April 8, 2005

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

APRIL 8, 2005

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 8^th day of April 2005 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse to canvass the ballots from the General City/School Election held on April 5, 2005.

Members Present:

Lavel Heitschmidt, 1^st District Commissioner

Kermit Rush, 2^nd District Commissioner

Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

Others Present: Peggy Svaty, Tom Foran.

Al Steinert

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

Chairman Rush called the meeting to order.

2. CANVASS OF BALLOTS

The canvas of ballots from the April 5, 2005 election was held with Chairman Rush checking the official abstract book and Commissioners Heitschmidt and Kueser checking the results of the optional scan reports. One Provisional Ballot was presented to the Commissioners for their decision as to whether or not to count it. The Provisional Ballot was cast because the voter was a first time voter and did not present identification. Within the allotted time by law, the voter produced sufficient identification to the County Election Officer and she recommended to the County Commissioners that the vote be counted. The Commissioners agreed and the vote was counted. With the Provisional Ballot being counted, the results changed the mayoral race for Wilson City to Eleanor Hunter, 181 votes and Al C. Steinert, 181 votes. This constituted a tie vote and the law requires that the Commissioners decided by lot who is the winner. The Commissioners chose to flip a coin with Eleanor Hunter being the winner. With the exception of the above race, all other races remained the same as reported on election night.

Mr. Steinert then requested to the County Election Officer that he would like a hand recount of the Wilson Mayor race and deposited $75 for the cost of the recount. A recount will be held on Tuesday, April 12^th at 8:30 a.m. at the Ellsworth County Courthouse with a canvassing board provided by the County Election Officer.

3. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman recessed the canvassing board at approximately 8:45 a.m. until after the requested hand recount. Approximately at 9:00 a.m. Eleanor Hunter came to the office and visited with the Commissioner about the result of the race and asked questions of the County Election Officer about the conduct of the election and legality of some voters.

 

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Janet L. Andrews

Ellsworth County Clerk