Clarification on how ballots are counted
Mr. Terry made some interesting points in his letter, and I would like to address one: the ability of a person to vote absentee then on election day vote at the polling place. Yes that can happen but there exists the check and balance process in place that only allows the vote at the polls to be counted. That’s the one counted because it cannot be identified. Having been a poll watcher on two occasions. After all other votes have been accounted for, the poll workers compare the absentee ballots envelope names to the books showing who voted in person. If one has voted in person then that absentee ballot is not counted but is set aside. This process is the only logical way to do this step since state law allows one to vote absentee then also vote at the polls. The absentee ballot identifies the voter while the in person vote cannot be found then canceled.
Berry Hinds
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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