WorldWatcher
Platinum Member
let me ask you a hypothetical question, if every person had a mail in ballot sent to their home, and then voted in person, what happens to those mailed out ballots?
Every state operates the same.
Mail-in Ballot packages are printed and Bar/QR Coded to that indivdiual voter. When the mail-in ballot request is received the pre-printed backage code is scanned and tied to that voter. The ballot package is then mailed. The voter receives the backage, completes the process, and mails it back. Upon receit that Bar/QR code is scanned back into the system.
When a voter votes in person, they check in at the voting registration desk and the in-person voting status is logged into the system.
Now...
#1 No mail-in ballot was issued. The in-person voter is checked in the system to ensure they have not already voted in another location. If not, they are cleared to vote.
#2 A mail-in voter receives their package and returns it to the the voting office. The Bar/QR code is scanned into the system to check that the voter has not voted via another method (it might be on Election Day or during Early Voting). If the voter already voted the ballot package is rejected and flagged as invalid.
#3 A voter requests a mail-in voting package. Receives the package and later decides to vote in-person. When they report to their voting location and check in the system has them flagged as having received a mail-in packages. They are "flagged" and not allowed to vote without special handling. The specific rules of handling may vary by state. Options:
- Provisional ballot, some states allow the individual to cast a provision ballot which is not counted until the conflict is resolved.
- Mail-in package, they are not allowed to vote until the mail-in package is returned.
- Vote in-person first, they are allowed to vote, and election officials invalidate the Bar/QR code on the mail-in package so that if it is also returned it will be rejected.
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This ain't the 1800's anymore. We now have these things called computers. They run software called databases. Databases can be served remotely so that each jurisdiction and each election worker at a station can tie into the same system. This allows for tracking each individual mail-in ballot and the check-in status of each individual person at a polling location. Instantly.
WW
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