Mark Up Irregularities Do Not Require Further Action 08 NCAC 18.0504

08 NCAC 18 .0504 is proposed for adoption as follows:

08 NCAC 18 .0504 IRREGULARITIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE FURTHER ACTION FROM THE VOTER

(a) An irregularity that does not require further action from the voter to have their application approved and ballot  counted includes the following:

(1) The absentee ballot is inside a sealed ballot envelope, but the outer return envelope is not sealed or appears to have been opened and re-sealed.

 (2) The absentee ballot is inside an unsealed ballot envelope that is hand-delivered by the voter to an early voting site or the county board office, but the voter seals the ballot envelope before an election official or county board staff take receipt of the sealed ballot envelope.

(b) When county board staff identify an irregularity listed in this Rule, the irregularity shall be documented in writing and county board staff shall inform the county board of elections of the irregularity at the meeting at which the county board will consider approval of the application. The county board shall not disapprove the application or otherwise refuse to count the absentee ballot solely based on an irregularity that is listed in this Rule.