Effective Pollwatching Naperville Township Democratic Organization October 2012

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

* Yellow, under-lined text are key points What is a pollwatcher? A registered voter, associated with particular party, candidate, organization, or ballot issue An observer, ensuring election integrity Appointed by a candidate or party Given credentials; one per precinct (Must be surrendered to Election Judges) Allowed access to the polling location… During polling location setup While the polling location is open After the polling location has closed Can observe and question; cannot touch * Yellow, under-lined text are key points

What is a Pollwatcher? Establishing a Rapport Introduce yourself; establish a rapport Be pleasant Bring food! Identify the Democratic Election Judge(s); they are on your side Do not be confrontational Ask questions, suggest corrections Note: election judges may limit the number of pollwatchers present due to overcrowding

What is a Pollwatcher? Helping us Get Out the Vote Arrive with a list of the precinct’s voters Ask to sit at or near the signature capture station… (more on that later) Track who has voted Report back who has / has not voted Step out; call voters who have not voted Remember: no cell phones allowed!

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Election Judge Responsibilities Ensure a fair election for all eligible voters Most are trained by the DCEC All judges equal in authority; majority rule Technical judge responsible for equipment “Chain of Custody” Judges from both parties Majority based on County Governor votes

Election Judge: Prior to Election Day Technical judge has picked up sensitive supplies Election Supply Cabinet of non-sensitive supplies delivered to polling location Monday night, available judges set-up: Signs and supplemental materials 6 voter “stations” Voting booths (without tabulators/electronics) ONLY non-sensitive material Pre-printed applications labeled, if already voted Sensitive supplies kept with technical judge Election Supply Cabinet locked and tagged

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Judges arrive 5:00-5:15am Technical Judge has sensitive supplies Judges take/sign oath & certificate of inspection Election Supply Cabinet: unlocked/untagged Polling location set-up with 6 “stations”… Voter applications Signature Verification Ballot Issuance Voting Booths Ballot Box/Tabulator Voter Assistance “Ask ED” (usually technical judge) NO Electioneering Polls open EXACTLY at 6:00am

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Voter Application Station Two judges Poll record binders of all alphabetized pre-printed voter applications

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Signature Verification Station Two judges (1 from each party)

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Ballot Issuance ALL paper ballots unpacked and available Different ballot types based on districts Regular, full ballots for normal cases Federal ballots for fail-safe voting Compare ballot types with posted signs Express poll… For touch-screen voting Writes memory card given to voter for voting Two judges

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Voting Booths Set-up with privacy considerations Empty and signed (no graffiti) At least one accessible voting booth Touch screen voting machine set-up and operational Verify displayed polling location

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Ballot Box / Tabulator Ensure judges verify it is still empty Tabulator added and activated Verify “zero-tape” is produced, contains all zeroes, and is signed by all judges Tabulator is locked Technical judge has key One judge assigned to watch ballot box

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Voter Assistance (“Ask ED”) Pollwatcher administration Election judge guide All affidavits for special cases Provisional ballots List of all registered voters Cell phone for DCEC use 1 judge (usually technical judge)

Election Judge: Election Day Setup Electioneering Safe zone: 100’ from room entrance If zone within building, judges can elect to make entire building safe zone. Safe zone must be signed NO candidate, party, issue promotion… (buttons, badges, shirts, caps, stickers, signs, handouts, etc.) Outside building is fair game Exception: churches and private schools (if they so elect and inform judges)

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Election Judge: Election Day Voter Application Station Judge asks voter for name and address Must be audible for pollwatcher to hear Asking for ID not allowed Exception: Application says “Registered by mail” If signature not readable: new signature capture Judge finds application; voter signs Any problem: directed to voter assistance

Election Judge: Election Day Signature Verification Station Both judges verify signature, and initial Any problem: directed to voter assistance

Election Judge: Election Day Signature Verification Station: CHALLENGES Any voter, judge, or pollwatcher can challenge a voter’s right to vote. Must state the reason to the judges (moved, qualifications, already voted, etc.) Judges decide; majority rules If challenge denied, voter can vote If challenge upheld, voter directed to voter assistance station

Election Judge: Election Day Ballot Issuance Judge(s) ensure application is initialed Asks voter for preferred voting process: Paper Electronic touch-screen Directed to Express Poll judge

Election Judge: Election Day Ballot Issuance – PAPER ballot Judge selects ballot matching ballot type indicated on pre-printed application Judge initials ballot with red pen Judge numbers and files application Judge gives receipt to voter Judge gives ballot to voter and offers a paper privacy cover Directs voter to vacant voting booth

Election Judge: Election Day Ballot Issuance – ELECTRONIC ballot Judge issues voter card based on ballot type indicated on pre-printed application Judge gives memory card to voter Directs voter to electronic touch-screen machine

