Election ballots posted online as "rejected"
Last updated 10/27/2020 at 2:23pm
ADAMS COUNTY – An article titled “Adams County Current Results” posted online Thursday, Oct. 22 left some voters concerned. The article, posted on https://votewashington.info/voter/wa/ad, claimed a total of 2571 ballots had been counted out of 7445 registered voters, with 54 of those rejected. According to the website, 44 of the ballots were from Othello, four from Ritzville, four from Lind and two from Washtucna.
Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt said the ballots were not rejected, but simply needed more information. Hunt emphasized the post was not published by the Secretary of State, or Adams County.
“What we’re thinking is some special interest group purchased the voter list, and pulled that information out of it, and posted it thinking they were being helpful,” Hunt said, adding she did not agree with the procedure and the group has been turned in to the Internet Security Division of the Federal Election Commission. “It’s publicly embarrassing people, and it’s not really notifying them. Every day single day, we check signatures, and every single day, if someone’s ballot isn’t forwarded on for continued processing, we mail a letter to the voter asking for more information.”
Hunt said ballots were being processed every day, with election officials required to enter a voter’s status.
“If their status is NM, which is non-matching signature, then that just means we send them a letter asking them to update their signature,” Hunt said. “If they receive a letter from us saying we did not receive a signature, or their signature did not match, the ballot remains with us. We mail them a letter and by law, they have until 10 p.m. the day before the election is certified to provide a signature. They don’t need to get it to us by election day, because we already have their vote-in ballot received in time. When we get the signature, or are able to confirm their signature, we credit them as ‘ballot okay,’ so they would drop off that list, but we don’t know if this interest group is updating that list.”
Hunt said there are pieces of voter information that are public, and can be purchased by special interest groups, who then contact voters.
“Campaigns always purchase voter lists,” Hunt said. “Normally what they’ll do is, after the election, but before certification, they’ll contact people and say, ‘Hey, just reminding you the auditor doesn’t have your signature.’ But these interest groups, we’ve never really seen them just put it out there for the whole world to see.”
Hunt said she was alarmed to see the post on Facebook.
“Their friends are well-intentioned, but tagging them on Facebook for the world to see is embarrassing, when all they have to do is take an oath and fill out a form and send it back to us, and their ballot will be counted,” said Hunt. “This is a common procedure. If you’re holding a baby on your hip and you’re signing a ballot, your signature may not match. People should be reassured by knowing we’re checking every signature, but they shouldn’t be publicly embarrassed on Facebook because their ballot was flagged for more information.”
Hunt said Facebook was looking into the issue also.
“The main thing I want people to understand is, this is not your county doing this, this is not your state doing this,” Hunt said. “Voters are encouraged to call the auditors office with any concerns, at 509 659 3249. We are here to help.”
The Adams County Election Center at 106 W. Main in Ritzville is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and will remain open until 8 p.m. election day, Nov. 3.
There is also a ballot drop box at the rear entrance of the Adams County courthouse.
“It’s a secure box just inside the doorway,” Hunt said. “People don’t even have to go through the screening, they can just drop off their ballot.”
Ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
November 24 is election certification day.
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