SATELLITE VOTING
Satellite Voting Let's make every vote count!
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Early voting is one of three absentee voting methods made available to voters. The other two methods are vote by mail and by traveling board (a bi-partisan team that assists voters who are confined to their home).
What is the difference between voting by mail and early voting?
To vote by mail, you must submit an application to the Election Board indicating a reason why you cannot go to your polling location on Election Day. You do not have to submit a copy of your government issued photo ID to vote by mail. Once the application is approved, the Election Board mails a ballot to you. You complete the ballot, seal it in a security envelope, sign it and return in by mail in the postage paid envelope. The ballot is then delivered to your precinct on Election Day.
What is satellite voting?
It’s the same as early voting, but held at sites unanimously selected by the Election Board - in addition to the Clerk’s office. The satellite locations have traditionally opened the last ten days before an election to give voters more convenient and flexible voting options.
Why can’t the county clerk open satellite sites on her own?
State law is very clear: satellite voting locations must be unanimously selected by the bi-partisan Election Board. The clerk cannot unilaterally open locations outside of her office.
BACKGROUND
Early voting has grown in popularity in Marion County since the November 2007 municipal election, where 25% of absentee voters chose to vote early (figure 1). In fact, 36.3% in the United States in 2016 and growing.
When does early voting start?
State law requires early voting in the general, primary and municipal elections to begin in the Clerk’s office 29 days before the election. Early voting ends promptly at noon the Monday before the election.
To build on the community’s early voting enthusiasm, the Marion County Election Board adopted a resolution in December 2007 to form a 'Satellite Voting Advisory Committee’ (SVAC). The bi-partisan committee consisted of two Democratic and two Republican members. Over the summer of 2008, MCEB staff used the SVAC plan to fully develop a staffing plan in an effort to open two satellite early voting sites for the 2008 presidential election. On September 17, 2008, the MCEB unanimously approved a plan to open two sites – the J. Everett Light Career Center and the Southport Community Center. Although only open for 11 days, both sites proved popular as 53% of all early voters visited one of these two satellite sites (figure 2).
