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Public raises absentee-ballot notice concerns; election administrator says procedures in place
Summary
A voter told commissioners a county election notice told absentee voters to sign their ballots and could lead to rejected ballots; the election administrator responded that the notice came from the state, staff are handling spoiled ballots and the resolution board will preserve secrecy if intent is clear.
A public commenter told the Lincoln County Commissioners on May 20 that an absentee-ballot notice distributed by the county’s election office instructed voters to sign their ballots and had caused confusion and concern about ballot secrecy.
Anne German, who identified herself as a registered voter in Lincoln County, said she had received multiple inquiries after the notice circulated and warned that ballots completed according to the notice could be rejected. She urged the county to notify absentee voters proactively and questioned social-media posts from people she said were connected to the elections office, saying the posts had undermined trust.
Melanie, who identified herself on the online line as a county election office representative, told the board a state notice was included in ballot materials. She said staff did not intend to ask voters to compromise ballot secrecy, described handling two in-person cases where voters had signed their ballots (each was spoiled and reissued), and said the resolution board and county attorney had been consulted. Melanie said a Secretary of State public service announcement was expected and that, where voter intent is clear, the resolution board can duplicate ballots onto an unmarked ballot for tabulation while preserving voter secrecy.
An online commenter raised a related concern that signed ballots visible in the election office could expose voters’ choices, and urged the county to address privacy and clarity concerns.
Why it matters: Absentee-ballot procedures affect voter access and secrecy. The public raised allegations of an incorrect or confusing notice and social-media activity tied to the local elections office; county staff said corrective and protective measures are in place.
What’s next: County staff said they will post a notice, follow the Secretary of State guidance, use the resolution board to preserve secrecy where possible, and the board heard public concerns but did not take further immediate action on the record.
