Document text
41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 22, 2004 Robert Potvin, left, and David Berger observe the ballot verification process as temporary elections worker Georgia Chadwick goes for more ballots at the Jackson County Elections Center Thursday. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell They’ll be watching, too As the ballots return to be counted, party observers police the process By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Observers from the Republican and Democratic parties are starting early to keep a close eye on the verification of ballot signatures in Jackson County. "They’re watching the process," said County Clerk Kathy Beckett. "We are under a microscope." More observers are expected next week at the Elections Center, she said, adding, "It’s kind of unusual to have them here this early." Observing for the Democrats Thursday was David Berger of Ashland. "I’m trying to get a sense if they’re trying to do a good-faith job," he said. Advertisement Republican observer Robert Potvin of Medford said he was there to make sure there weren’t any problems in the process. "I couldn’t see anything that was way out of line," he said, an observation shared by Berger. Beckett said observers are starting early in counties throughout Oregon as the presidential race continues in a dead heat in the polls. While she is as accommodating as possible with the observers, Beckett said she has told them they can’t hover or interfere with the work of the signature verifiers. "We’re trying to keep this as open as possible," she said. Signature checkers scan in the bar code on the ballot envelope, and a computer pulls up the signature scanned from the registration card. If signatures don’t match, or if there is any other problem, the ballot is separated for further inspection. Beckett said the signature verifiers also check to see whether there was a changed address, if a replacement ballot was sent out, and to make sure only one ballot came back. She said the county hires signature verifiers from temporary agencies and others who return every year. Potvin, who is a precinct worker with the Jackson County Republican Central Committee, said it’s important to keep an eye on the election process. "That’s where the hanky-panky takes place if there is any," said the 74-year-old. He noticed that the verifiers efficiently culled out ballots where the signatures didn’t match those on the registration cards. The signatures will undergo further inspection by other Elections Center officials. "I would have probably rejected them as well," he said. One thing he has noticed is that some signature verifiers appear more efficient than others. Still, he said, "Every one of them is over-conscientious, very careful." Berger, a volunteer with the Jackson County Democratic Central Committee, said he is there primarily to make sure the process is conducted properly. So far, the 67-year-old semi-retired Ashland attorney hasn’t noticed any problems. In one instance, he said he thought someone might have forgotten to initial a piece of paper, but found out she had. Like Potvin, Berger said the signature verifiers appear to be doing a good job separating out the problem ballots. As an example, he said husbands will sometimes sign for wives, which is illegal. He did notice that an older man had become flustered while verifying signatures and had quit by noon Thursday. Berger said he is supposed to send an e-mail report to the Kerry Oregon Campaign about what he observed. Other than that, the volunteer job is relatively uneventful. "I’m just sitting there primarily," he said. County numbers off to slow start Voter turnout remained surprisingly low in Jackson County Thursday even though voter registration has hit record levels. County Clerk Kathy Beckett said that of the 121,943 registered voters counted so far, only 18,520, or 15 percent, have sent in their ballots. "We would have loved to have been at 35 percent tomorrow, but I know we’re not going to make it," she said Thursday. The Elections Center is still processing voter registration cards that came in up to the Oct. 12 deadline. "We’re at 121,943 and still growing," Beckett said. Newly registered voters will receive ballots after their forms are processed. This represents an 11 percent increase over January, when 109,398 residents were registered. Beckett said almost every county in the state is experiencing a sizable increase in voter registration. Despite the increase, the percentages of Democrats, Republicans and independents remain the same. Republicans number 51,009 registered voters (42 percent), Democrats are 41,118 (34 percent), independents are 26,149 (21 percent), and other parties are 3,667 (3 percent). Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers