After opening up the potential for a by-mail election this October, the Bethel City Council is considering two other voting options at its June 23 regular meeting: early voting and electronic voting.
If this ordinance passes, people would be able to go to a polling place before election day and cast a ballot. City Clerk Lori Strickler says that early voting would be available every business day for two weeks ahead of the election. The ordinance states that this could reduce the number of voters congregating at the polls on election day itself, which could help with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Electronic voting would provide another option for voters looking to avoid crowds. Strickler says that this form of absentee voting would be conducted through e-mail. She said that one downside of this method is that a few voting officials would have to read the voter’s e-mailed ballot, but, she said, those officials would be bound by strict confidentiality laws.
