El Paso County Elections Alissa: Introductions Thank Ms. Laura Swartz El Paso County Elections

Types of Elections Election Cycle Primary Election General Election 2nd Tuesday in August in Even Numbered Years General Election 1st Tuesday following the 1st Monday in Even Numbered Years Coordinated Elections 1st Tuesday in November in Odd Numbered Years Election Cycle Alissa: Types of Elections Even Year Elections Primary Election—August 8, 2006 (2nd Tuesday in August) General Election—November 7, 2006 (1st Tuesday in November following the 1st Monday in November) Gubernatorial Election, State House and Senate Elections, County Offices, County Commissioners, Districts 1 and 5, CU Regent, and Statewide issues, US House of Representatives Odd Year Elections Coordinated Election (1st Tuesday in November) November 6, 2007 Statewide issues, County Questions, TABOR Questions, Special District and Small Towns Questions

Elections Generally Precinct Caucus Assemblies Primary Elections Tuesday, March 21, 2006 Assemblies Between March 31-April 20, 2006 Primary Elections Tuesday, August 8, 2006 General Elections Tuesday, November 7, 2006 Alissa: Caucus Precinct committee persons and delegates to county assemblies shall be elected at precinct caucuses that shall be held in a public place or in a private home that is open to the pubic during the caucus in or proximate to each precinct at time and place to be fix by the count central committee or executive committee of each political part on the third Tuesday in March in even numbered years C.R.S. 1- 2-102 (1) (a) (I) Precinct Caucus Day Tuesday March 21, 2006 Precincts are made up of about 1500 active registered voters There is an individual precinct caucus for every party including the minor parties Precinct Members select delegates to attend their County Assemblies and select who will be their precinct committee members for the next two years Precinct Committee Members make up each political parties Central Committee Assemblies means the meeting of delegates of a political party, organized in accordance with the rules and regulations of the political party, held for the purpose of designation candidates for nominations C.R.S. 1-1-104 (1.3) Nominate candidates to the primary ballot Candidates need to receive at least 30% of the vote at an assembly to be on the Primary Ballot Any candidate receiving at least 10% of the votes at an assembly can petition on to the Primary Ballot Primary Elections A primary election shall be held at the regular polling place in each precinct on the second Tuesday of August in even numbered years to nominate candidates of political parties to be voted for at succeeding general election. C.R.S. 1-104-101 (1) Two ways for candidates to access the primary election ballot is by the assembly process or by petition Ballot style for each major parties (Republicans get a ballot different ballot than Democrats) You have to be affiliated with one of the major parties at thirty days before the primary election in order to vote. They only voters that can change their affiliation at the polling place are unaffiliated voters. Minor parties nominate their candidates for the general election at their assembly they do not have a primary General Election A general elections shall be held in all precincts in this state on he Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November in every even-numbered year. C.R.S. 1-4-201 Every four years we elect a governor, lt. governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state representatives, candidates for regent, state board of education, and district attorneys

Voting In El Paso County Three ways to cast your ballot Absentee Voting Ballot mailed to you as early as 30 days before the election Due back to the County Clerk’s office by 7 pm on election day Early Voting Begins usually a week to two weeks before the election 6 convenient locations open during regular business hours Monday thru Friday Polling Place Open Election day from 7 am to 7 pm Amanda: Absentee Voting Ballots mailed to you as early as 30 days before the election Due back in the Clerk’s office by 7 pm on election day No excuse absentee voting We use sig. verify to prevent fraud Early Voting (touch screens) Begins usually week to two weeks before the election Three locations working to have 6 to 7 this next election cycle Currently at our branch offices Centennial Hall downtown Chapel Hills DMV office Powers DMV office Available the week before the primary election and two weeks before the General Election EV for Primary is July 31-August 4 EV for General Election is October 23 to November 3 Must bring an ID to vote Polling place (paper ballot and AccuVote Optical Scanners) Polls open from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday November 7, 2006 Lots of convenient opportunities for people to vote to try and increase voter turn out.

