We report, you decide.
RESOLUTION NO. 312
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF 173 312, TO REENACT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND TO CLARIFY AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES INVOLVED WITH THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OF
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of Pocomoke City, Maryland wish to repeal Resolution No. 173 312 and to reenact certain provisions of that resolution to clarify the procedures to be followed during municipal elections;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT municipal elections in
1. VOTER ELIGIBILITY
a) The Board shall remove the names of any persons who have not voted in the
previous five (5) municipal elections from the municipal list of eligible voters.
b) PROOF OF RESIDENCY
In all instances where the Board is doubtful of the residency of a proposed registrant or voter, the Board may require the applicant or voter to produce such information as they may deem necessary to prove residency, including one or more of the following documents:
1) Valid driver=s license
2) Water, sewer or other utility bill
3) Written lease for rental premises
4) County voter card
5) Any other similar evidence which would establish residency.
2. LIST OF VOTERS
Candidates for election may purchase MAY OBTAIN lists of voters when completed by FROM the Supervisors at the following costs:
a) Entire list (even years only) $10.00
b) District list (each) $5.00
3. ABSENTEE VOTING
a) The Board shall approve official forms for applications and absentee ballots.
b) Anyone may request an Application for Absentee Ballot by telephone, facsimile,
and by downloading the application (when available) or in person at City Hall during normal business hours. All applications for absentee ballots will be numbered original documents, signed by the applicant. Photocopies will not be accepted. When an application is issued received, a record will be kept at City Hall of the application number and to whom it was issued. If requested, applications will be issued by facsimile. date and time of the Boards= receipt of the Application for Absentee Ballot.
c) When the application is returned received, voter records will be checked to determine
that the applicant is a registered voter of
d) The voter I.D. number (assigned by computer), the district number, and a ballot
number (to be assigned by the Board of Elections Supervisors or their designee or other person handling absentee ballot applications) will be marked on the completed application form. The ballot number is issued to track how many ballots have been issued and returned in order to prevent the reproduction of absentee ballots. The list of absentee ballots issued shall not be made available to the public. Candidates will not be allowed to inspect completed absentee ballots.
e) A ballot, ballot envelope, and a self-addressed stamped envelope will be prepared
and placed in an envelope and mailed to the applicant by first class mail except when an application is made in person within seven days prior to the election. No one will be allowed to hand-deliver a ballot to an applicant except the Board of Elections Supervisors, their designee, or the City Clerk. Ballots will not be issued by facsimile.
d f) The city will rent a Post Office Box for use by the Board of Elections Supervisors
only. When the absentee voter has marked the ballot, it must be placed in the return envelope provided and mailed to the special Post Office Box. Completed absentee ballots will not be accepted at City Hall, at the polling place or any other location. All ballots must be received in the special Post Office Box no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election. Postmark dates are not relevant and will not be considered in any way. Absentee ballots received after the deadline will not be opened. They will be destroyed by the Board of Elections Supervisors at their discretion.
e g) Only ballots received in the special Post Office Box will be accepted by the Board
of Elections Supervisors. At 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election, one or more members of the Board of Elections Supervisors, the City Clerk, the Chief of Police, and any candidates who wish to be present will open the special Post Office Box and remove the ballots. The ballot numbers will be called off and recorded on the list sealed in one or more larger envelopes (manila-type) and taken to City Hall and locked in the safe. The Police Chief will accompany the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee) to witness this process.
f h) On the day of the elections, the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee)
will remove the larger sealed manila-type envelope(s) from the safe and take them to the voting place. After the polls close the Board of Elections Supervisors will open the manila-type envelope(s) and remove the return envelopes. The return envelopes will then be opened by the Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed elections workers) and the ballot envelopes will be removed. The Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) will open the ballot envelopes checking to be sure that the envelopes are signed, that there are no distinguishing marks on the ballot, that only one box has been checked, etc. The Board of Elections Supervisors has the authority to disqualify any absentee ballot for failure to sign the oath, making distinguishing or identifying marks on the ballot, or checking more than one box where inappropriate to do so. The Board of Elections Supervisors will tally the votes. After machine votes and absentee ballots have been tallied, all votes will be recorded on a form and certified by all members of the Board. This form will be given to the City Manager.
g i) If a voter has been issued an absentee ballot, then that person will not be allowed
to vote in person at the polling place.
