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Election ObserverTraining
2008
Elections Certification & Training Program
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