Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Ellen White, county clerk and Danny Wallace were busy on Thursday afternoon certifying the early and absentee voting machines for the upcoming November election. White said that early voting will begin on Oct. 10. It will run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. staying open during the noon hour. Early voting ends on Nov. 3, the Saturday before Election Day, with the clerk's office will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. White said that will be the only Saturday the office will be open.
White and Wallace were putting ballots in the machines in every kind of combination — upside down, backwards, face up and face down, etc., testing to make sure that the machines were in working order, for a total amount of at least four times in each position.
Wallace said when the machine doesn't like the ballot it will start beeping.
Early and absentee machines will be sealed until election night then opened up to be counted.
White said people may come into the office in person to request an absentee ballot or can call the office at 461-0510 to request one via mail. She also said that voter guides are now available explaining five amendments and three bond questions on the ballots.
White said that residents in precincts 6 through 12 can vote at the Convention Center. She also said that the only change this year is the lack of an option for straight-ticket votes.
Wallace said that he had been helping to certify the voting machines since 1981, and he also delivers the machines to the precincts and then picks them up after the elections are complete.