The number of absentee ballots by mail sent out by the Marshall County Clerk’s Office reached over 1,600 on Tuesday and more applications were anticipated to be received by the deadline Thursday afternoon.
Clerk Deb VanDeMark told the Marshall County Election Board members Wednesday morning that the total number of applications was 1,617. Of those, 964 came back so far with a completed ballot. Many more were anticipated to be mailed out Wednesday and Thursday.
She indicated that the number of absentee ballots by mail is much higher for this Primary Election as there is no excuse required to request an absentee ballot by mail. The numbers are the highest the Clerk has seen for any Primary Election.
The absentee board members will be available on Election Day to help with the absentee ballots with additional politically-balanced members to assist in the process due to the increased number. VanDeMark said they can start going through the ballots at 6 a.m. on Election Day, but nothing can be recorded until later in the day.
Residents can vote early in person at the Marshall County Clerk’s Office Tuesday, May 26 to Friday, May 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Monday, June 1 from 8 a.m. to noon. Early voting is also available on Saturday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Clerk’s Office, Bremen Town Hall or the Culver Community Schools Administration Building.
