Monroe City election officials set absentee counting boards, pre‑count schedule and inspector delegations for Nov. 4 election

Monroe City’s Election Commission on Oct. 7 voted to establish two absentee counting boards and to authorize limited pre-processing of absentee ballots ahead of the Nov. 4, 2025 general election to speed tabulation and avoid overnight retabulating.

The commission approved resolution 55-17 to create two absentee (AV) counting boards. Commissioner Hader moved the measure, and Commissioner Felder seconded it; members approved the motion by voice vote. Clerk Lavoie explained the boards will permit election staff to split ballots for parallel counting and to reduce delays if errors require retabulating.

The commission also approved a delegation (55-15) that allows the Clerk-Treasurer to carry out routine election tasks — ordering ballots, scheduling public accuracy testing and conducting related logistics — without calling a special meeting for routine appointments. Commissioner Salvatore moved the delegation and it passed on voice vote.

On preprocessing, the commission authorized item 55-18, permitting staff to process and tabulate portions of absentee ballots during the eight days before election day (Monday, Oct. 27 through Monday, Nov. 3) and to complete counting on Nov. 4. Commissioner Jermaine made the motion; it was supported and approved. Clerk Lavoie said the practice was used in 2024 and is intended to make results smoother for both residents and election inspectors.

The commission set the public accuracy test — the equipment check done in public before election day — for Oct. 28, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall and named four commissioners to participate. “We’ll be testing, at random, one of the precincts, and all of the ballots in that precinct,” the clerk said when explaining the procedure.

The commission also approved a delegation (55-16) permitting the Clerk-Treasurer to appoint and substitute election inspectors as necessary for the Nov. 4 election, a step intended to avoid holding special meetings to replace inspectors who fall ill or become unavailable. A subsequent item (55-19) approved the inspector assignment list as provided by the Clerk-Treasurer; the list remains subject to substitutions to preserve partisan balance where required.

The Election Commission adjourned and materials distributed at the meeting included corrected minutes for a Feb. 18, 2025 session (the packet correction added Commissioner Stringham to votes where she was omitted).