Information to Electors – April 4, 2017

NOTICE OF SPRING ELECTION AND SAMPLE BALLOTS  – April 4, 2017

OFFICE OF THE MANITOWOC COUNTY CLERK

TO THE ELECTORS OF MANITOWOC COUNTY:

Notice is hereby given of a spring election to be held in Manitowoc County on April 4, 2017 at which the officers named below shall be chosen.  The names of the candidates for each office to be voted for, whose nominations have been certified to or filed in this office, are given under the title of the office, each in its proper column, together with the questions submitted to a vote, in the sample ballot below.

                                 INFORMATION TO ELECTORS

Upon entering the polling place, an elector shall give his or her name and address, show an acceptable form of photo identification and sign the poll book before being permitted to vote.  Where ballots are distributed to electors, the initials of two inspectors must appear on the ballot.  Upon being permitted to vote, the elector shall retire alone to a voting booth and cast his or her ballot except that an elector who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the elector’s minor child or minor ward.  An election official may inform the elector of the proper manner for casting a vote, but the official may not in any manner advise or indicate a particular voting choice.

At the spring election, where PAPER BALLOTS are used, the elector shall mark the oval at the left of the name of the candidate for whom he or she intends to vote.  To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the elector shall write in the name of the person of his or her choice in the space provided for a write-in vote.  On referendum questions, the elector shall mark the oval at the left of “yes” if in favor of the question, or the elector shall mark the oval at the left of “no” if opposed to the question.

Where TOUCH SCREEN voting systems are used, the elector shall touch the screen by the name of the candidate for whom he or she intends to vote.  To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the elector shall type in the name of the person of his or her choice in the space provided for a write-in vote.  On referendum questions, the elector shall touch the screen next by the “yes” if in favor of the question, or the elector shall touch the screen next to “no” if opposed to the question.

The vote should not be cast in any other manner.  If the elector spoils a ballot, he or she shall return it to an election official who shall issue another ballot in its place, but not more than three ballots shall be issued to any one elector.  If the ballot has not been initialed by two inspectors or is defective in any other way, the elector shall return it to the election official, who shall issue a proper ballot in its place.  Not more than five minutes’ time shall be allowed inside a voting booth or machine.  Sample ballots or other materials to assist the elector in casting his or her vote may be taken into the booth and copied.  The sample ballot shall not be shown to anyone so as to reveal how the ballot is marked.

After an official PAPER ballot is marked, the elector shall leave the booth, insert the ballot in the voting device and leave the polling place promptly.

After an official TOUCH SCREEN ballot is marked, the elector shall leave the booth, insert the ballot in the voting device and leave the polling place promptly.

An elector may select an individual to assist in casting his or her vote if the elector declares to the presiding official that he or she is unable to read, has difficulty reading, writing or understanding English or that due to disability is unable to cast his or her ballot. The selected individual rendering assistance may not be the elector’s employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector.