Pinal County2012 General Election

Poll Worker Training Class

Topics Coveredin this Class:

1. General Election Ballot Selection

2. Wait Time Survey

3. Opening the Polls

4. Provisional Voting

5. Closing the Polls

6. All Other Poll Worker Issues

Important Dates

• October 9th – Last day to register to vote

• October 11th – Early voting begins

• November 6th – Election Day!

Ballot Selection

• Some precincts have “splits” while others do not

• Certain districts do not follow voting precinct lines

• Some voters in your precinct may belong to different school districts, fire districts, etc.

• It is crucial to give voters the proper ballot!

Ballot Selection(Precinct Part Numbers)

• Every voter in the signature roster is assigned a precinct part number

• The whole part of the number (left of the decimal) is the usual precinct number

• The fraction part of the number (right of the decimal) indicates the voter's unique combination of district assignments

• It is simple, find the voter's precinct part number on the top of the ballot

Signature RosterPct. Part Numbers

Pct. Part Numbers

“01.02”

BallotsPct. Part Numbers

Match the number “01.02” to the top of the ballot.

If the ballot has the same number on it, it is the right one for that voter.

BallotsNo “Splits”

• Some precincts have only 1 style of ballots• The header of the ballots have no precinct

part numbers• All voters get the same ballot• Co-Located polling sites still need to give

out the proper precinct ballot to the voter• 04 & 103; 50 & 51; 11 & 104; 13 & 105

No “Split”Ballot Example

No pct. part numbers, just the precinct name

Wait Time Survey

• All Election Boards are required by State law to submit an Election Wait Time Survey

• In order to be able to complete the survey, the line of voters will have to be monitored periodically throughout the day.

• Look at the clock and time the voter last in line until he or she receives a ballot

• Place the completed survey in your Unofficial Returns bag at the end of the night

Actual Wait Time SurveyELECTION WAIT TIME SURVEY

PRECINCT(S) NAME: ELECTION DATE: POLLING PLACE: LOCATION: Were there wait times at the polling place?

YES NO If yes, please mark the box next to the reason(s):

ID at the polls

Voter turnout was higher than expected

Lack of poll workers

Poll worker confusion over new procedures

Lack of voting booths

Malfunction of equipment

Length of ballot (# of races, including ballot measures)

Other (please explain) Of the items checked above, which one was the largest contributor to the wait time at the poll? Were any remedies made or actions taken to alleviate the wait time at the poll? YES NO Please describe. At what time of the day were the lines the longest?

6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. What was the longest wait time for a voter?

15 minutes 30 minutes 45 minutes 60 minutes (1 hour) 90 minutes 120 minutes (2 hours) more than 2 hours

Electioneering(New Rules)

• New Definition: “…knowingly, intentionally, by verbal expression and in order to induce or compel another person to vote in a particular manner or to refrain from voting…” A.R.S. § 16-515

• No longer applies to clothing or printed materials

• Old rules still apply to poll workers, election officials and party representatives

Opening the Polls

• All poll workers must arrive by 5:30 am• It is up to the Inspector whether or not to allow

poll workers who arrive late to work• Voting machines, internal sign postings, voting

booths, tables and supplies should be set up the day before the election

• It is the Inspector’s responsibility to contact his or her fellow workers & advise them of the time to meet and set up the polling place the day prior to the election. Also discuss if they are to bring a sack lunch or potluck.

Issues Openingthe Polls

• By no later than the Monday setup meeting, ensure that no supplies are missing

• Be sure to post registered write-in candidates and notices of candidate withdrawals

• Report any difficulties with setting up voting machines as quickly as possible

• Notify the Elections Dept. of any missing supplies as quickly as possible and document it on the Inspector’s Checklist

• Feel free to contact us Monday evening (Contact info. on page 1 of manual)

Provisional Voters(Voter was issued an early ballot)

• Primary reason voters vote provisionally

• Early voters are indicated on the signature line of the roster

• These voters must vote a provisional ballot

Provisional Voters(Voter’s name does not appear in thesignature roster and has not moved)

• Call us! This could easily be a voter at the wrong polling place. The County Recorder’s Office can assist as well.

• A provisional ballot cast at the wrong polling site for the voter will not be counted!

Provisional Voters(Voter has moved to a new precinct within the county)

• It is extremely important to ensure that the voter is at the proper precinct

• Have voter identify where they live on the precinct maps provided

• If the voter is at the right precinct, have him or her vote provisionally

• If you have any doubts as to what precinct the voter should be at, call us

Provisional Voters(Voter has moved within the precinct)

• Using the precinct map provided, ensure the voter is at the proper precinct

• When in doubt, call us• If a voter has moved and did not re-register, his

or her ID will not match what’s on the books• If the voter confirms that the ID does not match

due to having moved but the ID is correct, he or she should not be issued a conditional provisional ballot, just a regular provisional ballot

Conditional ProvisionalVoters

• Only issued to voter’s who do not provide sufficient ID

• Refer to listings of acceptable ID provided with precinct supplies

• Notify the voter that he or she must provide valid ID within 5 business days of the General Election

• Listing of agencies that will accept proof of ID is on page 13 of the manual

• Stamp the provisional envelope with the “Conditional Provisional” red stamp

ConditionalProvisional

Provisional Pointers

• Be sure to properly fill out all required paperwork:– Completely fill out the Provisional envelope form– Add the voter’s name to the red signature roster

and assign him or her a sequential number beginning with the letter V, “V-1, V-2, V-3, etc.”; the voter then signs next to it

– Have the voter fill out a short registration form if the voter’s name does not appear on the signature roster, the voter has moved or changed name

– Do not place the registration form inside the envelope!

