New voting laws change absentee ballot procedures




The Board of Elections met Tuesday.

The Board of Elections met Tuesday.

The Board of Elections met Tuesday and discussed changes brought about by new voting legislation.

New election laws mandate that workers monitor drop box activities. People will no longer be allowed to drop off absentee ballots in large quantities.

“To have an absentee ballot, you have to be a part of that immediate family,” said Chairman Harrison Simpson.

Vice-Chairman Ed Burke agreed and added that caregivers are also allowed to drop them off.

“You shouldn’t be bringing in more than one or two absentee ballots,” he said. “Because then you are getting into ballot harvesting.”

Election workers must confiscate handfuls of absentee ballots and then they have three days to contact the voters. The situation is not uncommon and Burke County people have been known to bring in dozens of ballots at a time, said Simpson.

“We will take them, but we don’t have to count them,” he said and pointed out that the deadline changed also.

Now, applications for absentee ballots must be received by the election office by the 11th day before the election. Registering to vote must be completed 30 days before the election. The last week before early voting, the board will not accept any applications.

“We have to get this information out to the folks,” Simpson said.

The following announcement was made concerning the upcoming special election:

“A special election shall be held in Burke County to fill the vacancy in the office of Burke County School Board District 5 caused by death of the Honorable John M. (Johnny) Jenkins. The special election will be held on November 2, 2021 along with the election of city council members and a vote of the packaged liquor sale resolution.

“Qualifying for the special election shall be held at the Burke County Courthouse, Board of Elections and Registration Office at 602 N. Liberty Street, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on September 13, 2021 and ending at 4:30 p.m. on September 15, 2021.

“All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to register to vote in the special election may register to vote through the close of business on October 4, 2021. Early voting will begin October

11, 2021 through October 29, 2021, at the Burke County Board of Elections Office from 9: a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on election day.”

The Burke County School Board seat will only be on the ballot for District 5 at the Recreation Center.

“They may have to go to two places,” Simpson said of District 5 voters who cast their ballots in the city. The board is still trying to work out the details.

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