YSC, Title 7.  Elections
 
 
 
Chapter 8.  Conduct of Elections

801.  Polling places to be supervised.
802.  Polling places to be properly equipped and supplied.
803.  Proclamation on opening of polls.
804.  Reporting of name of voter; register to be checked.
805.  Campaigning, alcoholic beverages sale at polling places prohibited.
806.  Poll watchers allowed.
807.  Ballot area.
808.  Reception of ballot.
809.  Marking ballot.
810.  Return of ballot.
811.  Assistance in marking ballot.
812.  Cancellation of spoiled ballot.
813.  Return of ballot.
814.  Accounting of ballots.
815.  Inquiry on vote at polling place.
816.  Removal of ballot box.
817.  Closing of polls.
818.  Election irregularity; complaint; procedure.
819.  Disposition of ballot boxes after voting complete.

     801.  Polling places to be supervised.
     The Election Commissioner shall ensure that polling places are supervised by the election board and such other officials as the Election Commissioner shall deem necessary, who must be present at the designated polling places during the election.  Only one poll worker may be absent from a polling place at any time while the polling place is open.  Public schools and other public places shall be utilized insofar as practicable as polling places.  Rent shall not be charged or paid for the use thereof.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  The Legislature is authorized to prescribe the method of voting at elections pursuant to Yap Const., Art. IV, Sect. 2.

     802.  Polling places to be properly equipped and supplied.
     Each polling place shall be provided with necessary ballot boxes, locks, official ballots, cards of instructions, pencils, registered voters lists, papers, and other necessary supplies.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     803.  Proclamation on opening of polls.
     At exactly seven o'clock a.m., of the day of the election, a member of the election board shall proclaim aloud at each place of election that the polls are open, and shall be kept open until seven o'clock p.m., of the same day, after which time the polls shall be closed; provided, that, if at the hour of closing there are any other voters in the polling place, or in line at the door, who are qualified to vote and have not been able to do so since appearing, the polls shall be kept open for sufficient time to enable them to vote; provided further, that, if all registered voters appearing on a registered voter's list for any polling place have voted, that polling place may close irrespective of the time of day.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  The constitutional provision on the date of general elections is found in Yap Const., Art. IV, Sect. 3.  That section states in pertinent part:  "General elections shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in an even numbered year every four years; PROVIDED, in the event of a natural disaster or other Acts of God, the effect which precludes holding the election on the foregoing date, the Governor may proclaim a later election to be held within sixty days.  . . ."

     804.  Reporting of name of voter; register to be checked.
     Any person appearing in the polling place shall report his name, in full, and his address to the election officials.  An election official shall clearly and audibly announce them.  Another election official shall then check the register of voters as to whether or not the person appearing is a registered voter, and if so, shall announce the name and address appearing in the register.  At this point, a challenge may be interposed on the ground that the ballot is subject to challenge under the law, rules or regulations issued by the Election Commissioner.  Voting shall then proceed in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Election Commissioner, however, all voting shall be by secret ballot.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  The constitutional provision on secrecy of voting is found in Yap Const., Art. IV, Sect. 2.  That section states in pertinent part:  " . . .  Secrecy of voting shall be preserved."

     805.  Campaigning, alcoholic beverages sale at polling places prohibited.
     No campaigning shall be conducted within 100 feet of a ballot box on election day and no alcoholic beverages shall be sold, or otherwise provided to any person during election day while the polls are open.  No candidate shall be allowed within 100 feet of any ballot box except for the purpose of casting his ballot.  There shall be no campaigning over any state broadcast station on election day.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  The statutory provisions on Alcoholic Beverages is found in Title 30 of this Code.

