The Rusk County Clerk's Office WELCOMES YOU for….

Rusk County 2012 Election Cycle Election Training/Info Session

Election Training March 2012

Certificate of Attendance

■ This session qualifies as additional training for Municipal Clerk, Chief Inspector, and Poll Worker training.

■ It does not qualify as Core or Baseline Chief Inspector Training.

This session contains advanced topics and requires class participation to be most beneficial.

The Wisconsin Mission is Rusk County’s Mission!

■ To enhance representative democracy by ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

■ To ensure elections are:– Open– Fair – Impartial – Trusted – the vote of every elector counts

Training Objectives

■ Information

■ Knowledge

■ Confidence

■ Consistency & Uniformity –

procedures are the same statewide

What’s been going on Since the LAST election April, 2011? LOTS!!!!!

Section 1

Photo ID - What do we do now?

■ Wisconsin §6.79(2)(a)■ Currently as it stands Voters are NOT required to show a photo ID to vote.■ Clerks and Election Inspectors can not ask to see a photo ID.■ If a person offers their photo ID voluntarily. Politely tell the voter that due

to the court order photo ID is not currently required.■ If a by-mail absentee voter sends a copy of their photo ID with their

absentee ballot – Mark “Photo ID Provided” on your absentee ballot log & poll book. Retain the ID with the absentee ballot request.

■ Provisional ballots will ONLY be used now for two reasons:

1. “POR Required” show up on the poll list & voter can not show proof of residence.

2. Registering on election day and voter indicates he/she has a WI

driver’s license number, but can’t or won’t provide the number.■ An elector who votes a provisional ballot may furnish POR to the election

inspector before the polls close or to the municipal clerk no later than 4 pm on the Friday following Election Day.

• No more corroborating witness for proof of residency• Residency requirements increase from 10 days to 28 days• If photo ID becomes law - Increase in provisional balloting• Increase in postage due to predicted increase in absentee voting• Signature required at the polls (sign ONE poll list only and the signed list becomes County Clerk’s copy)• End of SRD through G.A.B. Municipal Clerks may appoint SRD’s to register voters WITHIN ‘that’ municipality.• Registration ends at 5pm the Friday BEFORE Election Day and then begins again on Election Day.• Provisional timeline moved from Wednesday at 4pm to FRIDAY at 4pm• Voter Registration REQUIRES previous address.• Elimination of Straight Party Ticket

More information to learn…

REDISTRICTING

Can’t find people? HAVE MAPS AVALABLE

Due to changes in the 2010 Census and Redistricting, poll books will not be 100% correct.

What “processes” have been affected due to changes?

■ Calendar Timelines■ Voter Registration ■ Voting in the Clerk’s Office■ Absentee Voting■ Provisional Voting■ Curbside Voting■ Conducting Canvass■ Reporting Results on Election Night

Who’s on the Ballot?April = Everyone

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE Court of Appeals – Branch 3

Rusk County Board (19)

School Board Members

Some Extras for = Villages & City

VILLAGES

Village President

Village Clerk

Village Treasurer

Village Trustees

CITY

Mayor

Municipal Judge

Alderpersons

LOTS OF BALLOTS

Section 2

Qualifications for Election Officials

Qualifications for Election Officials

■ Municipal Clerks■ Chief Inspectors■ Election Inspectors■ Special Registration Deputies (SRDs)Special Registration Deputies (SRDs)

– Election Day

■ Greeters and Tabulators■ Oaths

You must be appointed to a 2-year term in your municipality by December 31…

In order to receive credit for today’s training, pick up your certificate of attendance before you leave.

Preparing to Serve

■ Attend Election Day Training■ Know your Election Day Manual■ Work with your clerk

– Number of Election Inspectors– Contingency Plans– Have Materials Needed

■ Visit & Inspect the polling place■ Familiarize yourself with the ballot and

equipment■ Arrive at the polling place early

WHAT YOU DO IS VERY IMPORTANT!

