When voters go to the polls for the general election on Nov. 4, they will find two different lines to choose from. One line leads to the Adams County Board of Elections' main voting system, the TSX machines. The other line leads to voting by the old paper ballot system, as required by the Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
"Voters may request a paper ballot this year," said Mary Fannin, director of the Adams County elections board. "However, they should be aware that we only ordered the required number of paper ballots, enough for 25 percent of the voters. If we run out, we won't be able to get any more."
Fannin said the paper ballots cannot be moved from one polling place to another to cover a shortage because the ballots are designated for each poll. The order of the candidates is rotated from one precinct to another to give each candidate a fair chance.
Of course, voters will again be required to provide appropriate identification to vote. The following are the types of ID permitted by the Ohio Secretary of State:
1. Photo ID: Any document issued by the U.S. government or the State of Ohio that meets the following criteria is an acceptable photo identification if it has ALL of the following;
n An expiration date that has not passed;
n A photograph of the voter;
n The voter's name, which must conform to the voter's name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Books; and
n The voter's current address, which must conform to the voter's address as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Book UNLESS the ID is an Ohio driver's license or State ID Card. An Ohio Driver's License or State ID Card with an old address is acceptable if the poll worker records the last four digits of the voter's driver's license or State ID Card in the Poll Book.
2. Military ID: Valid military ID cards or copies of such cards must be accepted whether or not they contain an address.
3. Utility Bill: Must contain correct name and current address of the voter.
n A "bill" is a statement of fees owed and/or paid for services.
n The bill may be a copy of an electronically transmitted statement for services owed or paid or a regular paper copy.
n A "utility bill" includes, but is not limited to, water, sewer, electric, heating, cable, Internet, telephone and cellular phone services.
n The name and address on the bill must conform to the voter's information as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Book.
n The utility bill must be current within one year of the Election Day for which the voter is presenting it for the purpose of voting.
4. Bank Statement: Must contain correct name and current address of the voter.
n A "bank statement" includes, but is not limited to, a statement from any financial or brokerage institution.
n The bank statement may be a copy of an electronically transmitted statement or a regular paper copy.
n The name and address on the statement must conform to the voter's information as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Book.
n The bank statement must be current within one year of the Election Day for which the voter is presenting it for the purpose of voting.
5. Government Check; Must contain correct name and current address of the voter.
n A "government check" includes, but is not limited to, a paycheck, check stub or receipt provided for direct deposit of funds, including a copy of an electronically transmitted statement, issued by any level of government (known as "political subdivision") in Ohio, or for any other state, or the United States government.
n The name and address on the check must conform to the voter's information as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Book.
n The government check must be current within one year of the Election Day for which the voter is presenting it for the purpose of voting.
6. Paycheck:
n A "paycheck" includes, but is not limited to, a paycheck, check stub or receipt provided for the direct deposit of wages or earnings, including a copy of an electronically transmitted statement, from any public or private employer, bearing the name and current address of the voter.
n The name and address on the paycheck must conform to the voter's information as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Signature Book.
n The paycheck must be current within one year of the Election Day for which the voter is presenting it for the purpose of voting.
7. Other Government Document:
n Other government documents are acceptable forms of voter ID. A proper government document would include, but not limited to: letters, tax bills, licenses, notices, court papers, grade reports, and transcripts. It must include the name and address of the voter. Any material sent from the Board of Elections does not qualify for the purpose of voting.
n The document may be a copy of an electronically transmitted statement or a regular paper copy.
n The name and address on the government document must conform to the voter's name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Signature Book.
n The document must be current within the year of the Election Day for which the voter is presenting it for the purpose of voting.
Documents that cannot be used for ID at the polls are: a driver's license or photo ID card issued by a state other than Ohio; a Social Security card; a passport; a birth certificate, unless voter still lives at the house where he or she resided at birth, and the birth certificate contains that home address; insurance cards with no home address of voter; or the notice from the county board of elections sent 60 days before the date of the election containing voter ID requirements, or any registration notice from the county board of elections. Other documents from the board of elections are acceptable ID as government documents.
Will there be long lines at the polls? According to Fannin, there are 18,016 registered voters in Adams County (registration for this general election ended on Oct. 6). As of Tuesday afternoon, 2,325, or nearly 13 percent, had already voted absentee. Fannin said it's the largest number of absentee voters that she recalls. Although she didn't have the actual figures handy, she believed the closest any Adams County election came in numbers of absentee voters would have been about 1,700.
In addition to this year's presidential contest, Fannin said Seaman Village may also experience heavy voting due to two local liquor options on the ballot.