4. ELECTION DAY PROCEDURE
a) The Board shall post or cause to be posted signs which indicate that electioneering
is not permitted within one hundred (100) feet of the entrance to the polling place.
b) The Board will assure that adequate handicapped parking and access to the polling
place is provided. Handicapped voters who require assistance in the voting booth may apply for assistance on a form designated for that purpose.
c) If the Board feels that a police officer is needed at certain times during the
election, any member of the Board of Elections Supervisors may contact the Chief of Police and request that an officer be dispatched to the polling place. At the close of the polls, a police officer will be stationed at the entrance of the polling place to restrict access to those persons authorized to be present.
d) Prior to counting of the ballots, the Board will request all unauthorized persons to
leave the polling place. The following persons are authorized to be inside the polling place when the ballots are counted:
1) Each candidate and one other person previously authorized by the candidate in writing.
2) Board of Elections Supervisors members and appointees.
3) After all tallies are completed, the doors of the polling place will be opened to the public.
5. PRESERVATION OF BALLOTS
Absentee ballots, applications, and voter authority cards may be destroyed after six (6) months provided the Maryland Centralized Voter Registration System has had an opportunity to record who has voted from the voter authority cards.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, that this resolution shall take effect upon the vote of the Council and its approval by the Mayor.
________________ _________________ ______________________________
Date Introduced Date Passed Michael McDermott, Mayor
Approved BY ME THIS ______
DAY OF ______________, ______
ATTEST:
____________________________ _____________________________
Carol L. Justice, City Clerk Russell W. Blake, City Manager
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------RESOLUTION NO. 432
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND TO REPEAL RESOLUTION 312, TO REENACT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND TO CLARIFY AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES INVOLVED WITH THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of Pocomoke City, Maryland wish to repeal Resolution No. 312 and to reenact certain provisions of that resolution to clarify the procedures to be followed during municipal elections;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT municipal elections in
1. VOTER ELIGIBILITY
a) The Board shall remove the names of any persons who have not voted in the
previous five (5) municipal elections from the municipal list of eligible voters.
b) PROOF OF RESIDENCY
In all instances where the Board is doubtful of the residency of a proposed registrant or voter, the Board may require the applicant or voter to produce such information as they may deem necessary to prove residency, including one or more of the following documents:
1) Valid driver’s license
2) Water, sewer or other utility bill
3) Written lease for rental premises
4) County voter card
5) Any other similar evidence which would establish residency.
2. LIST OF VOTERS
Candidates for election may obtain lists of voters from the Worcester County Board of Elections.
3. ABSENTEE VOTING
a. The Board shall approve official forms for applications and absentee ballots.
b. Anyone may request an Application for Absentee Ballot by telephone, facsimile,
and by downloading the application (when available) or in person at City Hall during normal business hours. All applications for absentee ballots will be original documents, signed by the applicant. Photocopies will not be accepted. When an application is received, a record will be kept at City Hall of the date and time of the Boards’ receipt of the Application for Absentee Ballot. Applications for absentee ballots received after the close of business on the Wednesday before an election will not be processed.
c. When the application is received, voter records will be checked to determine that
the applicant is a registered voter of
d. The voter I.D. number (assigned by computer), the district number, and a ballot
number (to be assigned by the Board of Elections Supervisors or their designee or other person handling absentee ballot applications) will be marked on the completed application form. The ballot number is issued to track how many ballots have been issued and returned in order to prevent the reproduction of absentee ballots. The list of absentee ballots issued shall not be made available to the public. Candidates will not be allowed to inspect completed absentee ballots.
