Entries from September 2008
Over the past few months, curriculum for the upcoming election has been redesigned to offer a a more tailored selection of classes for Election Officers of varying experience. Training classes for previous elections provided a broad procedural overview, with only labs offering one-on-one instruction for Election Officers hoping to hone specific skills.
The new training classes, which have gone through peer and management review, are now offered in three levels: Apprentice, Journeyman, and Masters levels.
Apprentice classes are designed for Election Officers who have not previously worked a San Mateo County election, or have not worked an election in our County in the past year. This is our “First Timers” class, and is a combination of lecture and hands-on training that will help develop experience assembling, connecting, and disassembling the eSlate voting machines. The class is three hours in length.
Journeyman classes are for those who have worked at least one San Mateo County election in the past year. This class is primarily a lecture with hands-on exercises built into the curriculum, and lasts approximately two and a half hours. (more…)
Categories: Elections Office · Poll workers · Training · eSlates
Tagged: election officer training, election officers, election technicians, election training, eSlates, field technicians, new election training, pocts, poll closing, poll opening, poll worker training, Poll workers, ride-along coordinators, Training, troubleshooting, working the election
As we mentioned previously, Sample Ballots & Official Voter Information Pamphlets will hit voter mailboxes beginning Sept. 27. Also coming soon? Official Ballots!
The early voting period for the Nov. 4 Presidential General Election begins Oct. 6. On this day, Vote by Mail ballots will begin arriving in Vote by Mail voter mailboxes and the voting centers at 555 County Center in Redwood City and 40 Tower Road in San Mateo will be open for in-person voting.
One big difference between the ballots for this election and ballots from previous elections: It’s a long ballot.
Every voting precinct has two ballot cards. The ballot cards have contests printed on both sides of the paper, meaning that after you select your options on one side of one card, flip the card over for more options. Make sure you take a look at both cards, so that you don’t miss the opportunity to vote on all the contests you want to vote on.
On the bottom of each ballot card is the statement “Vote on Both Sides.” There was some concern about this phrase several elections ago that indicated possible confusion since there are two columns of text on one side of the card. “Both sides” does not refer to both columns; it refers to the front “side” and the back “side” of the card.
To help curb confusion, we’ve also added the following phrase to the ballot card, at the end of the last column on the page: “Attention: This is a 2 card ballot. Please vote all 4 sides (front and back) of the ballot.”
What does this mean for voters voting on the eSlate? Obviously, there aren’t sides to a ballot on an electronic screen. Instead of sides, there will be multiple screens of ballots to scroll through. When you’re voting on the eSlate, pay attention to the instructions near the bottom of the screen, so that you know whether or not there are more screens with contests to vote on.
Questions about the ballot? Call the Elections Office at (650) 312-5222!
Categories: Ballots · Elections Office · Vote By Mail · Voting · eSlates · early voting
Tagged: ballot, ballot cards, election ballot, long ballot, official ballot, Sample Ballot, vote ballot, vote by mail ballot, voting options
The first batch of Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlets is almost ready for delivery to the post office on Sept. 26. As the printer puts the final touches on the bindings, the Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlets will be delivered to the mail house to get labeled with voter and polling addresses.
From there, the booklets will be sent to the post office for delivery. Booklets are scheduled to start hitting mailboxes on Sept. 27.
Because of the printing and mailing limitations, not all Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlets will arrive at the same time. Mailing is done as labels are printed, and labels are printed as books are received by the printer.
Printing is scheduled to complete the largest number of books in a given style first, which helps us to maintain efficiency. Ballot style numbers are designated for each book that contains the exact same content (including ballot contests) for multiple precincts. For example, ballot style “1″ includes almost 47,000 voters from 80 precincts. Once this ballot style has been fully labeled and delivered, the mail house will move on to the next. There are 65 ballot styles for this election.
Itching to check out your Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet now? Check out www.shapethefuture.org. We’ve separated out the Sample Ballot from the Voter Information Pamphlet for your convenience. The informational pages can be found on http://www.shapethefuture.org/documents/78%20Sample%20Ballot.pdf.
For a copy of your Sample Ballot, go to the voter registration confirmation page on www.shapethefuture.org/voters/voter_status.asp. After filling out the requisite fields, click “Confirm” and your information will populate along with a link to your actual Sample Ballot. This is a new feature on www.shapethefuture.org, so definitely make sure to check it out!
