Spoiled ballots

Beryl Lipton filed this request with the Elections Division (Secretary of State) of Massachusetts.
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Beryl Lipton

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

All available statistics regarding the acceptability of ballots---submitted by mail, in-person, or otherwise---and their subsequent eligibility toward election vote tallies. Please include all available segregable data, including the number of ballots considered spoiled for any reason (lack of signature, improper submission, questionable authenticity, etc.). If any further clarification is necessary, please let me know.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Beryl C.D. Lipton

From: SEC-DL-Elections Inquiries

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. The data that you have requested is currently being compiled for the Election Assistance Commission’s post-election survey. While we do not currently have records containing the information you have requested, we expect that we will soon, and we would be happy to send you a copy of the survey once it has been completed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Debra O’Malley
Elections Division
Secretary of the Commonwealth
(617) 727-2828

From: SEC-DL-Elections Inquiries

Hello,

We have recently completed the compilation of certain information relating to the 2016 State Election for the Election Assistance Commission’s post-election survey. Attached, please find a spreadsheet containing that data relating to absentee, provisional, and early ballots, including the number rejected and accepted for provisional and absentee ballots and, where applicable, the reasons for rejection.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Debra O’Malley
Elections Division
Secretary of the Commonwealth
(617) 727-2828

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