The Marshall County Election Board members took action last week to approve a recommendation for pay for absentee counters and what hours they should begin working on Election Day.
Marshall County Clerk Deb VanDeMark said she already has two absentee counting teams set for Election Day, at least one Republican and one Democrat for each team, and she thought adding another team would benefit them as there were almost 2,500 absentee mail-in ballots mailed to voters as of Wednesday, October 7.
“We’ve never had to have additional people so this is all new stuff this year!” stated VanDeMark.
She said the number of mail-in absentee ballots in the 2016 Presidential General Election was about 800. She noted that the number of mail-in ballots so far in this election is the highest it has ever been.
The board members thought that the absentee counters should be paid a little more than poll workers and settled on $145 for the day. VanDeMark said the commissioners would have to consider that recommendation from the Election Board and be voted on by the commissioners in a public meeting. She plans to bring it forward for the commissioners’ consideration at their next meeting on Monday, October 19.
Additionally, the Election Board members unanimously approved a resolution that allows the absentee counters the ability to start counting ballots after 6 a.m. on Election Day.
