URGENT NOTICE
**Urgent Public Notice to all Clifton Residents**
EMERGENCY MEETING:
FRIDAY, MARCH 27th @ 5PM
AGENDA ITEM:
Opening of two Absentee Ballots that were found after Election.
Explanation from Registrar, Deborah Hodgins:
It had come to our attention that there was an error in counting the ballots Tuesday, March 24th. While we were securing the documents, per Election Retention Schedule and legal protocol, two sealed/unopened absentee ballots were found in the Alpha Voter List binder. The mistake was made by the ballot clerk, and it was not intentional. Understanding the gravity of the situation, I immediately made calls to the Secretary of State Election office (Heidi Peckham), MMA Legal (Sue Pilgram) , and to the Town Attorney (Steven Wagner). I contacted Steven Wagner based on the recommendation of Sue Pilgrim. Please see the response from Wagner below, next steps are highlighted.
This situation is unfortunate, and it is our intention to be transparent and to legally rectify the situation immediately.
**From Town Attorney Stephen Wagner**
We understand the following facts:
A secret ballot municipal election was held yesterday March 24th.
That election, per last night’s count, resulted in one candidate prevailing for one available position by one vote.
This morning March 25th, in the process of securing the election materials, two sealed absentee ballots were located in one of the binders/folders used in administering the election.
Staff subsequently confirmed that the two absentee ballots were properly cast for yesterday’s election.
The issue presented is whether the Town should open and count the absentee ballots.
Based on our review of applicable law and conversations with the Secretary of State’s office, we advise the Town to open and process the absentee ballots. The fact that this may change the result of one of the offices weighs in favor of the position that the ballots should be counted.
We advise the following process:
Contact the candidates for the office that may be impacted by the addition of two votes, advise them that two ballots were found and that Town intends to count them, and try and find a date and time in the near future to count the ballots that is mutually acceptable to the Town and the candidates and/or their representatives.
Identify a date and time to assemble the election clerks to open and process the absentee ballots. This should be a duly noticed meeting open to the public, and the candidates or their representatives should be permitted to observe, just like they would be if this were a recount or inspection.
Through the usual means of providing public notice, announce when and where the Town will process the two absentee ballots.
If the ballots change the results, those revised results should be announced and then certified, using the same process used for announcing and certifying municipal election results.
Stephen Wagner