Categories: Uncategorized
September 22, 2008 · 2 Comments
The second phase of the Logic & Accuracy process is underway, as the Elections Office marks “test ballots” to verify that the BallotNow tabulation machines accurately count the votes marked.
Like the eSlate testing phase, predetermined combinations of votes have been designated for testing to verify that the machines tabulate accurately. As we explained previously, these tests are conducted to make sure that the end results of the tabulation match what was actually voted. The Elections staff will mark “test” ballots with predetermined votes so that every candidate and contest is voted for at least once in varying vote combinations on the test ballots during this process. We even throw in some write-in votes, under-votes, and over-votes to truly reflect what may actually happen when voters make their choices on Election Day.
L&A for the November Presidential General has been proceeding according to schedule, and is anticipated to last through Sept. 26.
Categories: Ballots · Elections Office · Results · Testing · Vote counting · Voting
Tagged: Ballots, electronic voting equipment, eSlates, firmware, L&A, L&A Testing, Logic & Accuracy testing, Logic and accuracy
September 18, 2008 · 1 Comment
The Elections Office always appreciates comments and suggestions to improve procedures, and we incorporate what we can into our operations. When voters pointed out that we needed a better solution for our Blue Ballot Boxes (that holds paper, provisional, and Vote by Mail ballots submitted on Election Day), we looked into more secure methods to accommodate the strictly confidential nature of our ballots.
We found a sturdy, durable hard plastic box from Election Data Direct, Inc. that addresses our security concerns. Inside the box are two separated sections that will aid in distinguishing the different ballot types inserted into the box during ballot reconciliation. Below is a picture of the new Blue Ballot Box and the labels we’ve designed to help voters and polling place teams effectively use this on Election Day.
Note: The pictures below are for your resource only. The box used on Election Day will be blue.
Categories: Ballots · Election Day/Night · Elections Office · Poll workers · Polling place · Vote By Mail · Vote counting · Voting
Tagged: ballot box, Ballots, blue ballot box, election supplies, elections materials, voting equipment
September 17, 2008 · 2 Comments
Logic & Accuracy testing is making great headway as our team verifies the correct operation of voting equipment both as individual units and as a combined system.
Every part of the testing process is going according to schedule thus far, and is expected to continue on through the end of next week. This week, the focus has been on the eSlate voting machines that are used for electronic voting throughout the County.
When testing the eSlates, six teams of two diligently go through each electronic ballot for every election multiple times until every candidate or measure has been voted at least once. The vote testing is conducted in a number of predetermined combinations to reflect every possible voting situation that may occur on Election Day, as we explained in our post on Sept. 16.
We also conduct the testing in three languages concurrently: English, Chinese, and Spanish. San Mateo County Elections materials are offered in these three languages, including paper and electronic ballots.
The next phase of L&A testing is the verification of correct operation for the BallotNow machines, which tabulate votes on paper ballots. This part of the testing process is scheduled to begin next week.
Categories: Ballots · Elections Office · Vote counting · Voting · eSlates
Tagged: Ballots, electronic voting equipment, eSlates, firmware, L&A, L&A Testing, Logic and accuracy, November 4 Election, November Presidential Election, Presidential General Election, Testing
By writing this blog and detailing the inner workings of the San Mateo County Elections Office, we are hoping to constantly increase the level of openness and transparency of our processes. However, while transparency is a goal, accuracy is a requirement.
This is why we conduct Logic and Accuracy testing of the voting process. Beginning Sept. 16, and scheduled to last approximately two business weeks, L&A testing of the eSlate voting machines and BallotNow paper ballot tabulation machines, will be conducted to verify that everything operates properly both as individual units and as a combined system.
As we’ve explained in previous posts, L&A testing is split into two basic portions. The first portion of L&A tests the accuracy of the eSlate voting system that is used by voters at the two early voting centers (one at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo and the other at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City) and at the polls on Election Day.
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Categories: Ballots · Campaigns/Political parties · Election Day/Night · Elections Office · Results · Testing · Vote counting · Voting · eSlates
Tagged: Ballots, electronic voting equipment, eSlates, firmware, L&A, L&A Testing, Logic and accuracy, November 4 Election, November Presidential Election, Presidential General Election, Testing
Just in case you missed our post on September 3, military and overseas voters should pay special attention to deadline requirements for registering and voting during the November 4 Presidential General Election.
