Staff Reports
If a registered voter wants to request an absentee ballot, that has to be done for every election.
There is not an absentee list where a registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot, according to a recent post on the Jackson County Clerk’s Office Facebook page.
An application can be requested online at indianavoters.in.gov, by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] or by calling the voter registration office at 812-358-6120 or clerk’s office at 812-358-6116.
The address and date of birth of the registered voter are verified by the voter registration office. The office then puts the request into the statewide voter registration system, which keeps track of the application going out. The application is mailed out with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
When the application returns to the voter registration office, it is processed. The application is reviewed, making sure all required information is filled out, and it’s entered into the statewide voter registration system.
The ballots are then pulled with the application. The application is filed away waiting for the ballot to come back. The ballots are mailed out with all necessary postage for the voter to receive it and mail it back.
When the ballot arrives at the voter registration office, it is put into the statewide voter registration system as being received. The application for each ballot is pulled. The signature on the application is matched with the signature on the absentee ballot envelope (ABS-6). The ballot is then placed into a file according to the precinct and locked up and sealed until Election Day along with the application.
On Election Day, a nonpartisan counting team is put together to count all of the absentee ballots that have been cast. Both parties are represented on each team, and each county party chairperson appoints those people. The counting team opens each envelope and begins the counting process of the ballots.
All ballot totals are checked and verified before in-person ballots are counted to ensure all ballots have been counted.