Comments on: Soggy ballots show up in Contra Costa

By: Gayle Hansen

Gayle Hansen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:40:32 +0000

I applied for Permanent Vote by Mail ballot – sent form in twice this year – and never received a ballot for the Nov 3, 2009 election…I called and was told I was “on the list”…but no ballot…too late now.

I’m wondering if I’m the only one?

By: 4Antioch

4Antioch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:41:21 +0000

Steve, you are the greatest! And I, for one, have the utmost confidence in your integrity and ethics.

By: steve weir

steve weir — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:52:55 +0000

Issuing new ballots to all of the voters impacted by the Tuesday (October 13th) storm is unnecessary. We will hand open these ballots on Friday, October 23rd, the first day we can open vote-by-mail ballots. (Our normal process is to mechanically open the envelopes, but due to the exposure to water, the equipment would, most likely, mangle the ballots.) We will keep the envelope face down so as to hide the name of the voter. Then, we will pull out the ballot. If the ballot was marked with water soluble ink and is unreadable, we’re place the ballot back in the envelope and reseal it. When we finish reviewing the 170 ballots, any that need to be reissued will be sent out that day (11 days before the election) with an explanation of what happened and request that the voter mark and send that ballot back to us.

We have a process to protect the confidentiality of the voter and identify any ballots that need to be reissued. This process is public and you’re welcome to observe this process.

By: Elwood

Elwood — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:35:26 +0000

Have you heard the good news?

Postage is now free!

By: Timerider

Timerider — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:57:39 +0000

My Lord! What has happened to common sense?
If the County had the intelligence to return the ballots with damaged signatures? Why not just return them all to the voters? So that way they can fill out a new ballot rather then gambling on damaged ballots in wet envelopes and a vote not being counted?

Are we all just stupefied now?

WAKE UP!

By: steve weir

steve weir — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:36:10 +0000

Thanks for the kind words. I believe that any Registrar in California would do the same. We all go to any reasonable effort to keep ballots confidential AND count the vote.

The ballots that are on drying racks are still in their envelopes (a few envelopes were so wet that the glue on the flap loosened.) Yes, they were VERY wet.

It appears that the PO tried to run some of these ballots through their machinery, YIKES, you ought to see them! (We’ll have to re-make those ballots, a process that is closely controlled, come see it if you’re interested.)

We go to every effort to make sure that we never can match up the voters ballot (with their names and signatures) and the actual ballot. We only sent back the ballots that had the signature wash out. (We are assuming that the ones that used an ink that did not “run” on the envelopes, also used an ink that does not run. (In our printing process, for higher quality control, we use ink that is not water soluble.)

So, WE WOULD NEVER PEEK. It is part of our ethics and culture not to peak. And, quite frankly, we don’t want to, we’re processing hundreds of thousand of ballots. We also have supervision and protocols that discourage anyone trying to peek at a ballot.

By: EdiBirsan

EdiBirsan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:39:13 +0000

It is always good to see some hot stuff in government.

By: Common Tater

Common Tater — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:06:11 +0000

As is well known, Steve has a way of ironing out all problems.

(Sorry, but I couldn’t resist.)

By: John W.

John W. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:15:47 +0000

Yes, kudos to a person and department truly worthy of the words, “public servants.” The phrase “dripping chads” comes to mind. Glad I held back sending in my ballot for SR city council.

By: Common Tater

Common Tater — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:07:22 +0000

Atta Guy, Steve! Plaudits to a great public official.