What Do We Do?? Coordinate all County Elections Hire and Train Election Judges Maintain Voter Registration Data Base Work with individual County Candidates Provide Election Resources to the Public Work with the Colorado Secretary of State Amanda: Coordinate all elections following CRS Title 1 Establish precincts (387), locating poll places (189), laying out the ballot, coordinate absentee and early voting, test voting equipment, upload & post results, review provisional ballots, complete the canvass Hire, Train, and Maintain Election Judges Approximately 1800 judges per election Maintain voter registration database Work with Candidates FCPA Verify petitions Election Resources Maintain abstracts for all County coordinated elections Website Information Polling Place locations Applications Voter Registration Forms Absentee Ballot Applications Judge Applications Maps Candidate Filings Results Archives Sample Ballots TABOR notices

Be A Student Election Judge! Requirements: At least 16 years old A junior or senior in good standing at your high school Attended a training class prior to working as an election judge Incentives: A possible maximum payment of $160.00 Academic credit Community service Alissa: What can you do to help. Sign up to be a student election judge! You can earn cash, take academic credit or earn community service hours Learn and be involved in the election process instead of just reading about it We need at least 380 student election judges for both the primary and general elections You are our best rescores Requirements At least 16 years old A junior or senior in high school Need to attend a training class before the election Be able to work a long day on election day Incentives $75 plus $10 for attending class Academic credit Community Service hours Looks good on college applications A day out of school

Help Us Out We need almost 1800 Election Judges for each election We need at least 380 student election judges

Greeters Provides directions within the polling place Assists with outside traffic control and monitors lines Makes sure all voters have proper ID ready and helps voters complete voter processing forms Watches for Electioneering Amanda: Greeters: We need approximately 44 Greeters to work in our polling places that have three or more precincts. Greeters are responsible for helping voter find their correct precinct within the polling place Helps ensure that lines flow smoothly with in the polling place Makes sure that voters have their IDs out and available to show the poll book judge Assists with outside traffic control Watches for Electioneering within the 100 foot limits of the polling place Electioneering is any form of campaigning or influencing of any voter within the 100 foot limit of a polling place (This includes discussing candidates or issues while in line waiting to vote)

Election Judges Precinct Election Judges Three types Including 1 Precinct Supply Judge that fulfills one of these duties Amada: These positions can be interchanged between all Precinct Election Judges, all judges assist any voter that might need additional help or assistance at the voting booth. Precinct Supply Judge (Can be any of the three judges sitting at the table) Supervises the conduct of elections Point of contact with the election dept. Assigns duties to other judges (setting up the poll place before the polls open, packing up and cleaning up the polling place after the polls close) Returns the supplies with the Vote Center judge after the polls close Poll Book Judge Identifies voters in the poll book Ensures that every voter signs the poll book who is going to vote Calls out the voters name in a clear and audible voice so watchers and other voters know who is in line and voting Logs ballot number provided by Ballot Judge into poll book Ballot Judge Assigns ballot to voter Provides Poll Book judge with ballot number so that they can log the ballot number into the poll book Copies ballot stub number onto Voter Processing Forms Initials ballot stub Spoils and reissues ballots, if necessary Assists in completing the Statement of Ballot State of Ballots-A log of ballots issued, spoiled and voted ensures that no more ballots are cast then there are registered voters in that precinct Demonstration Judge Shows the voter how to complete the ballot and put their ballot into the privacy sleeve Checks the ballot number to the voter processing form and makes sure that they are the same and that the ballot judge has initialed the top portion of the ballot Keeps tracks of voter processing forms Poll Book Judge (Receiving Judge) Demonstration Judge Ballot Judge

Vote Center Judge Picks up supplies day before election Operates AccuVote Assist voters with depositing ballots Drops off the supplies after the election with the Precinct Supply Judge Paid extra for dropping off supplies Alissa: Vote Center Judge (1 per poll place) Visits polling site the day before the election and locates supplies, electrical outlets, and finds out who to contact in case polling place is not open at 6:00 am on election day Picks up supplies the day before the election Operates the AccuVote Point of contact with Election Dept for tech. difficulties Assists voters at the AccuVote with depositing ballots Tears off and collects ballot stubs Monitors machine Troubleshoots the machine Checks the black box to make sure its clear and ballots are going in properly Drops off supplies after polls close with the precinct supply judge

What is Provisional Voting? Second Chance Voting…No one is turned away Required under HAVA Why do people vote provisional? Didn’t bring an ID Name is not in the poll book Not Registered in El Paso County Not at the right polling place What happens to provisional ballots? Reviewed after the election If they are counted they are included in the official results Voter can call our office after the election to find out if their ballot was counted or not Alissa: Why do you vote provisional You did not bring ID Your name does not appear in the poll book Provisional Ballot Review Reviewed after the election If they are countable the results will be included in the official results The voter can call our office and find out if their ballot was counted or not, and if not why it wasn’t

