With all the talk about mail-in or absentee voting, many are concerned about the safety and possible fraud associated with the mail-in process. Although in-person voting and requiring a photo ID are relatively safe, there are concerns about voting where an election official does not see the voter.
In-person voting can be safe, even in the midst of a pandemic, with proper social distancing, wearing face coverings, and proper sanitization techniques. In-person voting should take five minutes or less inside the voting location, if the voter has determined how they want to vote on candidates and ballot issues. Ballot issues can slow down the process if the voter does not study the issues in advance. Many ballot issues are difficult to understand unless the voter does their homework. The University of Arkansas has information on ballot issues at http://www.uaex.edu/business-communities/voter-education/state-ballot-issues.aspx
Absentee or mail-in voting is a different concern. If the process is performed accurately by both the voter and the election officials, it can work. The possible problem may arise if paperwork is either not complete, or missing. Missing signatures, photo IDs, or incorrect information on the voter statement that must be included could cause a vote not to count.
Expectations are that up to one-third of the votes in Garland County might be cast using the absentee voting procedures. That could mean as many as 15,000 votes might be cast in the presidential election in November. History has told us that as many as 10% might not legally be counted if paperwork is incomplete. That might not change the outcome on the presidential race but could affect a local race for city director or justice of the peace.
The process for voting by absentee in Arkansas involves the following steps:
- You must apply for a ballot by calling the county clerk, or downloading an application from the election commission's website http://www.garlandcountyvote.org, complete the form, and mail it in. The decisions you make on the original application affect whether the vote can legally be counted.
- In late September, the county clerk will mail you a ballot packet, which you must complete and mail back to arrive before Election Day. If there is a delay with the postal system, and it does not arrive on time, it may not legally be counted. There will be a dropbox in the county clerk's office that may be used until the day before the election.
- Included in the ballot packet is a voter statement that must be signed, and the signature must match the original application.
- A copy of an approved photo ID must be included in the packet.
- The voted ballot must be placed in a secrecy envelope marked "Ballot Only."
If these procedures are followed, the ballot will count. If not, the ballot may not be legally be counted. The process will work if completed correctly. There is no procedure, in Arkansas, for a voter to remedy an incomplete absentee ballot packet. There is not enough time to attempt to contact the voter and correct an error, and not legally required.
It is the county election commission's responsibility to try our best to ensure that in-person voting is safe and accurate; it is the voter's responsibility to ensure that, should they choose to vote by utilizing the absentee process, the paperwork and enclosures are accurate and correct.
The most important thing is to vote and to have that vote count.
Gene Haley is the chairman of the Garland County Election Commission.