Election Judge Training

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Election Judge Training

• 2007

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Welcome!

• How will this session be structured?
• Welcome to your position as an Election Judge!
  Election Judges serve a vital role in protecting
  the rights of voters.
• This guide provides information about the duties
  of Election Judges and will focus on specific
  judges responsibilities.

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Your Handbook

• How will this session be structured?
• The Table of Contents on page one of you handbook
  shows the sections we will cover in training
  today.
• This training is arranged so that you can follow
  along in your handbook.

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Your Handbook
Symbols you will see throughout this training and
your handbook Important information New
information Important telephone numbers
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Quick Facts

•  Poll hours are 700 a.m. to 700 p.m.
•  Important phone numbers
• Judges
• Voters

County Clerk Elections Office 303-679-2339 Pam
Phipps Cell Phone [phone]
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Judge Duties

• Supply Judge
• Assigns duties to other judges (for example,
  hanging signs, etc.)
• Supervises the conduct of the election at the
  polling place
• Picks up and returns the supplies before the
  election

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Judge Duties

• Supervisor Judge
• Oversees the set up of the polling place
• Checks various stations throughout the day

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Judge Duties

• Greeter Judge
• Greets and directs voters
• Reminds voters about ID, signature cards, etc.
• Assists with outside traffic control
• Monitors lines

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Judge Duties

• Change Judge
• Assists voters who have moved to update their
  information
• Locates the new address in the street index and
  assigns correct ballot style

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Judge Duties

• Poll Book Judge
• Identifies voters and verifies identification
• Views signing by voter
• Files the signature card

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Judge Duties

• Ballot Judge
• Assigns ballot number to voter
• Gives voter instructions on how to complete the
  ballot
• Spoils ballots, if necessary
• Completes Statement of Ballots/Return Form on
  election night

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Judge Duties

• Machine Judge
• Assists voters at the machine or ballot box
• Monitors machines
• Troubleshoots machines
• Checks the ballot box to make sure its clear and
  ballots are going in properly
• Assists the supervisor in transmitting results
  when the polls close

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Judge Duties

• Provisional Judge
• Instructs voters on how to complete the
  provisional envelope
• Assigns a ballot number to voter
• Gives voter instructions on how to complete the
  ballot
• Checks the ballot box to make sure its clear and
  ballots are going in properly

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Judge Duties

• Student Judge
• Assists the Supply Judge as needed

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General Judge Instructions

• Prepare for a long day.
• Bring enough food and drink to get you through
  the day or have a friend or relative bring it to
  you.
• You are not allowed to accept food or drinks from
  any special interest groups at the polling place.
  
• You are not allowed to leave the polling place
  except in the case of an emergency.

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General Judge Instructions

• Parking
• Judges should park in the back of the building
• leave spaces near the building for voters to use
• Use of facilities
• Leave building as clean as you found it

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General Judge Instructions

• Work as a team
• The supervising judge is in charge of the polling
  place but is not expected to make all the
  decisions.
• Judges should work as a team to keep things
  running smoothly.

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General Judge Instructions

• Appropriate behavior
• Do not talk on your cell phone unless it is for
  official election business.
• Do not bring children or pets.
• Do not eat at the judge table.

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General Judge Instructions

• Slow times during the day
• Bring appropriate things to pass the slow time
• Knitting
• Non-political reading material
• Crossword puzzles, etc.
• Avoid political discussions
• With each other
• With the public

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General Judge Instructions

• You are on public display
• Conduct yourself appropriately.
• Wear comfortable but appropriate clothing.
• Smile and be respectful and courteous to each
  voter.
• Remember, you are helping each voter exercise
  his/her right to vote.

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General Judge Instructions

• Have fun!
• You are an integral part of the democratic
  process!
• We appreciate your service.

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Judge Duties

• Sample
• Judge Duties
• Set Up

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Election Day Rules

• General Elections Information
• Do not allow anyone within 6 feet of the voting
  booths
• The law saying that a voter could not occupy a
  voting booth for more than 10 minutes has been
  changed. It now says Eligible electors shall
  cast their ballots without undue delay and shall
  leave the immediate voting area as soon as voting
  is complete.
• Liquor is not allowed in or near the polls

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Election Day Rules

• General Elections Information
• Voters are not allowed to deface or damage the
  voting booths or ballots
• Voters are not allowed to remove ballots from the
  polling place.

