Florence preparing for more absentee ballots for municipal elections

Florence preparing for more absentee ballots for municipal elections

Today - the city of florence told us it already sent 100 absentee ballots for the upcoming mayoral and city council elections later this month.

Waay31's breken terry shows us how the city is preparing for these municipal elections in the middle of a pandemic, breken?

The city clerk told me they have ordered hand sanitizer, mask, and plastic patricians to protect poll workers and they are preparing for more people to choose absentee ballots in the upcoming elections on august 25th.

<leyde- i certainly don't blame people for staying home and not wanting to go to the polls.

Florence city clerk bob leyde told me if you are concerned about the virus you can still vote via an absentee ballot.

Just check the box saying you have a physical illness.

Secretary of state john merrill made this extension from the july run off.

Leyde- in the past we've had anywhere from 150 to 400 people that have voted absentee, but i have no idea on this one with covid.

Leyde said they didn't change any polling locations because the 12 polling sites are in large areas where social distancing is possible.

There are 27,000 registered voters in florence city limits.

Leyde told me average turnout is about 5,000 voters.

The city ordered 1,200 absentee ballots.

Leyde- that is 200 per district.

So we've got the 1,200 ballots in here.

Leyde said there is a slight change this year.

In the past you'd send in your ballot with your candidate marked and a copy of a state issued photo id.

Now you fill out the absentee application and present a copy of a state issued photo id to get your ballot mailed to you.

<leyde- yesterday we received 23 applications in the mail and this morning we are returning those ballots to people so they can vote.

Look live tag: once your ballot is filled out you can mail it in on august 24 or earlier.

You can also drop it at the city clerks office in downtown florence.

In flo bt waay31.>