Wyo. Code R. 002-0005-6
Effective Date: 10/06/2004 to 07/08/2008
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 002.0005.6.10062004
Section 1. Authority.
These rules are authorized by W.S. 22-14-114.
Section 2. Purpose.
These rules are promulgated to establish standards and procedures for counting damaged absentee ballots that have been rejected by the appropriate counting system.
Section 3. Applicability.
(a) These rules apply to the handling of absentee ballots that are returned to the County Clerk in such condition that the appropriate counting device rejects them, e.g. they may be wrinkled, the bar code may be soiled, they may be torn, and so forth.
(b) Despite the damage, the ballots must clearly express the intent of the voters casting them in order to be counted by the tabulating device. When the intent is clear on the damaged ballots, they may be duplicated and counted.
Section 4. Duplicating Board.
(a) At each polling place, the “duplicating board” shall be a subdivision of the counting board or of the election judges appointed to count the absentee ballots in that precinct or counting center. The duplicating board shall consist of at least two individuals of different political affiliation responsible for duplicating the damaged ballots that the automatic tabulating equipment has rejected.
(b) Each duplicate ballot shall be a true copy of the original with the effect of the damage removed. Each duplicate ballot shall be marked “Duplicate” and have a control number recorded on it that is also recorded on the original ballot.
Section 5. Counting of duplicate ballots.
The duplicate ballots shall be counted by the tabulating device along with the other absentee ballots and the vote tallies added to the precinct or counting center totals and reported together.