Processing vote by mail ballots

Returned ballots go through a series of steps:

1. Ballot sorter

   The ballots are run through a ballot sorting machine that reads the barcode on the outside of the yellow ballot return envelope that is connected to the voter and credits that ballot as returned.

2. Signature check

   Election staff do a visual comparison between the voter’s signature on the return envelope and their voter registration.

   • If it is determined a match, the ballot is flagged as “Good” and it is ready for the next step in the process.
   • If it is not a match or missing a signature, the ballot is flagged as “Challenged” and the voter is sent a letter to correct their signature.

3. Ballot sorter (second pass)

   • Sorts the ballots by “Good” and “Challenged”.
   • Sorts the “Good” ballots by precinct.
   • Slices open the “Good” ballots for removal.

4. Removed from envelope

   “Good” ballots are confidentially removed from the return envelope by election staff and prepared for counting.

5. Counted

   The “Good” ballots are then run through the tabulator machine that counts the votes to be included in the election results.

Related

• Policies and procedures - vote by mail

  Marin County: Elections: procedures for receiving and processing vote by mail ballots.