A. Before issuing any ballots, the election board must, in the presence of any persons assembled at the polling place, open and exhibit the ballot box to be used at the polling place as empty. The ballot box then shall be closed and shall not be opened again or removed from the polling place until the polls have closed.

B. The election official shall keep a precinct register in which each voter, before receiving a ballot, shall sign the voter’s name. By signing the register, the voter declares that the voter is qualified to vote. If a voter signs the precinct register and then leaves the polling place without voting or votes a questioned ballot, the election official shall cross the voter’s name off the precinct register and make a note next to the name that the voter did not vote. If a voter’s polling place is in question, a voter shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot.

C. Before being allowed to vote, each voter shall exhibit to an election official one form of identification listed on the “Have ID” poster from the state. An election official may waive the identification requirement if the official knows the identity of the voter, except when “Must Show ID” is printed in the signature block above the voter’s name. The ID requirement for this voter may not be waived. A voter who cannot exhibit a required form of identification shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot.

D. When the voter is qualified to vote, the election official shall give the voter an official ballot. The voter shall retire to a booth or private place to mark the ballot. The ballot must be voted at the polling place and no ballot may be removed from the polling place until the election officials have completed their post-election duties.

E. A qualified voter who cannot read and mark the ballot, or sign the register, may request an election official, a person, or not more than two persons, chosen by the voter, to provide assistance. Upon the voter’s request, the election official shall provide the assistance. If any other person is requested, that person shall state upon oath before the election official that the person shall not divulge the vote cast by the voter. Intoxication shall not be regarded as a physical disability, and no intoxicated person should receive assistance in marking that voter’s ballot.

F. If a voter improperly marks or otherwise damages a ballot, the voter shall return it to the election officials, concealing the manner in which it is marked from view, and shall request a new ballot. The election officials shall destroy the spoiled ballot after having recorded it in the spoiled ballot accountability statement and shall issue a new ballot to the voter. The destroyed ballot should be kept and stored in the spoiled ballots envelope. A voter may only be issued up to two replacement ballots. No voter should receive more than three ballots. [Ord. FY2023-05 §2, 2022; Ord. FY2009-19 §2, 2009; Ord. 86-22-O §2, 1986].