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DISCUSSION RE CURRENT PROCEDURES IN COUNTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS At the request of Commissioner Bird, Rosemary Richey, Supervisor of Elections, reviewed the current procedures used in counting absentee ballots. She explained that the law does not allow them to open absentee ballots until the polls are closed and after the books are returned from the polling places because of the possibility that someone could have voted twice. That happens very seldom, but at this last election a very elderly lady forgot she had sent in an absentee ballot and voted again at the precinct. Supervisor Richey thought that 8:30-9:00 P.M. would be the earliest time they would be ready to begin to counting the ballots, and pointed out that the people who count the ballots had been working at the polling places since early morning and would have to continue working until midnight or later. That is the reason why the absentee ballots are counted the morning after an election. The Supervisor of Elections reported that 30 counties are currently using the PEPS system which is similar to the punch card system. The PEPS system itself would cost the County approximately $15,000-16,000, and the additional cost of $.14 per card would total approximately $800 for 5000 ballots. The cards must be reprogrammed for each election at a cost of approximately $.14. The PEPS system counts between 300-600 cards a minute. There is a two-day training period in Plant City, but if we want it this coming general election, they would send someone over to oversee the counting. Mrs. Richey reported that the absentee ballots are out for the October run-off election and they can be counted that night if a judge and a commissioner are in attendance. Commissioner Bird asked if there is some trade-off as far as costs are concerned. Mrs. Richey explained that we 20 SEP 12 1984 BOOK 8 pm F 254