metropolitan king county council february 14, 2005 dean c. logan, director king county records,...
TRANSCRIPT
Metropolitan King County Council
February 14, 2005
Dean C. Logan, DirectorKing County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division
Report to the
“It is the policy of the State ofWashington to encourage every
eligible person to register to vote andto participate fully in all elections,and to protect the integrity of the
electoral process by providing equalaccess to the process while guarding
against discrimination and fraud.”
Chapter 29A.04.205 Revised Code of Washington
Elections Timeline Elections Timeline 2003-20062003-2006
July 2003July 2003 King County Council forms the Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (CEOC) to improve performance and accountability of elections
September 2003September 2003 Primary reviewed by CEOC – no serious errors reported; Dean Logan appointed Director – Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division; 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals finds Washington’s blanket primary unconstitutional
November 2003November 2003 General Election reviewed by CEOC – no serious errors reported; Bill Huennekens appointed Superintendent of Elections, EMVR Project Approved in 2004 Adopted Budget
December 2003 December 2003 Legislature cancels the March 2004 Presidential Preference Primary
February 2004February 2004 Special Election; Legislature adopts new top-two primary system
March 2004March 2004 Special Election
April 2004April 2004 Special Election; Governor vetoes top-two primary, signs in to law a “Montana-style” partisan primary
May 2004May 2004 Special Election; CEOC Report submitted to King County Council; Mock Elections conducted using new Election Management and Voter Registration system prior to final conversion
Elections Timeline Elections Timeline continuedcontinued
June 2004June 2004 Elections converts to new Election Management and Voter Registration system
July 2004July 2004 Labor, Operations and Technology Committee reviews CEOC report on elections; countywide list maintenance and voter education mailing; Seattle Monorail petition received and signatures verified; Candidate Filing for fall Elections
September 2004September 2004 New and complex primary replaces the blanket primary – record turnout; Council reviews CEOC report and passes motion in support of recommendations
October 2004October 2004 Record number of new registrations processed by King County Elections
November 2004November 2004 General Elections is held – record turnout, record number of absentees issued and counted; Manual recount conducted for office of Governor; Disability Accessible Voting Equipment (DAVE) Project approved in 2005 Adopted Budget
December 2004December 2004 Manual recount conducted in Governor’s race – close to 900,000 ballots hand counted
Elections Timeline Elections Timeline continuedcontinued
January 2005January 2005 King County Council redistricting plan adopted; Election contest filed in close gubernatorial race; Tens of thousands of documents provided in response to 30+ public disclosure requests
February 2005February 2005 Special Election date
April 2005April 2005 Special Election date
May 2005May 2005 Special Election date
June 2005June 2005 Voter registration mailing with new Council District designations
September 2005September 2005 New “top-two” primary to be implemented
November 2005November 2005 General Election
January 2006January 2006 New Help America Vote Act election administration requirements must be implemented
2004: Record Volumes - Historic Outcomes2004: Record Volumes - Historic Outcomes
““We have done many things We have done many things right. We have many more right. We have many more things to do better. We need to things to do better. We need to persevere, stay the course and persevere, stay the course and not adopt radical measures not adopt radical measures when reasonable ones will make when reasonable ones will make the most difference.”the most difference.”
• Record setting voter registration
• Record setting absentee ballots issued
• Record number of absentee ballots cast
• Record number of ballots counted on Election Day
• Record voter turnout
• Historic new primary
• Historic close election
• First countywide manual recount
Election Management and Voter Election Management and Voter Registration SystemRegistration System
Excerpt from review conducted by the Office of the Secretary of State (February 2003)
““The county needs to acquire or build a voter registration The county needs to acquire or build a voter registration system designed for a jurisdiction of their size. The large system designed for a jurisdiction of their size. The large
number of transactions and absentee ballots issued requires a number of transactions and absentee ballots issued requires a system with more capacity and the ability to handle their system with more capacity and the ability to handle their volume and more efficient capture and storage of voter volume and more efficient capture and storage of voter
signature images.”signature images.”
