County creates board to review absentee ballots

Washington County will implement a system for the upcoming elections to reduce the number of rejected absentee ballots.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted last week to establish an absentee ballot board to review absentee ballots.

A change made this year in a state election law now allows any county, city or school district to authorize an absentee ballot board to review absentee ballots.

Election judges in all county precincts will review absentee ballots and, if errors are found and time permits, will contact the voter before the election to correct the mistake rather than reject the absentee ballot.

Examples of mistakes include incorrect addresses or omitted signatures.

This process, which was first used in the 2006 primary and general elections in Washington County, reduced the number of rejected absentee ballots.

For more information on absentee voting, visit www.co.washington.mn.us and click on “Elections.”

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