Section 3

Pre-Election Preparations

PollIng

Place

Set

Up

Page33

Voting Equipment

– Edge Touch Screen Voting Machine – Must have at least one accessible voting equipment

component– Be sure you know how to use and explain all the

equipment, and who to contact if there are problems

– Verify tamper-evident seal number matches number contained on Inspectors’

Statement, initial– Zero-count requirement

Recount Issues dealing with Voting Equipment and Elections Materials

■ Poll Book Reconciliation contained most errors:

Both books not matching due to duplicated or missing voter numbers and incorrect page number listed for last voter…please be mindful.

■ GAB-104 Inspectors’ Statement: Incidents not documented, unclear, or no incidents listed for entire day at all.

■ Many Election Inspectors and clerks were unfamiliar with how to troubleshoot voting equipment issues, such as changing paper, deselecting check marks, and enlarging screen view. 

■ Absentee issues: No Absentee log, Absentee Certificate envelope rejected or not rejected properly, absentee voter number not listed on envelope.

■ People voting in the wrong place.

Election Day Contacts…

Denise Wetzel, Clerk 715-532-2100 715-790-6168

Section 4

Election Day Issues

Opening the Polls

■ Polls must open at 7:00 a.m.

■ To officially open the polls, the chief inspector:

– Unlocks the doors to all entrances, including any alternate accessible entrances

– Officially announces the opening of the polls

Did you check that the bins were empty and sign the Machine ZERO tape?

Election Observers

Anyone, other than a candidate other than a candidate up for election, has the right to be present at the polling place to observe the conduct of the election.

■ Establish observer area when setting up polling place

■ Observers may examine the poll list so long as they do not interfere with election inspectors’ responsibilities

Electioneering

■ Definition: any activity intended to influence voting at an election

■ Electioneering is prohibited on public property within 100 feet of any entrance to a building containing a polling place– Some considerations

■ Bumper stickers

■ Exit Polls

■ Bake Sales and other activities

Voter Qualifications

■ Must be US Citizen■ Must be age 18 or older■ Must have resided in an election district or

ward for 28 days before an election28 days before an election■ Must not be disqualified from voting under

§6.03, Wis. Stats. – Convicted of felony and still serving terms of

sentence– Adjudicated Incompetent– Placed bet or wager on outcome of election

Residency

You may only vote in ONE municipality■ Establishing residency

– Physical presence, residency for voting purposes

■ Temporary Absence■ Intent to return■ Student status■ “Part-time” residents

REMEMBER due to REDISTRICTING you may need to assist voters whose polling location or ward # changed.

Certificate of Registration (GAB-133)

■ For voters who registered after the cut-off (20 days before an election)

New rule – Registration and voting by Absentee

in the Clerks office CLOSES FRIDAY

before the election at 5 pm! Was Monday before election…

Election Day Registration

To register on Election Day, voter needs to:■ Fill out a Voter

Registration Application

(GAB-131)

■ Provide a valid form

of proof of residence

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Remember to check the Ineligible voter list for EVERY voter who registers on Election Day.

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Identification Number Requirement (Box 2)A. Has WI Driver’s License MUST provide number

B. Does not have WI Driver’s License Use last 4 digits of Social Security number or DOT-issued ID card

C. No WI DL, ID card or SSN Fill in oval for this purpose

A

B

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

■ Elector must sign application in presence of election inspector

■ Election inspector inspects form for completeness

■ Election inspector must sign application indicating it has been accepted

Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Proof of Residence

■ Forms of proof must contain:– a complete name (first and last name)– a current and complete residential address

■ Forms which have an expiration date must be valid on Election Day

■ Election official must view the proof of residence and record the type and any unique number on the bottom of the Voter Registration Application (GAB-131)

Forms of Proof of Residence

■ WI Driver’s License or ID card■ University ID or fee card (must have photo)■ Other official or gov’t-issue ID card■ Real estate tax bill or receipt (for current year

or year before)■ Residential Lease (not for first-time voters

who registered by mail)■ Utility Bill (dated no earlier that 90 days

before Election Day)■ Bank statement, pay check, gov’t check

VERY, VERY different from VOTER ID…

REVIEW…VOTER QUALIFICATIONS…

The 3 major changes from last year are:

1.28 day residency requirement

2.Redistricting has affected many polling places and offices – voters may need help finding their polling place and ward #