Provisional Ballot Judge Processes voters who don’t have an ID or are not in the poll book Provides instructions to the voter about the provisional ballot process Using a precinct locator gives directions to voters who are at the wrong polling place Picks up and drops off supplies Paid extra for dropping off supplies Alissa: 2 provisional ballot judges per poll place Process voters who have to vote a provisional ballot Provides instructions and direction to voters who are in the wrong polling place Provides an explanation of why an individual is voting a provisional ballot Instructs individuals who are voting provisionally how to complete the envelope and how to complete their ballot Monitors Ballot box Explains to voters that they can call the Election Dept. after the election to see if their ballot was counted Completes Provisional Statement of Ballots after the polls close Picks up supplies day before election Drops off supplies after the election

Absentee Ballot Judges (Primary Only) Central Count Judges $10 per hour Preprocessing Starts the week before the election Open and separate ballots from the envelopes Counting Run ballots through the AccuVote Duplication Duplicates any ballots that are unable to be processed by the AccuVote Alissa: Something new we are trying for this election available only for the primary election because its before school starts Absentee Ballots judges work with the election dept to open and count all of the ballots we receive before the election. Counting usually begins a week before the election and concludes the evening of the election Last November 25,000 people voted absentee, this election we estimate that 45,000 people will vote absentee Great easy way to make some summer cash or get academic credit or community service Start working the week before the election and election day Paid $10 per hour Works at Centennial Hall Downtown Counting and Duplication Judges work in teams

Early Voting Election Judge (Primary Only) Works at one of our six locations $10 per hour Works the week before the election Demonstrates to voters how to use DREs (touch screens) Escorts voter to the DRE and ensures Access Card is coded correctly Troubleshoots any problem with the DRE Balance signature cards with votes cast on DREs daily Alissa: Works with the election department to process voters at our six early voting sites This is only available for the primary election since school is not in session yet 5 judges per location plus one judge who works half a day (10-2) We need about 36 election judges for this election Must have reliable transportation and be able to work all 5 days Paid $10/hour

Curb Side Kids We need 9 students per shift on Election Day (18 students total) Two 6 hour shifts 7:00am-1:00pm 1:00pm-7:00pm Assist voters in curb side drop off of their Absentee Ballots You can receive $55, or academic credit, or community service Amanda: Curb side kids sit out in our branch parking lots and receive voters absentee ballots on election day. Works like a drive through. People drive up and one of the curb side kids runs out to the driver’s side window and grabs there ballots and then drops them into the ballot box. Half a day shift $55 for a single shift or academic credit or community service

Evening Runners We need 12-20 students Needs to be able to lift approximately 35 lbs. Assist Judges in unloading their election supplies from their cars Work approximately 2 to 3 hours from 7pm-9pm Earn $20 Amanda: Works at our branches with the Clerk and Recorder staff to unload judges cars in the parking lot drive up lane. Run the supplies into the offices and help the staff organize all of the bags Work for approximately 2 hours Receive $20 Need to be able to lift about 35 lbs.

El Paso County Reward Program Our office is developing an incentive program to recognize and thank students and faculty members that contribute to the Student Election Judge Program More Details to Follow

Fund Raising Opportunities Great way to earn money for Prom Great way to earn money for Senior Trips Recruit your friends to earn money toward your fund raising project Amanda: Earn money for prom and senior trips by recruiting a group of students to work together on election day and pooling their money toward their fundraising project. If you get 10 of your friends to work on election day you could earn approximately $1,000 toward your goal.

Future of Elections Vote Centers Ability to vote at any location Increases voter turn out Reduce the time it takes to vote Reduces the number of Provisional Ballots Reduces the number of human errors Alissa: Vote Centers—are very large polling places that allows voters to vote at a location that is more convenient and accessible to there needs. Uses an electronic poll book to keep people from voting in more than one location. Voting at any location Better Access More convenient locations Reduces Provisional Ballots Reduces the time it takes to vote Higher turn out Reduces the number of elections judges needed Reduces the number of human errors

Future of Elections Statewide Voter Registration Required under HAVA Creates uniformity throughout the state Creates better communication between all of the counties Seamless registration process Reduces duplicate registrations Reduces opportunities for voter fraud Provides a way to verify voters information Alissa: Statewide Voter Registration Cuts down on duplicate registrations within the state Creates uniformity through out the state Helps prevent fraud Easier registration process Verify info with other databases Cuts down on voter fraud

Future of Elections One DRE in Every Polling Place Required under HAVA Allows disabled voters to vote without assistance Back up in case problems occur at the polling place Alissa: DREs in every polling place Required under HAVA Allows disabled voters to vote without assistance Back up in case problems occur at the polling place

Questions?? And Voting