
IPFS
Some States Count Early Ballots Days Before Election Day
Written by Ernest Hancock Subject: Voting - Election IntegrityNote: Data in this chart was compiled from the web site of the Federal Elections Commission on
August 18, 2004
(Soooo,... the question is. 'Are there more states that allow for early counting of early voting or less?' I'll bet more.)


Receiving and Counting Absentee Ballots | |||
State |
Ballots Due By |
Ballots Counted |
Who Counts Ballots |
Alabama |
Close of polls on election day |
Close of polls |
Pollworkers |
Alaska |
10 days after election (15 days for overseas) |
8pm election day |
Absentee ballot counting board |
Arizona |
7pm election day |
Election day & 5 days beyond |
Central counting |
Arkansas |
7:30pm election day/5pm 10 days after, if postmarked election day |
7:30pm election day |
Absentee election board |
California |
8pm election day |
5pm day before election |
Special counting board |
Colorado |
7pm election day |
10 days prior to election day |
At least 3 county judges |
Connecticut |
8pm election day |
Not before noon on election day |
Absentee ballot counters |
Delaware |
Noon day before election |
Prior to close of polls |
Election judges |
Florida |
7pm election day |
7pm election day |
County canvassing board |
Georgia |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Absentee ballot manager |
Hawaii |
Close of polls |
Election day |
Chief election officer |
Idaho |
8pm election day |
Close of polls |
County clerks and election judges |
Illinois |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Panel of election judges |
Indiana |
Close of polls |
Election day |
Precinct election or central counting board |
Iowa |
Close of polls/Monday after election if postmarked by election day |
Election day |
Election board |
Kansas |
Close of polls |
Opening of polls |
Special election board |
Kentucky |
Close of polls |
Beginning at 3pm election day |
County board of elections |
Louisiana |
Midnight day before election |
After 1pm and before 8pm election day |
Board of election supervisors |
Maine |
Close of polls |
Close of polls or prior |
Election clerks |
Maryland |
Friday week after election |
10am Thursday after election |
County board |
Massachusetts |
10 days after election |
Election day |
Local election official |
Michigan |
8pm election day |
Close of polls or 7am |
Precinct election or absent voter board |
Minnesota |
Last mail delivery election day |
8pm election day |
Election judges |
Mississippi |
Close of polls |
Precinct election managers | |
Missouri |
Close of polls |
Election day |
Election judges, bipartisan teams |
Montana |
Close of polls |
After polls open and before they close |
Absentee ballot counting board |
Nebraska |
10am second day after election |
Time set by county elected officer |
Absent voters counting board |
Nevada |
Close of polls |
Election day |
Absentee ballot counting board |
New Hampshire |
5pm day before election |
Close of polls |
Precinct moderator |
New Jersey |
8pm election day |
Election day |
County board of elections |
New Mexico |
7pm election day |
7pm election day |
Absentee voter precinct board |
New York |
Postmarked day before election |
Close of polls |
Inspector of elections/central counting |
North Carolina |
5pm day before election |
5pm election day |
County board of elections |
North Dakota |
Within 2 days after election |
Close of polls |
Absentee ballot counting board |
Ohio |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Special election judges |
Oklahoma |
7pm election day |
7pm election day |
County election board |
Oregon |
8pm election day |
Upon delivery of poll books |
Election official |
Pennsylvania |
5pm Friday before election |
Close of polls |
Precinct election board |
Rhode Island |
9pm election day |
9pm election day |
State board of elections |
South Carolina |
Close of polls |
7pm election day |
Absentee poll managers |
South Dakota |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Absentee BIT Board/precinct canvass board |
Tennessee |
Close of polls |
Opening of polls |
Central absentee ballot counting board |
Texas |
Before close of polls |
Election day |
Early voting ballot board |
Utah |
Noon Monday following election |
Election day or Monday after election |
Election judges |
Vermont |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Bipartisan election judges |
Virginia |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Election official/central count |
Washington |
10 days after election |
8pm election day and prior to certification |
Canvassing board |
West Virginia |
Close of polls |
Close of polls |
Precinct election commissioners |
Wisconsin |
Close of polls |
Between open and close of polls |
Ward election inspectors |
Wyoming |
7pm election day |
Close of polls |
County clerk or 3 election judges |
1 Comments in Response to Some States Count Early Ballots Days Before Election Day
Bottom line all election counting process should
have the following three steps:
1. INITIAL count of votes should be at the precinct
level by machine or by hand. All early ballots etc
should be counted at the precinct level on election
night, also.
2. After step 1 is completed and recorded, the
poll workers should perform a manual
VERIFICATION count including all voter intent
issues, before they go home on election night. If
the VERIFICATION count differs from the INITIAL
count then the VERIFICATION count become the
official count
3. Alow un-stonewalled and free RECOUNTS
to be requested by voters, candidates, parties and
election officials.
All 3 steps should be done open to public
observation.
Thanks and Good Luck.
Frank Henry