Election Commission OKs Cell Phones For Showing Proof Of Address

Putnam County residents have an easier option for showing proof of address during the voter registration process.

Election Administrator Debbie Steidl said her office will now accept at least one record stored on cell phones.

“Some people have come in and haven’t had a second one, but they wanted to know if they could should proof on their cell phone with a utility bill or telephone bill,” Steidl said. ”

Residents must show two forms of proof of address in order to carry registration cards out the election commission office door. The cards get mailed out when residents can present only one form.

“I’m a little uncomfortable with people just taking a picture of their electric bill and saying ‘this is my electric bill.’ They could have picked it up where somebody dropped it,” Election Commissioner Linda Daniel said. “But, if you don’t let them walk out with their registration and they know that we’re going to mail them this card, then they’re going to be less apt to try to falsify something.”

Members of the Election Commission approved the proof of address policy change during Wednesday’s meeting.

Commissioners also approved a policy amendment pertaining to public records requests. Chairman Phil Adams said the amendment lowers the per page fee for making copies of the request.

“If they request it while they’re here, they can see it and take a look at it. If they want to take something out with them, there’s a charge for making copies,” Adams said. “After the fist hour, we can even charge them for the labor of having to put it together. Usually we don’t, unless we have off-site boxes that we have to compile.

The commission’s vote lowers to fee from 25-cents per page to 15-cents. It also puts the policy in line with what the state charges.