Marshall County Clerk Deb VanDeMark told the Marshall County Election Board members Tuesday morning that the nursing home residents will be voting differently in the November General Election.
VanDeMark said in a normal election year, Travel Board members, one Democrat and one Republican, go into the nursing homes and help confined voters with completing a ballot. However, VanDeMark said nursing homes are closed to visitors, including Travel Board members.
“In talking to the nursing homes, they all agreed to vote by mail and if the voter needed assistance they have people there who could assist them voting by mail,” stated VanDeMark. “They can sign that they assisted but they don’t have to have a Democrat and Republican to assist on a mail ballot. All of the ballots are on their way out to the nursing homes by mail.”
VanDeMark said a list of voters was obtained so the number of absentee mail-in ballots could be mailed to the nursing home residents.
She commented that many other clerks in the area are doing the same practice.
If nursing home facilities get new residents after the deadline is passed to request an absentee ballot, VanDeMark said the Election Board will address individual situations so residents are not denied an opportunity to vote.