– Add the provisional voter’s name to the poll list– Be sure to have the voter sign the provisional

envelope too

Closing the PollsPrecinct Ballot Reports

• The precinct ballot report is located at the front of the poll list

• It verifies that the number of ballots cast at the precinct is consistent with the machine tapes and the number of names in the poll list

• It is a critical piece of the post-election audit process

• Pinal County has set goals and performance measures for precinct ballot accountability

Ballot Report Example

Ballot Report Tips

• If you fail to balance at first, check your math• If your math is right, then which is greater, line 10 (add

lines 5 & 9b) or line 11 (# names in the poll list)?• If line 10 is greater, names may be missing from the poll

list, check provisional voters and the signature roster• If line 11 is greater, the count of unused ballots may be

wrong• Line 5 should always be equal to the total number of

provisional ballots + the count on the Accu-Vote optical scan unit. If it isn’t, the unused ballot count is probably off.

2012 Primary ElectionBallot Reports

• Approximately 25% of precincts put down 0 for total ballots cast on “optical scan” machine.

• “optical scan” means Accu-Vote

Total Ballots Cast

• Every precinct election board is responsible for maintaining a close watch on their voting machines

• Ballot counts should be periodically checked throughout the day

• On ballot reports, be sure to enter the from the “ELECTION RESULTS REPORT”, not the “ELECTION ZERO REPORT”

Tape ExamplesELECTION ZERO REPORT ELECTION RESULTS REPORT

Pct. # - Pct. Name“55 – CASA GRANDE WEST”

“PRECINCT: 530”Precinct ID, doesn’t mean anythingActual precinct number is 55, not 530

“BALLOTS CAST”Will always be 0 on Zero Report

Put the total from the Results Reporton line 9a of the ballot report

(97 in this example)

Closing the Polls What Goes Where (p. 23)?

• Unofficial Returns Bag Shall Contain:1. Signature Roster(s) (yellow cover)2. Carbonless Copies from poll list (blue, pink &

yellow tear sheets)-if not picked up by party representatives

3. Registration Form(s) (if used)4. Carbonless Copy of Ballot Report5. W-9 Forms (if any)6. Election Results Accu-vote Tape7. Election Results TSX Tape

• Securely sealed and signed by: Inspector and Judges

Closing the Polls What Goes Where (p. 23)?

• Official Returns Bag Shall Contain:1. Poll List (Light blue cover)-with original ballot

report & original poll list sheets (white sheets)

2. Spoiled Ballots (if any)

3. Challenge List (if used)

• Securely sealed and signed by: Inspector and Judges

Closing the Polls What Goes Where (p. 24)?

• The Ballot Transfer Bag Shall Contain:1. Voted Ballots2. Early Ballot Envelope with any dropped off Early

Ballots3. TSX Canister (Sealed with red & white sticker and

signed)4. Provisional Ballot Envelope with voted provisional

ballots5. Un-official Returns Bag6. Official Returns Bag

• Sealed with Orange Seal (Record Seal # on Ballot Report)

Poll Worker Issues(Professional Behavior)

• Maintain a quiet and orderly polling site• All poll workers must be properly attired (business

casual, no shorts, flip-flops, etc.)• Personal cell phone usage should be kept private and to

a minimum• No eating at the work station• Schedule breaks for eating and making personal calls

during slow times of the day (Marshal can be used to cover breaking workers)

• Poll workers are not allowed to leave the polling site and return (No going to get fast food or snacks from a convenience store)

• When you aren’t sure about something, RTFM! (Read the Friendly Manual)

• Still aren’t sure, call us! We’re here to help.

Poll Worker Issues(Inspectors)

• Get the data sheet for your polling site at this class

• Contact the facility as soon as possible in order to setup the Monday setup meeting

• Get a key to the facility if you can• If you can’t get a key, get the cell phone number

of the person who can allow you in the building• Be sure to remind the facility that someone will

have to be available to let the election board in by 5:30 am on Election Day

Poll Worker Issues(Troubleshooters)

• Contact information is provided to the Inspector

• Troubleshooter can assist with setting up and closing the polls

• Should be able to get your TSX machine up and running if there is a problem

• Will pick up your ballot transfer bag and voting machines at the end of the day

• Often covers multiple polling sites

Poll Worker Issues(Marshals)

• Only voters, party representatives and poll officials are allowed inside the 75-foot limit

• No verbal electioneering whatsoever inside the 75-foot limit

• No written electioneering, either explicit or symbolic, allowed inside the 75-foot limit for anyone except for voters

• Make sure outdoor signs are not being blown down (75-foot limit signs are shorter, troubleshooters can provide sand bags)

Poll Worker Issues Disabled and Elderly Voters

• Be patient, courteous and considerate of the extra time it may take to assist voters with special needs

• Voters can be assisted by any person of his or her choosing

• When poll workers assist a voter, it must be by 2 people, 1 DEM and 1 REP

• Be sure that the layout of the polling site can be easily navigated by a person in a wheel chair (No loose cords or obstructions of the main flow of voters)

Poll Worker IssuesWrite-In Votes

• There are several candidates running as write-ins

• The voter must fill in the bubble next to the write-in line and write the candidate’s name on the line

• The black ballot box sorts ballots with write-in votes

• Keep these ballots separated in the black duffle bag, they must be hand-counted by a separate Write-In election board

Poll Worker Issues(Getting Paid)

• Most checks will be mailed the day after the election

• Make sure you have filed a W-9 with us this calendar year

• Be sure to sign in for this class

TSX Demonstration