Like all other eligible voters, make sure you’re registered (or re-registered) to vote by October 20. Your Vote by Mail ballot will be sent to the address specified, and needs to be received by the Elections office no later than November 4 at 8 p.m.
If you are already out of the country and haven’t registered to vote yet, you can submit your registration by fax as long as you also send your original signed form in the mail. Without that follow up, your application won’t be valid.
If you aren’t planning on leaving the country until after October 6, consider coming to the Elections offices to vote early. We are open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for voters wanting to cast their ballot early, beginning October 6 through November 4. We’ll also be open on Saturday, October 25 and Saturday, November 1. The Elections offices are located at:
Going on a cruise? Check with your cruise host to see if they have an address available for you to receive your ballot.
Remember, it takes longer for mail to reach outside of the United States, so get your registration and ballot in early to prevent any issues.
Need more information? Check out these sites, brought to you by the Overseas Vote Foundation, which bring you the online tools that will make your overseas voting experience easy and fast. Register to vote, look-up election official contacts, check filing deadlines, and access help desk services, on these nonpartisan information sites. Just click on the picture to link to the site.
Categories: Ballots · Election Day/Night · Elections Office · Overseas Voting · Vote By Mail · Voter registration · Voting · Web Stuff We Like · early voting
Tagged: military voter services, military voters, military voting, overseas vote foundation, register to vote overseas, vote by fax, Vote By Mail, voting out of the country, voting overseas, youth vote, youth vote overseas
September 11, 2008 · 1 Comment
We’ve been getting a lot of calls from voters wondering when they can expect to receive their Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet. It’s super exciting when people ask that because it’s a strong indicator of the level of interest in the election.
We all know that it’s a Presidential General Election and that presidential elections typically increase voter interest. However, there are a number of measures, propositions, and state and local candidate positions also up for election that will directly affect the lives of our County residents.
Which is why the Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet is produced. It’s a booklet dedicated to providing the information and resources that voters need to make knowledgeable decisions about the questions and contests up for election.
What goes in it? Our office has informational pages that start off the pamphlet, which provide detailed information about voting in the County, what to expect at the polling place, and polling place information. The remainder of the pamphlet is dedicated to election-specific information such as Measures and Candidate Information. The full text of proposed measures are included as well as impartial analyses, arguments for or against, and rebuttals to the arguments for or against. Candidate statements are included from candidates who chose to accept the designated spending limit and opted to include the statement in our pamphlet.
Directly in the middle of the pamphlet is a sample of the official ballot that will be separately mailed to voters.
The Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet begins printing this weekend — a process that will take approximately a week to complete. From there, it’s off to the County-approved mailhouse where printing of voter addresses will take place. The post office will begin delivery of Sample Ballots no earlier than September 25, which is the legal day we can start delivering according to Elections Code §13303.
Categories: Ballots · Campaigns/Political parties · Elections Office · Graphics · Outreach · Uncategorized
Monday marked the opening of the filing period for potential write-in candidates during the November 4 Presidential General Election.
Write-in candidates are those who wish to run for an available office, but did not file within the normal filing period. These candidates are not included in the Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet or the ballot. Instead, these candidates are listed on informational materials at the polling places and can be “written in” in the space provided.
Because write-in candidate names are not included on the ballot, results on Election Night do not depict the number of votes going to those candidates. The results are not reflected until the Statement of the Vote is published and the results are certified, which happens no later than 28 days after the election.
To vote for a write-in candidate, the candidate must be certified (the candidate has to have filed) or the vote won’t be included in the tabulation. In order to select a write-in candidate on a ballot, voters must remember to do two things:
1) fill in the box next to “Write In Candidate”
2) write (or electronically spell out, if using the eSlate) the full name of the candidate in the space provided.
The filing period for write-in candidates ends October 21. For more information, please contact Candidate Filing Officer Lupe Sanchez at lsanchez@smcare.org.
Categories: Ballots · Elections Office · Vote counting · Voting · candidate filing
Tagged: Candidates, filing period, write-in candidates, write-in votes
Over the past few months, curriculum for the upcoming election has been redesigned to offer a a more tailored selection of classes for Election Officers of varying experience. Training classes for previous elections provided a broad procedural overview, with only labs offering one-on-one instruction for Election Officers hoping to hone specific skills.
