Administrative Procedures for

Provisional Voting

Amy Strange

NC State Board of Elections

March 14, 2006

Board Member Obligations

1. Learn and apply the law

2. Train precinct officials

3. Name provisional voting coordinators

4. Secure custody of provisional ballot envelopes

5. Determine eligibility

6. Count ballots

1. Learn and apply the law

NCGS 163-166 and 163-182 08 NCAC 10B.0103 NC Provisional Voting Administrative Procedures

ftp://www.sboe.state.nc.us/Provisional/

2. Train Precinct Officials

1st choice: correct ballot for everyone

Fail safe measure: provisional ballot

3. Name a Provisional Voting Coordinator

At least one for each precinct

Precinct expert at: Trying to find voter’s registration information

Different last name? Call CBE?

Coordinator should:

Inform voter of right to vote provisionally

Write name in provisional pollbook

Write PIN # on ballot

Attach PIN labels to pollbook, envelope, instruction sheet

Coordinator trained to:

Accept and inspect completed envelope Is it sealed? Is update form attached? Is envelope filled out completely? Voter should correct any errors before leaving Keep ballots separate and secure

Keep envelopes sealed

Transport

4. Custody

CBE receives and secures provisional ballots and envelopes

Count envelopes Compare to provisional pollbook Signature, date and time

5. Determine eligibility

Procedures should be consistent, fair, impartial

Only registered voters of the county are eligible

Registered in county and resided there more than 30 days should be counted

Determining eligibility

Out-of-precinct may require partial count—keep these separate

Correct category on envelope

Don’t count ballot if eligibility cannot be determined

DO NOT OPEN envelopes if voter not eligible

6. Count ballots

Opening envelopes

Check ballot inside

Is PIN # on ballot?

If Primary, does party on envelope match ballot inside?

Partial counts

Two counters: one from each political party

Board members review

Observers may be present

Partial counts

State Board orders one process only:

Tally sheet

DO NOT ALTER VOTES

ON ORIGINAL BALLOTS!

Special circumstances

Extended Hours Voters

Separate extended hours provisional ballots from other provisional ballots

Voters must sign separate section of provisional pollbook

Only count if order remains valid at time of canvass meeting

Special circumstances Absentee voter with ID required

Becomes provisional ballot Provisional pollbook Complete envelope Attach pin labels Place absentee envelope & ballot in provisional envelope Store in secure provisional ballot container Mail voter instruction sheet