e. A ballot, ballot envelope, and a self-addressed stamped envelope will be prepared
and placed in an envelope and mailed to the applicant by first class mail. No one will be allowed to hand-deliver a ballot to an applicant except the Board of Elections Supervisors, their designee, or the City Clerk. Ballots will not be issued by facsimile.
f. The city will rent a Post Office Box for use by the Board of Elections Supervisors
only. When the absentee voter has marked the ballot, it must be placed in the return envelope provided and mailed to the special Post Office Box. Completed absentee ballots will not be accepted at City Hall, at the polling place or any other location. All ballots must be received in the special Post Office Box no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election. Postmark dates are not relevant and will not be considered in any way. Absentee ballots received after the deadline will not be opened. They will be destroyed by the Board of Elections Supervisors at their discretion.
g. Only ballots received in the special Post Office Box will be accepted by the Board
of Elections Supervisors. At 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election, one or more members of the Board of Elections Supervisors, the City Clerk, the Chief of Police, and any candidates who wish to be present will open the special Post Office Box and remove the ballots. The ballot numbers will be called off and recorded on the list sealed in one or more larger envelopes (manila-type) and taken to City Hall and locked in the safe. The Police Chief will accompany the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee) to witness this process.
h. On the day of the election, the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee)
will remove the larger sealed manila-type envelope(s) from the safe and take them to the voting place. After the polls close the Board of Elections Supervisors will open the manila-type envelope(s) and remove the return envelopes. The return envelopes will then be opened by the Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) and the ballot envelopes will be removed. The Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) will open the ballot envelopes checking to be sure that the envelopes are signed, that there are no distinguishing marks on the ballot, that only one box has been checked, etc. The Board of Elections Supervisors has the authority to disqualify any absentee ballot for failure to sign the oath, making distinguishing or identifying marks on the ballot, or checking more than one box where inappropriate to do so. The Board of Elections Supervisors will tally the votes. After machine votes and absentee ballots have been tallied, all votes will be recorded on a form and certified by all members of the Board. This form will be given to the City Manager.
i. If a voter has been issued an absentee ballot, then that person will not be allowed
to vote in person at the polling place.
4. ELECTION DAY PROCEDURE
a) The Board shall post or cause to be posted signs which indicate that electioneering
is not permitted within one hundred (100) feet of the entrance to the polling place.
b) The Board will assure that adequate handicapped parking and access to the polling
place is provided. Handicapped voters who require assistance in the voting booth may apply for assistance on a form designated for that purpose.
c) If the Board feels that a police officer is needed at certain times during the
election, any member of the Board of Elections Supervisors may contact the Chief of Police and request that an officer be dispatched to the polling place. At the close of the polls, a police officer will be stationed at the entrance of the polling place to restrict access to those persons authorized to be present.
d) Prior to counting of the ballots, the Board will request all unauthorized persons to
leave the polling place. The following persons are authorized to be inside the polling place when the ballots are counted:
1) Each candidate and one other person previously authorized by the candidate in writing.
2) Board of Elections Supervisors members and appointees.
3) After all tallies are completed, the doors of the polling place will be opened to the public.
5. PRESERVATION OF BALLOTS
Absentee ballots, applications, and voter authority cards may be destroyed after six (6) months provided the Maryland Centralized Voter Registration System has had an opportunity to record who has voted from the voter authority cards.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, that this resolution shall take effect upon the vote of the Council and its approval by the Mayor.
November 2, 2009 November 16, 2009 ______________________________
Date Introduced Date Passed Michael McDermott, Mayor
Approved BY ME THIS _16
DAY OF November , 2009
ATTEST:
____________________________ _____________________________
Carol L. Justice, City Clerk First Vice President
Thanks for posting both of these. No we can get a much better view of where the changes have been made.
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