Voters in Stafford County will use paper ballots in the December 11th special election to make their selection for a successor to serve the remaining term of the late U.S. Representative
Jo Ann Davis

The voting machines that are normally used during elections are unavailable because they are in “lockdown” after the November 6th general election. The reason for the lockdown is to preserve the votes from the General Election in case a recount of votes is requested by a candidate. Although a recount has not been requested in Stafford, the machines must stay in lockdown until December 12, 2007. The machines will then have to be prepared for the presidential primaries to be held in February 2008.

Governor Tim Kaine authorized the use of paper ballots in October.

Each precinct in Stafford will still have a touchscreen voting machine available for use to meet the Help America Vote Act. Voters with disabilities will be allowed to use the touchscreen machine. All other voters will fill out the paper ballots, fold them in half, and hand them to an election official. The official will not open the ballot, but will verify that only one paper ballot has been submitted by a voter, and then place the ballot into the ballot box. It will remain locked until the polls close. The ballots will then be removed, and the valid ballots will be counted and recorded on the Statement of Results. They will be placed in an envelope which will be sealed and signed by officers of election at each precinct and given to the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

“All of our election officials are committed to the integrity of the democratic process,” said Voter Registrar Sharon Persinger. “At no time will a voter’s privacy be compromised in the voting booth, nor will their selections on the paper ballot be viewed by anyone prior to the polls closing.”

Information from the Code of Virginia about voting by paper ballots will be posted at each precinct. The polls will be open on December 11th from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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