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IPFS

Some States Count Early Ballots Days Before Election Day

Written by Subject: Voting - Election Integrity
 
Note:  Data in this chart was compiled from the web site of the Federal Elections Commission on
August 18, 2004 
 
(Soooo,... the question is. 'Are there more states that allow for early counting of early voting or less?' I'll bet more.)


 
Receiving and Counting Absentee Ballots
State
Ballots Due By
Ballots Counted
Who Counts Ballots
Alabama
Close of polls on election day
Close of polls
Pollworkers
Alaska
10 days after election (15 days for overseas)
8pm election day
Absentee ballot counting board
Arizona
7pm election day
Election day & 5 days beyond
Central counting
Arkansas
7:30pm election day/5pm 10 days after, if postmarked election day
7:30pm election day
Absentee election board
California
8pm election day
5pm day before election
Special counting board
Colorado
7pm election day
10 days prior to election day
At least 3 county judges
Connecticut
8pm election day
Not before noon on election day
Absentee ballot counters
Delaware
Noon day before election
Prior to close of polls
Election judges
Florida
7pm election day
7pm election day
County canvassing board
Georgia
Close of polls
Close of polls
Absentee ballot manager
Hawaii
Close of polls
Election day
Chief election officer
Idaho
8pm election day
Close of polls
County clerks and election judges
Illinois
Close of polls
Close of polls
Panel of election judges
Indiana
Close of polls
Election day
Precinct election or central counting board
Iowa
Close of polls/Monday after election if postmarked by election day
Election day
Election board
Kansas
Close of polls
Opening of polls
Special election board
Kentucky
Close of polls
Beginning at 3pm election day
County board of elections
Louisiana
Midnight day before election
After 1pm and before 8pm election day
Board of election supervisors
Maine
Close of polls
Close of polls or prior
Election clerks
Maryland
Friday week after election
10am Thursday after election
County board
Massachusetts
10 days after election
Election day
Local election official
Michigan
8pm election day
Close of polls or 7am
Precinct election or absent voter board
Minnesota
Last mail delivery election day
8pm election day
Election judges
Mississippi

Close of polls
Precinct election managers
Missouri
Close of polls
Election day
Election judges, bipartisan teams
Montana
Close of polls
After polls open and before they close
Absentee ballot counting board
Nebraska
10am second day after election
Time set by county elected officer
Absent voters counting board
Nevada
Close of polls
Election day
Absentee ballot counting board
New Hampshire
5pm day before election
Close of polls
Precinct moderator
New Jersey
8pm election day
Election day
County board of elections
New Mexico
7pm election day
7pm election day
Absentee voter precinct board
New York
Postmarked day before election
Close of polls
Inspector of elections/central counting
North Carolina
5pm day before election
5pm election day
County board of elections
North Dakota
Within 2 days after election
Close of polls
Absentee ballot counting board
Ohio
Close of polls
Close of polls
Special election judges
Oklahoma
7pm election day
7pm election day
County election board
Oregon
8pm election day
Upon delivery of poll books
Election official
Pennsylvania
5pm Friday before election
Close of polls
Precinct election board
Rhode Island
9pm election day
9pm election day
State board of elections
South Carolina
Close of polls
7pm election day
Absentee poll managers
South Dakota
Close of polls
Close of polls
Absentee BIT Board/precinct canvass board
Tennessee
Close of polls
Opening of polls
Central absentee ballot counting board
Texas
Before close of polls
Election day
Early voting ballot board
Utah
Noon Monday following election
Election day or Monday after election
Election judges
Vermont
Close of polls
Close of polls
Bipartisan election judges
Virginia
Close of polls
Close of polls
Election official/central count
Washington
10 days after election
8pm election day and prior to certification
Canvassing board
West Virginia
Close of polls
Close of polls
Precinct election commissioners
Wisconsin
Close of polls
Between open and close of polls
Ward election inspectors
Wyoming
7pm election day
Close of polls
County clerk or 3 election judges
 

1 Comments in Response to

Comment by Frank Henry
Entered on:
Hi Folks,

Bottom line all election counting process should
have the following three steps:

1. INITIAL count of votes should be at the precinct
level by machine or by hand. All early ballots etc
should be counted at the precinct level on election
night, also.

2. After step 1 is completed and recorded, the
poll workers should perform a manual
VERIFICATION count including all voter intent
issues, before they go home on election night. If
the VERIFICATION count differs from the INITIAL
count then the VERIFICATION count become the
official count

3. Alow un-stonewalled and free RECOUNTS
to be requested by voters, candidates, parties and
election officials.

All 3 steps should be done open to public
observation.

Thanks and Good Luck.
Frank Henry


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