ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Counting Write-Ins May Take Extra Time Election Night


Melanie Gilders, director of the Fulton County Board of Elections, cautioned it may take extra time to count votes in the German Township Fiscal Officer race on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Keith Short, current township fiscal officer, did not file for reelection, and no one filed paperwork to have their names appear on the ballot by the deadline.

Later, Joyce Kinsman and Keith Roth filed documents declaring their intent to run as write-in candidates.

Voters enter their choice through a keyboard that appears on the touch-screen voting machines.

Gilders said the members of the Board of Elections “review every single ballot” to be sure who the ballot is cast for, and which votes are valid and which are not.

“It is going to take time,” Gilders said, adding she is predicting a large number of ballots with write-ins.

She said the board will do its best to have the count done before they go home Tuesday night; but if they can’t complete the task, they may not release a final count until the next day.

Valid, Invalid

Gilders said the board “takes the position that if they can determine the intent of the voter,” then the ballot is considered valid.

This write-in election involves two completely different names, which makes the task easier.

Luckily it’s not something like David Smith vs. Diane Smith. In that case, it would be more difficult to determine the intent of the voter.

In that case, “If someone were to put D. Smith, we would never know” the voter’s intent, she said.

Suppose someone writes, “give it to the woman?”

Gilders said she didn’t know how the board would decide in that case.

“Our board tries to be as inclusive as possible. If we just can’t make it out, then (the ballot) would have to remain invalid.”

In write-in spaces, “We get everything under the sun, like, ‘anybody but that guy.’”

Turnout

Gilders said there are 28,316 registered voters in Fulton County, comprised of 9,329 Republicans, 3,069 Democrats, and 33 voters affiliated with the Green party.

She put the number of unaffiliated county voters at 15,885.

She estimated that, statistically, approximately 30% to 40% will actually vote.

She added she doesn’t like to make predictions.

“Overall, it could go higher, it could go lower. But, we’re looking at, on average, between 30% and 40%.”

In predicting voter turnout, one has to consider what’s on the ballot, she said. In this election, there are no statewide issues and no school levies, but there are contested races.

As of yesterday, Tuesday, there were a little less than 500 absentee, or early voting, ballots cast.

“We’ll pass that today. That’s total– in person, mailin, and nursing home.”

She said this is the biggest week for absentee voting.

She called the number of early voting ballots “in line with what’s happening in other areas.”

New Machines

The county replaced its original touch-screen voting machines. The Nov. 5 general election will technically be the second election for the new machines.

The first was a small election held in the Swanton area, she said.

That election went well.

She said the board is ready.

“Of course there is still a lot of work to do, but we’re on track,” she said.