3.No Corroborating Witness

Recording Voters

■ Poll List Consist of 3 parts– Part 1: Regular Poll List (SVRS-Generated) – Part 2: Pre-printed Supplemental Poll List – Part 3: Hand-written Supplemental Poll List

■ Pre-printed Poll List Notations– POR Required– Absentee

■ Election Day Notations– Absentee– Provisional– Challenged

Assisted Curbside Presidential Only

ISSUING BALLOTS AND VOTING

1 – Announce Name and Address to the Election Inspectors

2 – Elector Signs ONE Poll List

3 – Beginning with the number “1”, a voter # is assigned to each Elector

4 – Voter is issued a ballot that is initialed by two Election Inspector

5 – Voter is directed to voting area

6 – Voter marks his or her ballot on the voting machine or in the voting booth

7 – Voter records vote on machine or deposits ballot in ballot box

The County Clerk’s Office prefers that you use BLUE PEN on election day to record voters, and initial ballots. RED PEN to record Absentee and Voters may sign the book in any color pen – NOT pencil.

What if the elector won’t sign or signs with an “X”? What if the elector signs in the wrong box?

Provisional Voting…ONLY used in TWO situations:

1. If an individual is a first-time voter, who registered by mail and has failed to provide the required proof of residence…

■ The poll list will contain the notation “POR Required” to identify first time voters who registered by mail and who must show proof of residence before being allowed to vote;

■ In the case of a first-time voter who voted absentee, the returned absentee ballot will be treated as provisional if no proof of residence has been provided with the returned absentee ballot.

2. If an individual who registers on ELECTION DAY has a WI Driver’s license, but is unwilling or unable to provide the license number…

■ Individuals who have a WI driver’s license may NOT use the last four (4) digits of the Social Security #.

■ Electors may vote provisionally if providing the driver’s license number is the only missing registration element. If an elector is also missing required proof of residence, then he or she may NOT register to vote.

Provisional Voting…ONLY used in TWO situations:

Provisional Voting Procedure

1. Voter fills out Provisional Voting Certificate Envelope (GAB-123) in the presence of one election inspector

2. Election Inspector COMPLETES certificate envelope by signing and indicating the type of information required. (POR, DL#, Photo ID)

3. Issue elector a provisional voter number (PV#_) – Recorded on BACK OF BALLOT, Inspector’s Statement

(GAB-104), Provisional Ballot Cert. Envelope (GAB-123), Reporting Form (GAB-123r), Poll List or Supplemental Poll List, and the informational sheet that the elector receives.

4. Elector votes ballot in booth and seals ballot inside the envelope and returns to election inspector

1 PV PV#3 – Phillip Alf issued Provisional Ballot 9:07 LS for NO Photo ID.

Give This to the Voter:

This is a two sided form…

Provisional Ballot Reporting Form (GAB-123r)

Copy is sent to the County ClerkAll information is called to the County Clerk’s Office on Election

Provisional Voting Procedure, con’t

■ Give voter Provisional Voter Information Sheet Explaining that: *his/her vote is not counted unless missing information is provided to municipal clerk by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday following the election.

■ Place the sealed envelope into Inspectors’ Certificate for Provisional Ballots envelope (GAB-108) *when the polling place closes, envelope MUST be secured in a separate bag with a tamper evident serialized numbered seal. CLEARLY mark bag “Provisional Ballots”

Assisting Electors

An elector may select anyone to assist them at the polling place other than the voter’s employer or agent of the voter’s labor union.

■ Assistor marks ballot at the direction of the elector ■ Assistor signs the ballot■ Name and address of assistor noted on the voter list Record incident on Inspector Statement

Curbside Voting

An elector who, due to a disability, is unable to enter the polling place, may receive a ballot at the

entrance to the polling place.■ TWO election inspectors ALWAYS!■ Announce out loud in polling place that you are

serving a curbside voter■ Make a notation on the poll list “exempt by

order of poll worker” in signature box■ DO NOT take the poll list outside!■ Record incident on Inspector Statement

Assisting a Voter with a Disability

Confidential Electors

Electors who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking have the option to be listed confidentially on poll lists.

