Canvassing Board Meeting

Canvassing Board Meeting Minutes April 6, 2021 5pm (Approved) 4/6/2021 - Minutes 1. Roll Call Members Present: Mayor Eugene Fultz, Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson, Jennifer Anderson -Leeks Staff Present: Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk Supervisor of Elections Staff: Rachel Harris Jennifer Nanek called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. 2. Appointment Of Chair There was consensus that Eugene Fultz, Mayor serve as chair. By voice vote: All "YES" 3. Publicly Canvassing Absentee Ballots For Candidates Seeking Election Rachel Harris reviewed the procedure for canvassing ballots. Mail Ballot Report and Accept Valid Mail Ballots as recommended by Clerk. Jennifer Nanek read aloud that total of 1,218 ballots were returned and that 1191 are considered valid. There are 27 ballots to review. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept mail ballots as reviewed by the City Clerk and direct Supervisor of Elections staff to begin processing the ballots. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Review Mail Ballots Rachel Harris explained what issues cause ballots to be reviewed such as no signature, signatures that don't match, matching spouse signatures. There are three ballots without signatures that were reviewed by the board. ID# 124587325 ID# 125895714 ID# 117133101 Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to reject those three ballots. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to reject those three ballots. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. The ballots were marked and signed as rejected. 1 ballot with a signature had to be reviewed that didn't match. The board reviewed this signature. ID# 105018347 Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to reject that ballot. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. There were 20 matching cohabs that were reviewed. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept all of those ballots. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Those ballots were accepted. Three ballots have other signatures on their certificates. ID# 122004891 ID# 108564573 ID# 113741302 Deputy Mayor Gibson asked if those named on the ballot can still vote. Ms. Harris explained that some votes may be fixed by Thursday at 5:00 p.m. for them to count. There was discussion if a recount might be needed and what would happen. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to reject those ballots with the understanding that these three can come and cure their ballots and still vote. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. The meeting was recessed at 5:24 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 7:22 p.m.  Motion passed. The meeting was recessed at 5:24 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 7:22 p.m. Ms. Harris presented ballots that were kicked out of the machine for review. The first one was an overvoted ballot that was damaged. Jennifer Nanek said it looked like something was spilled on it. Ms. Harris asked the board to review that the replicated ballot was replicated accurately. It will then go back through the machine to be counted. Ms. Nanek said the vote for Amendment 4 was damaged or smeared so it looks like an overvote but the intent is clear. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said that the intent on that race is clear. Amendment 2 was also not marked accurately. The replicated ballot was adjusted by Mayor Fultz to reflect the voter's intent. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the replicated ballot as corrected according to voter intent. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Ms. Harris presented two blank ballots to the canvassing board. The board reviewed the ballots and confirmed that they were submitted blank. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the two blank ballots as not registering any kind of vote. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Ms. Harris presented a damaged and replicated ballot and asked the canvassing board to ensure that the ballot was replicated accurately. The board reviewed the ballot. The damage was not immediately identified. Ms. Harris noted marks on the ballot that could have caused the damage. She said its probably a printer issue. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the replicated ballot as accurate compared to the damaged ballot. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Ms. Harris presented ballots with marks on it that are unclear and were replicated. She asked the canvassing board to ensure that the ballots were replicated accurately. The ballots were distributed to the board for review. Jennifer Nanek noted that one was marked with X's and the ovals not filled in. Ms. Harris noted that the second one was similar. Mayor Fultz confirmed that the replica reflected the voter's true intent. Mayor Fultz said the second one reflected the true intent as well. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said one ballot was marked that may have confused the machine. Mayor Fultz said the last ones reflected the true intent as well.  Ms. Harris presented ballots with marks on it that are unclear and were replicated. She asked the canvassing board to ensure that the ballots were replicated accurately. The ballots were distributed to the board for review. Jennifer Nanek noted that one was marked with X's and the ovals not filled in. Ms. Harris noted that the second one was similar. Mayor Fultz confirmed that the replica reflected the voter's true intent. Mayor Fultz said the second one reflected the true intent as well. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said one ballot was marked that may have confused the machine. Mayor Fultz said the last ones reflected the true intent as well. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the four replicated ballots as accurate compared to the original ballots. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Ms. Harris presented an overvoted ballot for review to determine voter intent. Ms. Anderson-Leeks said that the voter intent is obvious. Ms. Nanek noted that the choice for Al Goldstein was erased and marked for Kris Fitzgerald. The voter intent was clear. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said the ballot was not overvoted. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the replicated ballot as accurate compared to the original overvoted ballot which was marked accordingly as voter intent was clear. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. Rachel Harris presented precinct results to the canvassing board for review. The meeting was recessed. The meeting was reconvened at 7:56 p.m. A late ballot has come in and needs approval to open. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made a motion to accept the late ballot and authorize Supervisor of Elections staff to open and process the ballot. Jennifer Anderson Leeks seconded the motion. by voice vote: All "YES" Motion passed. 4. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. ______________________ Chair/Mayor ATTEST: ______________________ Chair/Mayor ATTEST: ____________________ City Clerk