§ 2-104.1. Central absentee voter precinct.

A.

Definition. "Central absentee voter precinct" means a precinct established by the County pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-712, for the processing of absentee ballots for any combination of precincts within the County.

B.

Use. The central absentee voter precinct is established for use in every election, local, state, and federal, for the purpose of receiving, counting, and recording all absentee ballots cast in the County. This precinct shall not be used for Town of Ridgeway elections.

C.

Officers. The central absentee voter precinct shall have at least three (3) officers of election as provided for other precincts. The number of officers shall be determined by the Electoral Board.

D.

Procedure. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the central absentee voter precinct on the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it. If any voter brings an unmarked ballot to the Electoral Board on or before the day of the election, he shall be allowed to vote it, and his ballot shall be delivered to the absentee voter precinct before the closing of the polls. The officers of the absentee voter precinct shall determine any appeal by any other voter whose name appears on the absentee voter applicant list and who offers to vote in person. If the officers at the absentee voter precinct produce records showing the receipt of his application and the certificate of mailing for the ballot, they shall deny his appeal. If the officers cannot produce such records, the voter shall be allowed to vote in person at the absentee voter precinct and have his vote counted with other absentee votes. If the voter's appeal is denied, the provisions of Virginia Code § 24.2-708 shall be applicable, and the officers shall advise the voter that he may vote on presentation of a statement signed by him that he has not received an absentee ballot and subject to felony penalties for making false statements pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-716.

E.

Processing. Absentee ballots may be processed as required by Virginia Code § 24.2-711 by the Officers of Election at the central absentee voter precinct prior to the closing of the polls but the ballot box shall not be opened and the counting of ballots shall not begin prior to that time. In the case of punch card or mark sense ballots to be inserted in electronic countingequipment, the ballot box may be opened and the absentee ballots may be inserted in the counting equipment prior to the closing of the polls in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the State Board, including procedures to preserve ballot secrecy, but no ballot count totals shall be initiated prior to that time. As soon as the polls are closed in the County the Officers of Election at the central absentee voter precinct shall proceed to ascertain and record the votes given by absentee ballots and report the results in the manner provided for counting and reporting ballots.

F.

Hours. The Electoral Board may provide that the Officers of Election for a central absentee voter precinct may be assigned to work all or a portion of the time that the precinct is open on election day subject to the following conditions:

1.

The Chief Officer and the Assistant Chief Officer, appointed pursuant to Virginia Code § 24.2-115 to represent the two (2) political parties, are on duty at all times; and

2.

No officer, political party representative, or other candidate representative shall leave the precinct after any ballots have been counted until the polls are closed and the count for the precinct is completed and reported.

G.

Approval. The approval of this section and any future amendment thereto will be sent to the Electoral Board and the State Board of Elections.

(Ord. of 1-26-99; Ord. of 5-29-01)

(Ord. of 1-26-99; Ord. of 5-29-01)