Election Management and Voter Election Management and Voter Registration SystemRegistration System
• New election management and voter registration system installed and implemented in June 2004
• New system replaces outdated legacy mainframe system that lacked ability to manage growing voter registration transactions and absentee voters
• Project completed on time and under budget; savings re-appropriated for HAVA implementation project
• 2004 primary and General Election administered using the updated technology and work flow systems
•Project plan and management serve as models in county’s technology governance structure
Voting Rights Act – Minority Language Voting Rights Act – Minority Language ComplianceCompliance
• King County Elections Web site is recognized as one of the first bilingual elections Web sites in the country.
• Since 2002, the number of voters requesting and using Chinese language ballots and voting materials has progressively increased.
• King County Elections’ Minority Language Coordinator is chosen to participate in U.S. Department of State teleconference to provide leaders in China with expertise in their developing electoral processes.
• External oversight provided by Section 203 Coalition, Organization of Chinese Americans.
The New PrimaryThe New Primary
• Primary implemented in just 100 days
• Public engagement
• Outreach and education
• Stakeholder involvement
• Regional coordination
• Record turnout
“Voting in the new Primary… easy as 1-2-3”
Voter Outreach and EducationVoter Outreach and Education
Vote Mobile – partnership with the League of Women Voters brings voter registration to communities across King County
Speakers’ Bureau – more than 100 presentations reach out to 78,000 people
Transit and Cable Advertising – saturates King County in primary and General Election
Minority Community Outreach – multi-lingual presentations educate first-time voters
Record Setting Voter Registration Record Setting Voter Registration and Absenteesand Absentees
Leading up to the 2004 General Election, King County
processed a record-breaking 138,729 new registrations, a 40 percent increase for the same 10-month period leading up to
the 2000 election.
Record Setting Voter Registration Record Setting Voter Registration and Absenteesand Absentees
The numbers of absentee ballots issued in the General Election set a new record at 646,468 issued. 160,000 more than in any previous election.
Record breaking firsts include:
• the number of absentee ballots processed and tabulated on Election Day -- 233,254
• the number of provisional ballots issued -- more than 31,000
• the number of provisional ballots validated and included in the final returns -- more than 28,000; and
• an overall voter turnout of 83 percent
Manual Recount ProceduresManual Recount Procedures
““It is hard to imagine a fairer and more meaningful opportunity to It is hard to imagine a fairer and more meaningful opportunity to observe. The procedure proposed by King County Records complies observe. The procedure proposed by King County Records complies with the WAC requirement.”with the WAC requirement.”
Washington State Republican Party petition in McDonald v. Secretary of State (76321-6, December 7, 2004)
• Nearly 900,000 ballots hand counted in King County in 16 days
• New, temporary facility set up to accommodate 400 bipartisan workers and observers
• Eighty recount boards organized into teams of three – one designee from the Democratic party, one designee from the Republican party and a third member recruited from Elections’ seasonal work registry
• Multiple observer areas ensure open, fair and transparent proceedings
• Precinct counts are compared to the original and machine recount totals and recounted until two independent counts matched
Military and Overseas BallotsMilitary and Overseas Ballots
• Military and overseas citizens’ ballots were mailed on time by Oct. 8, 2004.
• Once King County mails absentee ballots, the responsibility shifts to the Post Office and Department of Defense.
• The U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Voting AssistanceProgram coordinates with all branches of the armed services to assist military and overseas voters in obtaining ballots and voting.
• Voted ballots returned from outside the U.S. are valid and counted as long as they are signed by the date of the election and received prior to certification (15 days following a General Election).
Reports of deceased voters casting Reports of deceased voters casting ballotsballots
• The Washington State Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics is required to provide death notifications to the counties on a regular basis to assist in removing deceased voters from the rolls.
• By state law, voter registration files are closed 30 days prior to an election for new registrations sent by mail, cancellations and transfers.
• In 2004, 4,305 registrations were canceled in King County based on notification that the voter was deceased.
