Election plans proceding; local amendment on the ballot

This is the second article by The Watchman concerning preparations in Marengo County for the Presidential election Nov. 2. It concerns plans for in-person voting and provisional information about the amendment specifically concerning Marengo County.

“My office looks like UPS Central,” joked Probate Judge Laurie Hall.

She has stockpiled all the supplies and materials she can think of to make sure voters who come to the polls – and the poll workers – are safe during the ongoing concerns of the coronavirus pandemic.

She ticked off what she has ordered: masks, hand sanitizer, signs printed in bright pink to encourage social distancing, face shields and gloves. For this election she also stocked one-use styluses to prevent any cross-contamination.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure everything is safe,” she said.

“We have most all the poll workers we need, but if anyone is interested in working, I ask that they please call our office at (334) 295-2210 and we will add them to a list to pull from if needed,” said Hall.  “We are trying to put together a list of alternates in case anyone gets sick or cannot work.”

While she encourages anyone who might be sick to vote by absentee ballot, “We won’t turn anyone away” if they come to the polls. Those voters will be put in a private area so they can mark their ballots.

In some cases a voter’s name will not be on the list. Hall said that could be because the voter is not registered, has been removed from the list for some reason, has changed address or is registered in another county or state. Those voters will be given a provisional ballot, she said.

“The Board of Registrars reviews the information on the provisional application and compares it to the voter registration information to determine if a ballot may be counted,” Hall explained.

Provisional ballots are opened a week after the election in front of officials and the public to determine if they are valid. If they are, the ballots are hand-counted.

More than just electing candidates is up for a vote. Hall said voters need to turn over their ballots to make their choice on whether to accept the amendments proposed. There are state-wide amendments, which are explained on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website, but the final amendment specifically concerns Marengo County.

While the language of the issue can be confusing, Hall explained the amendment allows certain cases in her court to be referred to the Circuit Court. Those cases require an equitable jurisdiction to have a reasonable and fair outcome and that otherwise would have to be delayed in order to be referred to the Circuit Court.

Delays in these cases can have a devastating effect on the families involved, said Hall.

“I just want to do whatever I can to make sure that these situations proceed as smoothly as possible,” she said.

Hall worked with State Sen. Bobby Singleton and Rep. A.J. McCampbell to pass the measure in the state legislature and with Circuit Judge Eddie Hardaway and the Marengo County Commission “to help me help others.”

A full explanation of the measure will be posted on the county website. Sample ballots are available at the Probate Judge office or online.