■ Will be listed on “Confidential” portion of poll list

■ “Confidential” portion of poll list is NOT open to public inspection

■ Exempt from signing the poll list and from providing acceptable Photo ID.

Confidential Electors

IDENTIFICATION CARD OF PROTECTED INDIVIDUAL

__________________________________ ___________________________ Name of municipality (indicate town, village or city) County (Required if a town)

The following individual has qualified for protection under s.6.47, Stats:

_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Name of protected person Ward

Identification serial number

This form is prescribed by the State Elections Board, 17 West Main Street, Ste 310, Madison, WI 53703, 608-266-8005, http://elections.wi.gov. The information on this form is required by s.6.47, Stats.

Identification Serial Number _______________________________________

Challenging Electors

Any qualified elector may challenge a voter who they believe does not meet the qualifications to vote.

■ MUST be made for reasonable cause■ Challenge recorded on the Challenge

Documentation section (GAB-104c) of the Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

■ Notations on the GAB-104 and the poll list

Section 5

Ballots

Recount Issues dealing with Ballots/Ballot Containers.

■ Election Inspectors were inconsistent with the handling of spoiled, damaged and replacement ballots. These ballots were inconsistently marked as damaged or replaced, or were not marked at all and were often put in incorrect envelopes.

■ Ballot containers were not properly sealed.  Tamper evident seal numbers documented on the Ballot Container Certificate (GAB-101) and Inspectors’ Statement were incorrectly recorded.

Remade Ballot

ORIGINAL #1

REMADE #1

Absentee ballots often come back marked with the incorrect marking device and sometimes are on copy paper.

Preserve Original in REMADE ballot Envelope

and log on inspector statement

Place this ballot in the ballot tabulator

Spoiled Ballot Sometimes voters make errors on their ballot and will request another one.

Preserve Original in SPOILED ballot Envelope

and log on inspector statement

Place this ballot in the ballot tabulator

Tear off this corner and place in envelope

Recount Issues dealing with the Absentee process and Absentee Ballots 

■ Absentee Certificate Envelopes lacked witness signatures.

■ Many absentee ballots failed to include the initials of the issuing clerk or deputy clerk.   

Absentee Ballots

On Election Day, the municipal clerk delivers absentee ballots to the polling place.

■ Absentee ballots must be processed in the same room the votes are cast.

■ Absentee ballots may be processed at anytime between the opening and closing hours of the polling place.

Handling Absentee Ballots

■ Remove one Absentee Certificate Envelope (GAB-122) and announce elector’s name and announce elector’s name and addressaddress.

■ Review the envelope to determine that:– The envelope is not open– The envelope has not been opened and then resealed– The signature of the elector signature of the elector appears on the certificate– The certificate contains the signature of one witness who is

an adult US citizen

Absentee Certificate EnvelopePORTRAIT VERSION

If Certificate is INSUFFICIENT…

1. Do not open the envelope

2. Mark the envelope “Rejected ballot #_” and write the reason for rejection on the envelope and Absentee Ballot Log

3. List the elector’s name, identifying serial number of ballot, and reason for rejection on the Inspectors' Statement (GAB-104)

4. Place the unopened certificate envelope in the Certificate of Rejected Absentee Ballots (GAB-102)

5. Do not issue a voter number!

If Certificate is SUFFICIENT…

1. Remove ballot from envelope2. Examine contents to ensure that:

■ No more than proper number of ballots enclosed■ Ballot contains initials of issuing clerk*

3. Record voter number on voter list and make “absentee” notation in RED (A)

4. Record voter information on Absentee Ballot Log

5. Place ballot in appropriate box 6. Place used certificate envelope in the Used

Certificate Envelopes of Absentee Electors (GAB-103 )

Counting Paper Ballots

Procedure for Hand-Counted Paper Ballots1. Count (without examining) to determine

total number of ballots2. Check if number of ballots is equal to number of voters

■ Make sure two ballots aren’t folded together■ If number of ballots is EQUAL TO or LESS THAN

number of voters, proceed with counting■ If number of ballots is GREATER than number of

voters, follow draw-down procedure (see Manual page 59)

Counting Paper Ballots, con’t

3. Count and record the votes on two separate Tally Sheets (GAB-105)

4. Reconcile the tally sheets when the counting for each office is complete

5. Voter Intent– “Defective” Ballots– “Objected to” Ballots

6. Announce the results of the votes cast at the polling place

Voter Intent

■ Voter Intent is the controlling factor in determining how a ballot should be counted

■ Where there is a question, a majority of the inspectors must agree that voter intent can or cannot reasonably be determined

■ RECORD any decisions made on the Inspector’s Statement.

