The Marshall County Clerk’s Office in the Court House has been a busy place the past the past few days. Voters are taking advantage of early voting. In the first 9 days of early voting 2,300 people have been in to vote with 317 in on Friday alone. The clerk’s office has mailed out 2,580 ballots. Part of the reason for the increase in absentee voters is COVID-19.
Residents who are eligible to vote by mail must make their request to the Marshall County Clerk’s Office by Thursday, October 22nd.
During the Commissioner’s meeting on Monday, County Election Board secretary, Deb VanDeMark asked the commissioners to set the per-diem for absentee counters. This is a position that came into play during the primary when there were so many mailed ballots. Additional personal had to work Election Day in the election office opening and separating ballots before each one was placed into the card reader. During the primary these positions were paid $12.85 an hour. State Board of Accounts told Clerks they should be paid by per-diem instead of hourly with a recommends pay of $145 for the day. The Commissioners approved the $145 per-diem.
Registered voters can vote early Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Clerk’s Office in the Court House. This Saturday, October 24th and next Saturday, October 31st resident can vote early from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Marshall County Clerk’s Office, at the Culver Community Schools Admin building and at the Pines in Bremen. Early voting ends at noon on Monday, November 2nd in the Clerk’s Office.
