Chapter 7. While the Polls Are Open, this link opens in a new browser tab.
7.E. Ballot Application, this link opens in a new browser tab.
7.H.2. Election Judge Initialing the Ballot
1f. Election Judge's Initialing the Ballot
This is a requirement that is easy for a poll watcher to miss because the poll watcher may be in a different part of the polling room. But, it is also a step that Election Judges seldom misses.
If a ballot is issued voter without the election judge's initials and it is discovered before the voter marks the ballot, the ballot is simply returned to the election judge to initial it.
On the other hand, if a ballot is issued to the voter without the election judge's initials and it is discovered after the voter has marked the ballot and the poll watcher challenges it, then there are two options:
- 1. The ballot can go back to the election judge to be initialed, or
- 2. The ballot can be marked "SPOILED" and the voter issued a new ballot.
Usually, the missing initial is discovered by the election judge at the tabulator. That election judge will just walk the ballot back to the election judge who issued the ballots to be initialed.
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 an initial can be accepted by the tabulator. If it is discoverd 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 tabulation a voter is not allowed to correct./p>
1f. Election Judge's Initialing the Ballot
This is a requirement that is easy for a poll watcher to miss because the poll watcher may be in a different part of the polling room. But, it is also a step that election judges seldom misses.
If a ballot is issued voter without the election judge's initials and it is discovered before the voter marks the ballot, the ballot is simply returned to the election judge to initial it.
On the other hand, if a ballot is issued to the voter without the election judge's initials and it is discovered after the voter has marked the ballot and the poll watcher challenges it, then there are two options:
- 1. The ballot can go back to the election judge to be initialed, or
- 2. The ballot can be marked "SPOILED" and the voter issued a new ballot.
Usually, the missing initial is discovered by the election judge at the tabulator. That election judge will just walk the ballot back to the election judge who issued the ballots to be initialed.
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 an initial can be accepted by the tabulator. If it is discoverd 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 tabulation a voter is not allowed to correct./p>