Election Judge: Election Day Voting Booths / Ballot Box Paper ballot voters directed to ballot box Spoiled ballot can be re-issued Judge verifies ballot is initialed in red Judge does not touch ballot without voter’s permission Only voter inserts ballot into ballot reader Touch-screen voter returns voter card

Election Judge: Election Day Voter Assistance All non-normal issues resolved here DCEC contact/help very common Proper affidavit completed/filed Military Address change / registration Name change Fail-safe federal ballots Assisted voter Provisional voting

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting  Closing Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Election Judge: Election Day Closing Judges will start closing 6:00-7:00pm Any voter in line at 7:00pm allowed to vote Judges will divide and conquer Order of closing not as important as every step being done All judges have to sign all sensitive materials Typical closing time: 60-90 minutes One judge from each party returns materials (if student judge, must be registered)

Election Judge: Election Day Closing Paper ballots… Check auxiliary ballot box compartment Record number of paper ballots tabulated Spoiled ballots sealed Poll record binders sealed Ender card used to close election

Election Judge: Election Day Closing Paper ballots… Tabulate/print 4 copies of paper ballot results (Pollwatcher(s) can request additional copy) Memory card removed  into pouch Voted ballots removed and hand counted Voted ballots secured Write-in votes manually tabulated All voted ballots sealed and signed

Election Judge: Election Day Closing Electronic / Touch-screen ballots… Supervisor card / PIN used to end voting 3 copies of electronic ballot results printed (Pollwatcher(s) can request additional copy) Memory card removed  into pouch All voting hardware disassembled Provisional ballots sealed and signed Official ballot record completed & signed

Election Judge: Election Day Closing One copy of printed results tape from each machine posted at polling location Non-sensitive supplies sealed in Election Supply Cabinet Sensitive supplies returned to DCEC in blue rolling bag Memory cards hand-carried back to DCEC by Technical Judge and one judge from opposite party

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting  Closing Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open Did all judges arrive by 5:15am? Did the Technical Judge have the sensitive supplies? Was the Election Supply Cabinet sealed? Did the seal number match what was recorded the previous night? Were the pre-printed applications for those having already voted labeled? (green labels) Did all judges take/sign the oath?

Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open Was the “NO Electioneering” zone identified? Were all ballots unpacked and available Were the ballot types correct? Were the voting booths private and empty?

Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open Was the ballot box verified to be empty? Did all judges sign the “zero” tape? Was the tabulator locked? Were provisional ballots readied? Did the polls open exactly at 6:00am?

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting  Closing Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open Can you hear the name of the voter? Are ID’s illegally being required? Are any challenges handled properly? Are voters being harassed or intimidated? Are both signature judges initialing the application? Is the ballot judge asking the voter to confirm the correct ballot style? Is the ballot judge initialing ballot with a red pen?

Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open Is the ballot judge reminding voters to vote both sides of the ballot? Is the ballot judge offering the voter a privacy cover? Is the ballot box judge verifying that that the voted ballot is initialed in red? Is the voter allowed to insert their own ballot privately in to the ballot box? Is the voter assistance judge allowing voters to vote provisionally?

Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open Helping the NTDO… Track voters on your list of precinct voters Follow-up… either: Leave the polling location and call voters who have not yet voted. Remind them of the importance. …or… Hand off your list to your partner and get a new list. Your partner will call the voters. Offer rides if someone needs one

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting  Closing Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

Pollwatcher Responsibilities After the Polls Close Did the polls close exactly at 7:00pm? Were voters allowed to vote if in line? Was the auxiliary compartment of the ballot box checked? Were the memory cards removed and placed in the memory card pouch? Were provisional ballots sealed and signed? Were write-in votes identified and separated for return to the Election Commission?

Pollwatcher Responsibilities After the Polls Close Were the voted paper ballots hand-counted and recorded on the official ballot record? (new this year) Was the official ballot record completed and signed by all judges? Were result tapes posted in the polling place? Did you receive a copy of the result tape if you requested one? Were all materials locked and sealed in the Election Supply Cabinet, or returned in the rolling blue bag or memory card pouch?

Effective Pollwatching What Is A Pollwatcher? Election Judge Responsibilities Prior to Election Day Election Day Set-up Election Day Voting  Closing Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the polls open While the polls are open After the polls close What to do if there’s a problem

How to Handle Problems Record observations, issues, names, times, … Politely point out concerns; enquire Insist on corrective action if needed Call the Election Commission (630-407-5600) Remain at the polling location until help arrives For serious problems, call the police Aurora: 630-627-3100 Naperville: 630-420-6666 For an emergency, call 9-1-1