Provisional ballots sometimes count
The following is a Counterpoint column:
By Lou Howard
In response to Lonnie D. Groendes' Counterpoint, "Wade's fight is for voting integrity" (Jan. 19): All voters want "integrity in voting," but there are some provisional ballots that were legal in 2004 — according to the N.C. Constitution. Article VI, Section 2 (1) of the constitution states:
"Section 2. Qualifications of voter.
"(1) Residence period for State elections. Any person who has resided in the State of North Carolina for one year and in the precinct, ward, or other election district for 30 days next preceding an election, and possesses the other qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election held in this State. Removal from one precinct, ward, or other election district to another in this State shall not operate to deprive any person of the right to vote in the precinct, ward or other election district from which that person has removed until 30 days after the removal."
When the state constitution is used as a guide, it is not "partisanship."
The Guilford County Board of Elections has recounted the provisional ballots more than once — not in a room alone. The State Board of Elections also came to Greensboro and had a hearing.
The example Groendes gave of Ophelia Jones demonstrated how well prepared that poll worker was: The poll worker saw the name and recognized it as a person who had voted in early voting. Poll workers identify those who voted in early voting before Election Day to prevent people from voting twice.
Chief judges avoid issuing provisional ballots if possible because they require additional time and attention, which can be distracting on Election Day. Before a person is given a provisional ballot, the chief judge prefers to call the local board of elections to find out if the person is a registered voter in the county, learn where that person should vote, and direct that person to the right polling place. Provisional ballots are a lot of paperwork that requires the signature of each of the three judges at the polls.
Members of the board of elections must check the residence, registration and make the final decision on the provisional ballots. This takes time. Absentee ballots must be confirmed and counted, also. No, it is not possible to count all ballots of legally registered voters on election night.
The writer lives in High Point.