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Election Day Rules

• Electioneering
• Electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of
• any polling place
• any public street or room
• in any public manner within 100 feet of any
  building in which a polling place is located

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Election Day Rules

• Electioneering Includes
• Campaigning for or against
• Candidates who are on the ballot
• A ballot issue or ballot question
• Soliciting signatures for a petition
• Any communication that refers to any candidate
• Hats, buttons, pins, t-shirts, artwork, etc. that
  advertise ballot issues or candidates

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Election Day Rules

• Poll Watchers
• May be present in the polling place on Election
  Day from the time the judges arrive until closing
• Must present a Poll Watchers Form to election
  judge
• Must have a certificate of appointment for each
  polling place where he/she is designated to act

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Election Day Rules

• Poll Watchers
• The Watcher must take the oath and sign it.
• Poll Watchers are allowed to observe as long as
  they do not interfere with the Election Day
  process.
• Clearly announce the names of voters for the
  benefit of the Poll Watchers
• Only one Watcher may represent a candidate or
  issue at a time.
• The candidate or issue must appear on the ballot

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Election Day Rules

• Exit Polling
• Exit pollsters should abide by the 100-foot rule
• TV Cameras and Media
• Follow the procedures your county clerk has given
  you
• If a member of the media comes to the polling
  place, be sure to call the county clerks office

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Election Day Rules

• Absentee ballots
• Absentee ballots are ballots that a voter has
  requested by-mail prior to Election Day.
• You are not allowed to accept absentee ballots
  dropped off at the polling place.
• Redirect the voter to the County Clerks Office
  or other drop-off locations

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Voter Service (Customer Service)

• All Voters
• Voter is loud, shouting or otherwise creating a
  challenge
• Calmly remove the voter from the polling place
• You may ask another election judge to help
• If you cant get help from another judge, calmly
  repeat the voters choices
• You may also walk with the voter to the door and
  suggest the voter contact the Elections office
  with additional questions

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Voter Service (Customer Service)

• Voters with Disabilities Etiquette
• Use common sense and extend common courtesies to
  everyone
• Review the helpful tips in your handbook on pages
  9 and 10.

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Voter Service (Customer Service)

• Assisting Voters with Disabilities
• Colorado law
• A voter has a legal right to assistance in voting
  if assistance is needed because of
• blindness
• other physical disability
• inability to read or write
• Review the helpful tips in your handbook.

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Voter Service (Customer Service)

• Voters with other Languages
• Be patient when you encounter a language or
  cultural barrier
• Voters are entitled to assistance with their
  ballot
• Review the helpful tips in your handbook.

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Emergency Procedures/Polling Place Security

• Before the Election
• Briefly discuss safety and security at the
  polling place on Election Day
• Identify situations that may pose a risk at your
  polling place
• Decide who will be responsible to grab the poll
  book/signature cards and the ballot box if you
  have to evacuate

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Emergency Procedures/Polling Place Security

• Throughout the Day
• Be alert and observant
• Communicate with those in charge of the polling
  place facilities if an emergency arises

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Emergency Procedures/Polling Place Security

• In an Emergency
• The safety of the election judges and the voter
  must always be the first priority
• Ensure that all voters and judges safely leave
  the building.
• Call 911 if there is a serious emergency
• Notify the Elections Office as soon as possible
• A ballot that is being voted at the time of an
  evacuation should be treated as a spoiled ballot

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Emergency Procedures/Polling Place Security

• If a Polling Place Has to Be Evacuated
• Judges may move a polling place if they cannot be
  located to another area of the building
• Judges shall post signs directing voters to the
  new polling place.
• If called upon, follow instructions given by the
  Elections Office or by local law enforcement

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Before Opening the Polls

• Judges should arrive at the poling place by 600
  AM
• If you are unable to enter the building, notify
  the Elections Office.
• Judges must sign the following
• Oath of Judges of Election.
• Payroll sheets
• Zero tapes
• Post Signs

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Before Opening the Polls
County Clerk insert here
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Polling Place Set-Up

• Greeter
• Check in table
• Provisional ballot table
• Provisional ballot box
• Provisional booth
• Regular voting booths
• Precinct Scanner or ballot box

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6
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1
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Before Opening the Polls
The HAVA Kit contains signs and information that
is required to be posted at each polling place, a
checklist and directions on where to post each of
the signs.
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Supplies

• Checklist of Supplies
•  
• FormsJudges
•   Oath of Judges
• Judges statement of ballots/return form
• q       Judges unofficial abstract of votes
• q       Judge payroll form
• q       Verification of telephone registration
  form
• q       Other __________________
•  

