Dare County elections officials spoil one absentee ballot for missing witness signature, approve 24 others

Dare County elections staff told the county board on Wednesday that of 25 absentee ballots presented for review, 24 were recommended for approval and one was recommended to be spoiled because the witness signature was missing.

Unidentified Speaker 6, identified in the transcript as elections staff, told the board the missing witness signature was "not curable" under state guidance and that the office had spoiled the original packet, called and emailed the voter, and mailed a replacement packet. "We spoiled and reissued a new package," the staff member said, and noted a replacement ballot has a different identification number and would be scanned only if returned and approved.

The board moved to approve 24 properly submitted absentee ballots and to not approve the one missing its witness signature. Unidentified Speaker 3 moved the motion and Unidentified Speaker 4 seconded; the board voted in favor.

Board members discussed whether to hold a physically returned packet in case it arrived before the deadline, but staff said state guidance required spoiling and reissuing the packet when a witness signature is absent. A board member raised concerns about changes to postal processing that might affect voters who mail ballots from outside the county; elections staff said postmarks do not change the office's requirement that absentee ballots be received by the deadline and said they would follow up with local postal officials if needed.

Elections staff also reported early-voting turnout as of 2 p.m.: Kill Devil Hills, 1,263; the BOE location, 931; and the Fessenden Annex, 205, for a total of 2,399 early voters. Staff announced equipment rollout will begin at 8 a.m. on March 2, and the board scheduled a March 2 meeting at 5 p.m. to review any remaining absentee ballots. Early voting ends Saturday the 28th at 3 p.m.

The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn at 3:32 p.m.