in by a certain date (varies by state) to fix whatever problem there was with their ballot and then it will be counted. In New Mexico, if someone has, say, forgotten to include their ballot in the privacy envelope or something similar, they are emailed and given the chance to bring in their ballot, again before a specific date set by the State Election Board. Everything is saved so that if a problem arises, all the paperwork can be found.
I am describing this for anyone who thinks all there is to this process is mere counting.. this is why it takes so long.. and it may vary by the State, but there are checks and balances throughout so that each ballot is considered and fairly counted.
Things are looking good in many ways.. and I am so grateful to DU and all the fabulous like- minded folks who gather here. Helps me to stay sane.. and by-pass the terrible PTSD I still kinda have from 2016, which is rapidly dissipating-May we all recover quickly from that nasty business soon!
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