Section 6

Documentation

Issues regarding Poll Book Reconciliation

■ When recording voter numbers in the poll book, Election Inspectors skipped or duplicated numbers.

■ When issuing voter numbers in the poll book for Election Day registrants, Election Inspectors did not record participation for these voters in the supplemental poll book. Instead, the Inspectors recorded voter participation in the pre-printed section of the poll book only, or the Inspectors recorded participation in both the supplemental poll book and regular poll book.

■ Elections Inspectors, when recording participation for absentee electors, failed to notate which electors voted by absentee ballot in the poll book.

Reconciling Poll Lists

■ Compare voter numbers and notations on the poll lists – Recommend checking first and last numbers on

each page, as well as every 3rd or 5th number– Make sure notations match– RUSK COUNTY’S highest mistake rate in

Statewide recount April 2011. RECONCILE carefully and multiple times throughout the day.

■ Chief inspector and election inspectors who maintained lists must sign them

Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

In today’s election environment – it would be HIGHLY unlikely that NO INCIDENTS occur on election day.

1 X Child took cough drop off table and choked 9 LRS

Mother got to spit out. Ok. Left w/out emergency care at mother’s request

2 X Elector #219 quite belligerent about new voting process and originally refused to sign poll list. When told she would be denied a ballot, she complied and continued verbal abuse at election officials. Voted ballot and left. 5:20 MMJ

Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

Inspectors’ Statement (GAB-104)

■ Chief inspector or designated election inspector completes certificate– Include the total number of voters, number of absentee

voters, and number of provisional voters■ Chief inspector and two other election inspectors

sign the completed certificate ■ Chief inspector signs the certification that he/she

has completed the required training■ Chief Inspector initials on GAB-104 tamper-

evident serial number on equipment matches the serial number written by clerk (Pre-election and Post-Election)

■ Chief Inspector writes tamper evident serial number contained on ballot bag on GAB-104 and GAB-101

Tally Sheets (GAB-105)

■ Review and compare the two originals– Election information is complete and correct– Tally marks are identical (5 strokes in each box)– Totals are correct and identical

■ Complete and sign certification– Everyone who worked

on counting ballots

must sign

Municipal Board of Canvassers

■ Purpose – Verify statement of election results– Determine winners for Municipality– Prepare board of canvassers report

Take MINUTES!

Completing Forms

■ Original Ballots Envelope– Bundle damaged, defective, objected to or set

aside ballots and put into Original Ballots Envelope

■ Ballot Bag or Container (GAB-101)– Place all voted ballots (paper and machine tape

ballots) inside and seal– Complete and sign certification on ballot bag or

container.

Closing the Polls

■ Polls close at 8:00 p.m.■ To officially close the polls:

– Chief Inspector announces the closing of the polls – End of Line officer stands behind

last voter in line, if any

■ After last elector votes, polling place remains open to publicremains open to public– Do NOT lock the doors of the polling place– Anyone, including the candidate, may observe the

end of night activities

The FINAL stretch is very important

so save some stamina! Although you are exhausted, it is CRITICAL that

the election is closed and

secured properly!

Routing Materials

■ All materials are delivered to the Municipal Clerk to deliver required materials to County Clerk

■ Materials should

be separated into

categories per

County Clerk’s

Instructions

Submit Election Results to County Clerk – ON ELECTION NIGHT!

■ Total votes cast for Federal, State, and County offices.

■ Total number of scattering votes ■ Number of outstanding Absentee Ballots.■ ALL information listed on GAB-123r

Provisional Ballot reporting form.

Thank You!