Election Observer Training 2008 Elections Certification & Training Program [email protected] 360.902.4180.

Election ObserverTraining

2008

Elections Certification & Training Program

[email protected]

360.902.4180

Official Election Observers protect the integrity of the election by impartially observing ballot processing activities.

Official Election Observers

WAC 434-261-020

• Represent a major political party – Must be identified by identification tags– Must sign a roster

• Serve by appointment of a major political party– Current major parties are the Republican

and Democratic Parties.

Official Election Observers

WAC 434-261-020

Election Observers

Who may not serve?

• Designated poll watchers assigned to observe activities at the poll sites

• Election workers who work for the county processing ballots

RCW 29A.44.020

Election Observers

• Before Primary / General Election County Auditors must train election observers in:– specific procedures used by the county– equipment used in processing and tabulating

ballots– conduct of the observers duties

• Training may be waived for those observers who have been previously trained

RCW 29A.12.120

Election Observer Duties

Understand the following ballot processes• Inspection of ballots prior to tabulation• Duplication• Tabulation• Security

RCW 29A.40.100

WAC 434-250-110

Ballot Inspection

Mail ballots and poll site ballots tabulated at the counting center are inspected before tabulation

Every vote response position is inspected to determine if the votes on the ballot will be tabulated correctly by the tabulation system.

WAC 434-261-070

Ballot Inspection

Ballots are inspected for:• Physically damaged ballots• Ballots that cannot be read by the

tabulation system• Vote corrections• Write-in votes without a mark in the

response area• Marks different from the ballot instructions

WAC 434-261-070

Ballot Inspection

If a ballot does not pass inspection– It is referred to the Canvassing Board– Many ballot issues are determined by the

Secretary of State’s manual, “Voter Intent, Statewide Standards on What is a Vote.”

(The Canvassing Board may delegate action on these ballots to the Auditor’s staff.)

WAC 434-261-070 WAC 434-261-080

Ballot Inspection

RCW 29A.44.340

WAC 434-261-070

For counties that tabulate ballots at the poll site:

Poll site ballot counters return overvoted and blank ballots to the voter for correction

Because voters receive a second chance to correct their ballot, ballots counted at the poll site require no inspection

Ballot Duplication“Ballot duplication” - a true copy of valid votes

from ballots Permits the correct tabulation of intended votes• Directed by the canvassing board• Ballots are duplicated by teams of two people

– The original ballot is not altered– A log is kept of each duplicated ballot– The original and duplicate are marked with the same

identifying number– The duplicate ballot is counted and the original ballot

is securely stored.

RCW 29A.60.125

WAC 434-261-100

Ballot Duplication

• Digital tabulation system duplication– Ballot resolution is the equivalent of ballot

duplication.– Ballots are scanned and resolved as soon as

they are received by the Auditor’s Office.– Resolved ballots are stored electronically until

tabulation.– Tabulation is placing the electronic files into

the tabulation system.RCW 29A.60.125

WAC 434-261-100

Tabulation of Ballots

• Optical scan ballots may not be fed through the vote tallying system until 7:00 a.m. Election Day

• Results cannot be printed or released prior to 8:00 p.m. Election Day RCW 29A.40.110

WAC 434-250-110

Certification of ResultsThe County Canvassing Board, in an open public meeting, certifies the election results:

• 15 days after Special and Primary Elections

• 21 days after the General Election

RCW 29A.60.140 & 190

WAC 434-262-025

Ballot SecurityVoted ballots must be in secure storage whenever

the ballots are not being processed. Secure storage detects any unauthorized access

• Logs are kept as a record of who & when ballots were accessed.

• Numbered seals may be used to secure containers or rooms containing ballots. Seal logs record the seal numbers and the staff placing and breaking the seals.

• Other security measures that will detect access to voted ballots

WAC 434-250-110

WAC 434-261-045

Ballot Security• After the ballots are run through the ballot

tabulator, they are secured in a container with a numbered seal

• The sealed containers may only be opened by the Canvassing Board, to conduct recounts, or by court order

RCW 29A.60.110, 29A. 60.120

WAC 434-261-130

WAC 434-262-190

Election Observer Duties• Observe every aspect of the process

– Logic and accuracy test– Processing mail ballots– Counting center activities– Certification– Recounts (if applicable)

• Different election observers may be assigned to each part of the process

RCW 29A.40.100

WAC 434-250-110

Logic and Accuracy Tests

Logic and Accuracy TestThe official test of the tabulating system

• L&A tests are conducted for any primary, special, or general election

• The test verifies the ballot counting system will correctly count votes cast for – All candidates– All measures

RCW 29A.12.130

Logic and Accuracy Test

• An official election observer from each major political party should attend

• Test will be conducted even if requested observers do not attend

• Observers may not obstruct testingWAC 434-335-290

Logic and Accuracy Tests• The County is solely responsible for

L&A testing for special elections

• The Secretary of State is present at tests for the primary and general elections only

• Emergency L&A testing may be conducted, if necessary

WAC 434-335-310

WAC 434-335-340

Logic and Accuracy Tests

• Official election observers are asked to sign the logic and accuracy certificate. Signing the certificate as an observer does not mean: – You have responsibility for ballot counting– You are verifying the correct programming

• Your signature attests to observation of the completed test.

