When your vote doesn’t count …
by Anna Oakes
So, you voted early. But there’s a chance — however minimal — that your vote won’t count.
According to Watauga County Elections Director Jane Hodges, if you voted early, but you happen to die before Election Day, your vote will not be counted.
“You have to be alive on Election Day for your vote to count,” said Hodges. But, she added, the ballot would only be pulled “if we know that he has died.”
But Hodges quickly emphasized the advantages of voting early — especially with inclement weather expected early this week.
“There’s a lot of pluses to voting early. What if we have snow on election day?” she said. Or, a family emergency could arise around Election Day. Hodges said the elections office regularly experiences people who come in the Monday after early voting ends, who leave disappointed because they missed the early voting and absentee deadlines and won’t be able to vote on Election Day.
“It pays to vote early because you never know what circumstance could happen to your family,” Hodges said.
Hodges also reminded voters about the potential for a recount in many races. A machine recount will take place if candidates’ vote totals are within 1 percent of each other, she said.
Unlike the primary election, “we would not have a runoff election unless something is found to have been done wrong,” Hodges said.
Statewide, candidates are running for election to newly re-drawn Congressional and legislative districts, which have been challenged in the courts.
But, according to State Board of Elections technician Eric Barcliff, should the new redistricting maps be overturned by a court after the general election, “that would be resolved during the next election.”
And a number of media outlets have explored the possibility of an Electoral College tie.
The Washington Post reports that there are 32 ways to reach a tied vote of the Electoral College.
If the Electoral College voted in a tie with 269 votes on either side, it would be up to the U.S. House of Representatives to break the tie. Each state delegation would cast one vote.
According to Watauga County Elections Director Jane Hodges, if you voted early, but you happen to die before Election Day, your vote will not be counted.
“You have to be alive on Election Day for your vote to count,” said Hodges. But, she added, the ballot would only be pulled “if we know that he has died.”
But Hodges quickly emphasized the advantages of voting early — especially with inclement weather expected early this week.
“There’s a lot of pluses to voting early. What if we have snow on election day?” she said. Or, a family emergency could arise around Election Day. Hodges said the elections office regularly experiences people who come in the Monday after early voting ends, who leave disappointed because they missed the early voting and absentee deadlines and won’t be able to vote on Election Day.
“It pays to vote early because you never know what circumstance could happen to your family,” Hodges said.
Hodges also reminded voters about the potential for a recount in many races. A machine recount will take place if candidates’ vote totals are within 1 percent of each other, she said.
Unlike the primary election, “we would not have a runoff election unless something is found to have been done wrong,” Hodges said.
Statewide, candidates are running for election to newly re-drawn Congressional and legislative districts, which have been challenged in the courts.
But, according to State Board of Elections technician Eric Barcliff, should the new redistricting maps be overturned by a court after the general election, “that would be resolved during the next election.”
And a number of media outlets have explored the possibility of an Electoral College tie.
The Washington Post reports that there are 32 ways to reach a tied vote of the Electoral College.
If the Electoral College voted in a tie with 269 votes on either side, it would be up to the U.S. House of Representatives to break the tie. Each state delegation would cast one vote.