• Forms for cancellation of a deceased voter are available at all polling locations on Election Day for voters to complete if they are aware of the death of another voter.
Reports of felons votingReports of felons voting
• Election officials cannot remove a convicted felon from the voter registration files without notification from the courts.
• State and federal laws compel election officials to add a new voter to the registration files when a registration application is received and includes the minimum required information and a signature attesting to their qualifications to become a registered voter.
• More than 600 registrations were canceled in 2004 based on court notification of a felony conviction.
• The oath on the voter registration application, which must be signed, includes the statement that the applicant is not currently denied their civil rights as a result of a felony conviction.
Ballot Duplication and EnhancementBallot Duplication and Enhancement
• Ballot duplications and enhancements are conducted by at least two people in the presence of political party observers.
• A log is maintained of all duplications and enhancements to ensure full accountability of all ballot handling.
• In the 2004 General Election, 4,902 ballots were duplicated and55,177 ballots were enhanced out of nearly 900,000 ballots cast.
Canvassing Board review of ballotsCanvassing Board review of ballots
• The King County Canvassing Board reviewed more than 1,600 ballots to determine voter intent.
• More than 95% of these decisions were unanimous.
• Determination was made in public meetings, on the record and in the presence of political party observers.
Washington is a voter intent Washington is a voter intent state. Election laws give state. Election laws give deference to voter intent where it deference to voter intent where it can be determined over following can be determined over following instructions on how to mark a instructions on how to mark a ballot.ballot.
Variance between ballots cast and voters Variance between ballots cast and voters creditedcredited
The most common reasons people who voted may not appear on the list of credited voters is:
• they cast a federal write-in ballot in accordance with provisions of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (which includes non-registered service personnel and overseas voters);
• they are participants in the state’s Address Confidentiality Program (victims of domestic violence and stalking whose information is secured from public record); or
• human error during the crediting process or when voters sign the poll books.
Variance between ballots cast and Variance between ballots cast and voters creditedvoters credited
• Variance from preliminary report = 3,539
• Further reconciliation efforts (1,018)
• Address Confidentiality Program ballots (69)
• Federal write-in ballots (251)
• Provisional ballots deposited in AccuVotes (348)
• Remaining variance attributed to administrative error = 1,853Remaining variance attributed to administrative error = 1,853
1,853 variance / 899,199 = .002 x 100 = 0.2%0.2%
99.8 percent of all voters who cast ballots were credited99.8 percent of all voters who cast ballots were credited
Past Year VariancesPast Year Variances Other Counties VarianceOther Counties Variance
2003 – 606 (99.84%) Clark – 225 (99.86%)
2002 – 2,809 (99.5%)* Spokane – 77 (99.97%)
2000 – 1,230 (99.85%)
Managing through ChallengesManaging through Challenges
““...there is every indication that the King County ...there is every indication that the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division acted professionally and intended to act in the public’s acted professionally and intended to act in the public’s best interest under immense pressure and under best interest under immense pressure and under intense public scrutiny.” intense public scrutiny.”
““Armies of lawyers and poll watchers examine King Armies of lawyers and poll watchers examine King County’s every move, threatening litigation and more. County’s every move, threatening litigation and more. Under the circumstances, King County’s prudence is Under the circumstances, King County’s prudence is understandable.”understandable.”