     806.  Poll watchers allowed.
     Each candidate shall be entitled to have one poll watcher at each polling place.
 
Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     807.  Ballot area.
     An area where a ballot is marked shall not be occupied by more than one person at a time.  A voter shall not remain in or occupy such area longer than is reasonably necessary to prepare his ballot, which shall not exceed five minutes.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     808.  Reception of ballot.
     On receiving his ballot, the voter shall without delay directly retire along to an area provided to prepare his ballot.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     809.  Marking ballot.
     The voter shall place a check ( /) or across (X) mark in a space on the ballot after the name of a candidate for whom he intends to vote.  A voter shall not place his voting marks in  excess of  the number of  candidates who are to be elected.  Instead of marking a space a voter may vote by writing the name of a person whose name does not appear on the ballot in a space provided for such purpose.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  The statutory provision on write-in votes is found in section 909 of this title.

     810.  Return of ballot.
     After marking a ballot, a voter shall fold his ballot in such a manner as not to display his markings and shall then deposit his ballot in the ballot box.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     811.  Assistance in marking ballot.
     When a voter has declared under oath administered by an election official at the time he appears at the polling place to vote that he is then unable to mark his ballot because he cannot read or write; or that by reason of physical disability he is unable to mark his ballot, he shall receive the assistance of not less than two election officials.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     812.  Cancellation of spoiled ballot.
     The officials at the polls shall immediately cancel all spoiled ballots returned by drawing a cross upon the face in ink or indelible pencil and these, and those not distributed to the voters, shall be returned with the register list and ballots.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.
 
     813.  Return of ballot.
     A voter who does not deposit his ballot in the ballot box shall before leaving the polling place return it to an election official in charge of the ballots, who shall immediately cancel the ballot and return it in the same manner as a spoiled ballot.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     814.  Accounting of ballots.
     Every precinct board shall account for the ballots delivered to it.  The ballots shall be accounted for by reconciling the number of ballots cast, returned unused and spoiled against the number of ballots delivered.  The Election Commissioner, upon receiving the returned ballots, shall require such an accounting.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     815.  Inquiry on vote at polling place.
     No person shall ask another person at a polling place as to which candidate he intends to vote for unless otherwise provided by this title.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     816.  Removal of ballot box.
     Unless otherwise provided by this title, no person shall remove any ballot box from any polling place before the closing time of the polls.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     817.  Closing of polls.
     Immediately upon the closing of the polls and before any ballot is taken from any of the ballot boxes for tabulation, the election officials of each polling place shall, in the presence of all authorized poll watchers, proceed to deface all unused ballots including spoiled ballots by drawing a cross mark on the face of such ballots and shall place them within an envelope and seal the envelope, and a majority of the election officials of the polling place shall affix their signatures thereupon.  Such ballots shall be transmitted, along with the ballot boxes and other supplies provided to the polling place, to the Election Commissioner or his duly authorized representative by the safest and most expeditious means available.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

     818.  Election irregularity; complaint; procedure.
     Any person may file an oral or written complaint on any election irregularity with a member of the election board present at the polling place.  The board member shall give an individual against whom the complaint is made time to present witnesses and explanation, if any, but in no event shall such time be granted so as to prevent the election board from making   decision prior to the time for the closing of the polls.  The complainant or the individual against whom the complaint is made may appeal the decision to the Election commissioner or his designated representative.  The Election Commissioner, or his said representative shall, as soon as possible, examine the finding of the election board and may hear witnesses, if he deems necessary.  The Election Commissioner or his said representative shall make his decision prior to the time of the closing of the polls, and the aggrieved party may appeal the decision in accordance with section 1003 of this title.  In the event  the decision of the Election Commissioner or his designated representative cannot be obtained as heretofore provided, the aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the election board in accordance with section 1003 of this title.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.

Cross-reference:  Section 1003 of this title is on denial of petition and appeal to State Court.

     819.  Disposition of ballot boxes after voting complete.
     After all voting is completed, all ballot boxes shall be secured and locked.  The locked boxes and all other supplies provided to the polling places by the Election Commissioner shall be collected by election officials and delivered to the Election Commissioner or his duly authorized representative by the safest and most expeditious means available and be certified to the Election Commissioner that the ballots so delivered were cast in accordance with the provisions of this title.

Source:  YSL 2-81 1, modified.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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