Chapter 7. While the Polls Are Open, this link opens in a new browser tab.
7.G. Ballot Application, this link opens in a new browser tab.
7.G.2. Election Judge Initialing the Ballot
Before handing the correct ballot to the voter, the Election Judge must endorse the ballot with the judge's initials.
This requirement is easy for a poll watcher to miss because the poll watcher may be observing another part of the Polling Room. Fortunately, Election Judges seldom miss this step.
If a ballot is issued without the Election Judge's endorsement and the error is discovered before the voter marks the ballot, the ballot is simply returned to the Election Judge to be initialed.
If the missing endorsement is discovered after the ballot is marked, depending on the Election Authority's local procedures, the ballot may be returned to the issuing Election Judge to be initialed, or the ballot may be spoiled and a replacement ballot issued.
Usually, the missing endorsement is discovered by the Election Judge stationed at the tabulator. That Election Judge will just walk the ballot back to the Election Judge who issued the ballot to be initialed.
7.G.2.a. Why This Is Important and Not Just the Poll Watcher Annoying the Election Judges
Without the initials of the Election Judge who issued the ballot, the ballot is invalid.
A ballot without the required endorsement may still be accepted by the tabulator.
If it is discovered after the election, the ballot is thrown out and the votes are not counted.
This is a mistake that the voter did not cause and, if discovered after the vote is cast, the voter is not allowed to correct.