Excerpt from King County Superior Court Opinion in Washington State Republican Party v. Washington State Democratic Central Committee v. King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division. (Case No. 04-2-36048-0 SEA; Nov.16, 2004)
Managing through ChallengesManaging through ChallengesAbsentee BallotsAbsentee Ballots
• Duplicate Ballots
• Postal Handling Errors
• Print Quality Issues
• “No Signature on File” Ballots
• Ballots returned from the polls
Provisional BallotsProvisional Ballots
• 348 identified deposited in AccuVotes
• 252 later validated and credited
Legal ChallengesLegal Challenges
• Superior Court in King County – Democratic Party
• Superior Court in Pierce County – Republican Party
• State Supreme Court – Democratic & Republican Parties
Proposed Election ReformProposed Election Reform
• Moving the date of the primary – support support
• Reimbursing counties for the state share of even-year election costs – support support
• Extending the time provided for certification of election results – supportsupport
We need meaningful, reasonable election We need meaningful, reasonable election reform that includes:reform that includes:
Proposed Election Reform Proposed Election Reform continuedcontinued
• Conducting certain elections entirely by mail – support support
• Canvassing and ballot processing procedures – supportsupport
• Requiring absentee ballots to be returned by Election Day – opposeoppose
2005 Action Plan2005 Action PlanSeizing the Moment and Moving AheadSeizing the Moment and Moving Ahead
““King County should reorganize King County should reorganize and consolidate key parts of its and consolidate key parts of its elections operations in order to elections operations in order to reduce the potential for errors reduce the potential for errors and to gain efficiencies.”and to gain efficiencies.”
Excerpt from the Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee Report (May 2004)
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY• single, secure location for all election activities and services
• capacity to conduct countywide vote-by-mail elections
• comprehensive training facility
• fully functional communications center
• ballot tracking and accountability systems
• laboratory setting for developing technology
• public viewing areas
Action PlanAction PlanSeizing the Moment and Moving AheadSeizing the Moment and Moving Ahead
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL CHANGE
• formalized staff training
• organizational accountability with benchmarks and production standards
• improve work flow which includes updated and documented procedures and policies
• analysis of reducing the number of precincts and consolidating polling locations
• implementation of a revised Information Technology support model with technical support directly in the Elections Section
Action PlanAction PlanSeizing the Moment and Moving AheadSeizing the Moment and Moving Ahead
““The Elections Section should The Elections Section should create a formal training plan and create a formal training plan and commit the resources commit the resources necessary to implement it. The necessary to implement it. The Election Section’s training must Election Section’s training must ensure there is sufficient cross-ensure there is sufficient cross-training of workers to ensure training of workers to ensure smooth operations and better smooth operations and better teamwork.”teamwork.”
Excerpt from the Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee Report (May 2004)
IMPLEMENT REMAINING PROVISIONS –HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA)
• Disability Access Voting Equipment (DAVE)
• Needs Assessment
• Demonstrations
• Implementation
• Development and implementation of the statewide voter registration database
Action PlanAction PlanSeizing the Moment and Moving AheadSeizing the Moment and Moving Ahead
MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC
• Conduct focus groups to assess voter education, election reform and security
• Re-establish speakers’ bureau to address concerns related to the 2004 General Election
• Expand Web-based resources to enhance election transparency
• Continue external oversight – Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee and coordination with other jurisdictions
Summary & ConclusionSummary & Conclusion
New and recurring challenges ahead…New and recurring challenges ahead…
• Compliance with new federal laws calling for disability access voting equipment in all polling locations
• Administration of another new primary system
• Implementation of the new council district redistricting plan
• Responding to changing public dynamics
• Implementing statewide election reform measures
“…“…this report should remain an active document – one which we refer this report should remain an active document – one which we refer back to often to measure progress and as a reality check on its back to often to measure progress and as a reality check on its relevance.”relevance.”
Summary & ConclusionSummary & Conclusion
““The citizens of King County have a right to expect high The citizens of King County have a right to expect high quality performance in the conduct of our elections. We quality performance in the conduct of our elections. We cannot demand perfection; we know that there will be cannot demand perfection; we know that there will be breakdowns and errors in the future. But we can insist breakdowns and errors in the future. But we can insist that the Elections Section operate on a standard of that the Elections Section operate on a standard of professionalism, expertise, accountability and professionalism, expertise, accountability and continuous improvement, and by the same token must continuous improvement, and by the same token must insist that our elected officials provide the resources insist that our elected officials provide the resources and organization required to achieve that standard.”and organization required to achieve that standard.”
AFTERWARD, King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee Report (May 2004)
