Absentee Ballots Still Available

By Kendra Bobowick

The town clerk’s office has handled an abundance of activity in recent days in preparation for the November 7 state elections, including requests for absentee ballot applications.

Suspicious that she had not been as busy with the ballots four years ago, Wednesday saw Town Clerk Cindy Simon comparing this year’s numbers to the last state election.

With several days to go for voters to obtain ballots, her office had already exceeded the number issued in the 2002 by 190 ballots as of 3 pm Wednesday. Her office supplied 352 absentee ballots four years ago, and had issued 542 for this year’s polls as of Wednesday and will continue to supply the them through Saturday.

Ms Simon could not say for sure if the rise in ballots had anything to do with uncertainty regarding the new voting machines that will be used for the first time this election. The old, lever voting machines used most recently during this year’s budget vote, have been replaced by newer models.

“It’s just something new,” Ms Simon explained, also noting that many people are reluctant to change. “I see nothing wrong with the lever machines…but the [new] machines are bringing us into the modern age.”

Democratic Registrar of Voters LeReine Frampton has attended practice sessions on recent Saturdays from 9 am to noon to work with the new voting booths and insists, “They’re not that different.” A last practice session will be held this Saturday also from 9 am to noon in the old courtroom inside of town hall. (See related story.)

Rather than pulling a particular lever, “You just fill in the circles,” she said. Circles are clearly defined regarding which circle belongs to which candidate, she said.

Residents have through Saturday to obtain their absentee ballots and any qualified registered voter may vote absentee if unable to vote in person due to illness or physical disability, absence from town during voting hours, religious beliefs that forbid secular activity, active US military service, or if a voter is serving as an election official at a polling place other than his or her own polling place. Absentee ballot applications are available in the town clerk’s office during regular office hours on Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Applications can be obtained in person or by calling the clerk’s office.

Special hours for absentee voting will be held on Saturday, November 4 from 9 am to noon at the town clerk’s office at 45 Main Street in the Edmond Town Hall.

Residents can vote then, but no ballots will be unsealed and tallied until election night.

Questions regarding the absentee ballots can be directed to the town clerk’s office at 270-4210.

Voter registration closed Tuesday.