TRAINING POLL WORKERS John Kearney Nash County BOE

WHY TRAIN WORKERS? Legal Requirement NCGS –The chairman of the county board of elections, along with the director of elections, shall conduct an instructional meeting prior to each primary and general election which shall be attended by each chief judge and judge of election. 8 NCAC –The chairman of the county board of elections in a county where a voting system is used shall conduct an instructional meeting before any primary or election to instruct the precinct officials in the use of the voting system. Are you “Legally” Required to train assistants?

WHY TRAIN WORKERS? Professional Reasons Quality of Service –A better trained worker will provide a better product/service. Confidence –A more confident worker will do a better job. CYA *This year training will be more challenging because of the change in political landscape. Most of us will have all new Chief Judges.

CONSTRAINTS What constraints do you face in providing proper poll worker training? Budgetary –Do Commissioners provide you enough money to adequately train your workers? Staffing –Does your office have enough staff to assist you in training? Timing –Do you have enough time to properly train workers before the election?

CONSTRAINTS Personal –What are YOUR strengths and weaknesses? Do you feel comfortable public speaking? –Are you a good communicator? Do you feel comfortable developing training materials? –Informative –Entertaining What is your level of comfort with technology?

NASH COUNTY Nash County Specifics 67,000 Voters 27 Precincts M100 County Polling Place –Chief Judge (Site Manager) –Registration Table (Manual Poll Book) –Ballot Table –Exceptions Table (Help Desk) –Machine Observer

NASH COUNTY Qualify Potential Workers Telephone interviews. Use standardized script, everybody gets same questions. Questions Tests: –Their own voter registration knowledge –Education and background –Computer experience –Alphabetical and Numerical

NASH COUNTY Training Manual Issued at Precinct Official Luncheon –Held 2-3 weeks after Appointment Meeting. –All Precinct Officials are invited. –All Board Members and Party Chairs attend. –Lunch is provided. –Important Procedure & Law changes are announced. –Officials are sworn in by Chairman and given a certificate of appointment. –Short Chief Judge orientation given at the end.

NASH COUNTY Training Manual Manual is divided into 15 sections. Sections are replaced when procedures or laws change. Official keeps for entire 2 year appointment.

NASH COUNTY

Training ALL Poll Workers MUST attend training before being allowed to work an election! –Exception: 2 nd Primary or Run-Off Elections The training is based on job assignments, even for Republican and Democrat Judges. Chief Judges are trained separately. All Assistants will get a small booklet covering important information they need to know.

NASH COUNTY Chief Judges Considered Site Managers. Detailed knowledge of voting machines. Working knowledge of all jobs. Training – 2 Sessions, 2 ½ - 3 hours each: –Session A is held 4-5 weeks prior to the election. –Session B is held 2 weeks prior to the election.

NASH COUNTY Chief Judges Session A –Pay rates –Coordinate with Polling Place contacts –Staffing allowances –Process for finding and securing workers (assistants) –Supply procedures –ADA Compliance –Polling Place set-up –Voting machines (DVD to take home) Hands-on exercises on the machines

NASH COUNTY Chief Judges Session B –Election basics – DOs & DON’Ts –Electioneering –Media –Voter Assistance –Observers –Challenges –The Ballot –Go through each ED job Hands-on exercises on each job

NASH COUNTY Registration / Ballot Table Combined 3 Hour Session Both Registration and Ballot Table workers are trained together for cross-training purposes. Elections basics Hands-on exercises: –Registration workers will practice with poll books and ATVs. –Ballot workers will practice receiving ATVs and issuing ballots. –Materials are placed in a workbook format. Machine Observers sit in on this training session.

NASH COUNTY Exceptions Table 3 ½ Hour Session Election basics Discussion & Hands-on Exercises: –Ballot –ATV and different scenarios –Curbside –Provisional Ballots Laptops –Discuss laptops and printers –Hands-on exercises

IN SUMMARY Offer as much training as you can. Understand that no matter how much you train, no one is perfect, and mistakes will happen. If extra training will cause you one less problem, then why not have it. Training will CYA!