County Clerk insert here
Sample
Sample Supply list is in your handbook, page 15
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Opening the Polls

• Before opening the polls, the judges shall open
  the ballot box in the presence of those assembled
  and turn it upside down so as to ensure it is
  empty. Then the ballot box should be locked and
  secured.
•  
• The judges shall announce at 700 a.m. that the
  polls are open

County Clerk insert here
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Processing Voters
Start
The voter is found in the poll book or on a
signature card
Voter has acceptable ID. (See pages 24-26 for a
list)
Voter does not have acceptable ID
Voter gets a provisional ballot envelope to
complete. See provisional ballot section for
more information
Give the voter a ballot
Give the voter a ballot
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Processing Voters

• Processing Voters/Troubleshooting

303-679-2339 303-679-2341 303-204-9607
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Acceptable IDs
A valid U.S. passport
A valid Colorado Drivers License
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Acceptable IDs
A valid pilots license issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration or other authorized
agency of the United States
A valid U.S. military I.D. card with a photo.
Only ID that may have an out of state address
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Acceptable IDs
A government check, paycheck or other government
document that shows the name and address of the
elector
A valid Medicare or Medicaid card
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Acceptable IDs
A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate,
issued by a states Vital Records department with
a raised seal.
Certified documentation of naturalization
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Un-Acceptable IDs

• These are NOT acceptable
• Any approved items with address OUTSIDE Colorado.
• Social Security Number or Social Security Card.

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Challenges

• A challenge is an exception taken to a voter or
  vote at the polls as not being legally qualified
  or valid. A challenge must be made in the
  presence of the person being challenged. A
  challenge may be made by a judge, a watcher, or
  an eligible elector of the precinct.
• A challenge must be made by written oath and must
  include
• The name of the person being challenged
• The specific factual basis for the challenge and
• The signature of the person making the challenge.

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Challenges

• Scenario 1 The voter satisfactorily answers
  the questions on the challenge form and the voter
  signs the form.

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Challenges

• Scenario 2 Voter Refuses to answer the
  challenge questions and/or refuses to sign the
  oath on the challenge form.

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Challenges

• Scenario 3 Voter refuses to answer the
  challenge questions and leaves the polling place.

Voter refuses to answer questions and leaves the
polling place.
Judge must indicate on the challenge form that
the voter refused to answer questions and left
the polling place.
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Provisional Ballots

• Nobody gets turned away from the polls without
  being offered a provisional ballot.

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ProvisionalBallots
Note in the poll book or signature card (as
directed by county clerk) that voter is a
provisional voter.
Reason for voting a provisional ballot identified.
Give voter a Provisional Ballot Envelope
Affidavit and instruct the voter to complete it.
Start
Ensure that the voter has signed the provisional
ballot envelope. (If unsigned, ballot wont
count.)
Complete the upper left corner. Check yes or no
if the voter has ID and write the precinct number.
Direct the voter to put the envelope with ballot
sealed inside into the provisional ballot box.
Tear off the stub on the envelope that tells the
voter the how to check the status of the
provisional ballot.
Give the voter the completed envelope and a
ballot. Instruct the voter to vote the ballot
and seal it in the envelope.
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Provisional Ballots

• What if a voter comes to vote and has a receipt
  from a Voter Registration Drive or an Agency?

• The voter can emergency register at the Elections
  Office with that receipt
• The voter may then return to his/her polling
  location with the certificate of registration and
  vote a regular ballot.

• The voter may be given a provisional ballot at
  the polling place.
• The receipt from the agency or VRD form must be
  attached to the provisional ballot envelope

OR
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Provisional Ballots

• In your handbook
• Reasons to vote provisionally on page 25

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Closing the Polls

• At 630 p.m. announce in a loud and audible voice
  that the polls will close in 30 minutes.
• At 700 p.m. announce in a loud and audible voice
  that the polls are closed.
• If possible, lock the door behind the last voter
  in the door at 700 p.m. If the line extends out
  the door, be sure to have an Election Judge
  monitor the end of the line until you are able to
  lock the door.

Remember The last person in line at 700 p.m.
is eligible to vote
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Closing the Polls

• Fill out the Statement of Ballots/Return Form.
• Complete and sign paperwork.
• Return supplies to the drop-off location

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Closing the Polls
County Clerk insert here
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Other Helpful Sections

• Troubleshooting Voting Equipment
• Forms Index
• Glossary of Terms
• Notes Page

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Questions Answers

• Thank You!
• Lets talk about it!