Workers at the Monroe County Board of Elections begin counting nearly 80,000 absentee ballots today in the June 23rd primary and special elections.
The unusually large number of ballots come from people who voted by mail because of COVID-19. At the elections board the ballots are sorted onto tables according to the election district they come from. All are cross checked by teams of Republican and Democratic Party workers before they get a final count by machines.
Campaigns can, and do, designate observers to be in the room and keep an eye on the process on behalf of their candidates.
The board has two weeks to complete the process and announce the final results before certifying the election.