Previous Story
Procedures in absentee voting released
|
Posted on Oct 21 2005
The Commonwealth Election Commission is reminding absentee voters of procedures they need to follow to preserve the secrecy of their ballot.
“The only way that a voter can vote in secret would be if they follow the absentee voting instructions. These procedures are done this way so that a person’s right to vote in secret is protected and that no one, Election Commissioners and Commission staff included, would know how a person cast his or her vote,” the commission said.
According to CEC, all absentee voters will receive a voting package that includes six items.
These items are a letter with written instructions on absentee voting procedures; a sketch page illustrating what the voter should receive and what and how the voter should process their absentee ballot for return mailing to the Election Commission; a blank ballot; a blank affidavit that the voter should have notarized; a manila envelope with the notation “Ballot Only” that the voter will use to insert their marked ballot once they cast their vote; and a stamped, pre-addressed manila envelope that the voter will use to mail to back to the Election Commission their cast ballot.
The commission urged absentee voters to ensure that all of the six items are in the voting package when they receive it.
Then, the registered voter should bring the last four items to the notary public, who would help the voter complete the affidavit and notarize it.
The voter should then turn away from the notary public and using a pencil, cast his vote on the ballot. The voter should not show the notary public how he marked the ballot.
The voter should then insert the ballot into the “Ballot Only” manila envelope and seal it. After doing this, the voter should insert the envelope into the stamped, pre-addressed envelope.
The voter should also insert the affidavit that they completed and the notary public has notarized into the stamped, pre-addressed manila envelope.
The voter should seal the stamped, pre-addressed envelope (now containing two items) and drop this envelope with a U.S. Postal Service mailbox for mailing back to the Election Commission. (Agnes E. Donato)