What is Tested?

• Every ballot style• All responses for all candidates/issues• Overvotes and undervotes• Responses for write-ins• Ensure all candidates/issues appear on

the appropriate ballot style

RCW 29A.12.130

Logic &Accuracy TestSecretary of State’s Role

• Certify the test complies with law

• Assist in resolving discrepancies

• Retain copies of L&A certification

WAC 434-335-330

Processing Mail Ballots

Request for ObserversThe County Auditor shall: • Notify major political party chairs of the date

ballot processing will begin

• Request observers for the processing and tabulation of mail ballots

(Absence of observers will not prevent the county from processing ballots)

RCW 29A.40.100

WAC 434-250-110

Mailing Out Mail Ballots

• Ballots must be available in the Auditor’s Office 20 days prior to an election

• Military and overseas ballots must be mailed 30 days prior to an election.

• All other ballots must be mailed 18 days prior to an election

RCW 29A.40.070

Processing Mail BallotsProcessing begins as soon as ballots are received

by the Auditor’s Office.• The signature on the ballot is compared to the signature

on file• The post-mark date is checked. Only ballots postmarked

by Election Day are valid• Open outer envelopes and security envelopes • Inspect and duplicate ballots.

The County Canvassing Board usually delegates these tasks to the Auditor’s staff.

RCW 29A.40.110

The Counting Center

Request for ObserversThe County Auditor notifies each

major political party in writing:

• All aspects of counting center proceedings

• The number of representatives necessary to observe process

RCW 29A.60.170

WAC 434-261-020

Counting Center ActivitiesYou Should Observe

• Receiving Board• Ballot Inspection• Ballot Duplication • Tabulation• Reconciliation• Security

– Before and after tabulation

Receiving BoardDesignated persons receiving the sealed ballot

containers from the polling places

• Ballots are logged in, recording:– Precinct name/number– Time

• The ballot transport carrier seal number is compared to number on the transfer log

• Notify Auditor if seal is missing or broken

WAC 434-261-040

Manual Count of Precincts

Manual Count of Precincts

Official election observers may request a manual count of ballots before ballots are tabulated on Election Day

• Only ballots at counting centers and mail ballots may be manually counted

• Official observers must mutually agree on– one office to count, and – up to three precincts or six batches to

be manually counted• After the manual tally, the number is

compared to the results printed by the tabulation system

RCW 29A.60.170

Manual Count of Precincts

• The requested manual count may begin no earlier than 8:00 pm on Election Day for poll site counties.

• Completed no later than 8:00 pm on the second day after Election Day for mail ballot counties.

RCW 29A.48.060

WAC 434-250-340

Recounts

Recount - Mandatory MachineIf there are less than 2,000 votes AND

less than .5% spread in votes for:• Only the votes for the affected

candidates in determining if the threshold is met

• In the Primary Election, recounts occur between the 2nd and 3rd place candidates

• In the General Election, recounts occur between the 1st and 2nd place candidates RCW 29A.64.021

RCW 29A.64.021

Recount - Mandatory Manual• Ballots are recounted by hand when

– Statewide positions: If the difference is less than 1,000 votes AND less than .25%

– For regional races: If the difference is less than 150 votes AND less than .25%

• The recount may be conducted by an alternative method if both candidates agree.

When Is A Mandatory Recount Not Required?

• Any ballot measure other than a state-wide issue

• Top two candidates are close in a primary

Top 2 Primary

The Top 2 Primary

• Voters no longer have to declare a party at the time of voting

• Voters may vote for candidates that prefer a party and/or state no party preference.

• The two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the General Election.

Election Observers

• Attend county training

• Understand election law

• Learn county procedures

• Observe election procedures

• Report any concerns to the appropriate county official

• Are respectful and follow observer rules

Election Observers

Election Observers cannot:

• Touch ballots or ballot containers

• Obstruct the process

• Distract the workers

Remember your job title is “observer.”

…objective observation of the procedures helps ensure the integrity of our elections….

- Sam Reed, Secretary of State

•Go to http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections – research election law– find your County Auditor’s contact information– learn more about election administration

•Contact the Secretary of State or your local County Auditor

For More Information About Elections

Election ObserverTraining

Last Updated September 2008

Certification & Training, Elections DivisionEmail: [email protected]

Telephone: (360) 902-4180Toll-Free: (800) 448-4881TDD/TTY(800) 422-8683