The Marion Circuit Court has outlined the required procedures for dealing with the county’s absentee ballots following a suit that accused the Marion County Election Board of not following statute.
Among the findings:
1. An equal number of clerks should be appointed by both major political parties.
2. The Election Board shall retain the power to determine the validity of absentee ballot envelope signatures.
3. The Election Board shall maintain and provide to the major political parties a list of all noted absentee ballots.
4. An absentee ballot may only be placed into the ballot box after the absentee voter’s application is properly executed.
5. Placement of a name on a home foreclosure list or a voter getting an eviction notice isn’t a sufficient basis for a challenge.
6. The election board is also required to give to challengers and precinct board members written instructions before any election.
I will post an update to this article as soon as the full-text of the decision becomes available.