Obama’s Grandma’s Early Ballot Still Counts, Despite Her Death

An absentee ballot cast by Barack Obama's grandmother prior to her death Sunday still counts in her home state of Hawaii.

However, some states, including South Dakota, have a different rule and would have voided the vote by the Democratic presidential nominee's grandmother, had she voted there, reports Slate.

"Absentee ballots are collected by county auditors and remain sealed until the election, so if an absentee voter dies prior to the election, then her ballot is never opened," the article reports, explaining the South Dakota scheme.

Although South Dakota reports voters' deaths electronically to election officials, some other states that prohibit such "ghost" votes probably lack the technology to enforce the rule, the article notes.

Related coverage:

Reuters: "Obama mourns grandmother on election eve"