Precinct Officials Training Judges

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Precinct Officials TrainingJudges Assistants

• November 2008
• General Election

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General Information

• Study the Precinct Officials Election Manual.
  Bring it to the precinct with you Election Day!
• Report to work no later than 6 am Election Day!
• Bring food, drinks, medications, sweater etc with
  you for the entire day and evening

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• 4. No campaign T-shirts or buttons are to
• be worn by elections officials.
• 5. No tobacco products are allow within
• the polling place.
• 6. Serve all voters promptly and
• courteously!
• 7. Synchronize your watches with the voting
  equipment for the correct time to open and close
  the polls.

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• PRECINCT WORKERS MUST REMAIN BI-PARTISIAN AT ALL
  TIMES! DO NOT DISCUSS POLITICS OR ISSUES WITH
  VOTERS OR CO WORKERS!

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Terminology

• Authorization to Vote The process used at the
  voting place to assure voters are properly
  registered and issued ballots.
• ATV Form The blank form used to affix ATV labels
  and process voters.
• Curbside Voting Procedure which allows disabled
  voters, not physically able to walk into the
  polling place to vote in their car.

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• Electioneering Candidate or supporters who stand
  outside polling place locations and campaign.
• Inactive Voters Still eligible to vote. Address
  information needs to be updated.
• Post Election Chain of Custody Form used to
  balance the precinct as well as account for all
  the ballots issued.
• Provisional Voting Procedure which allows a
  person to vote election day if their registration
  cannot be found or if the voter is voting out of
  their precinct.

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Please refer to your Precinct Officials Election
Manual for a more complete list of terminology.
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• BOARD POLICY
• The Union County Board of Elections hereby
  directs that no television sets or radios are
  allowed in the polling place during the voting
  hours.

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• BOARD POLICY
• No Smoking policy has been adopted by the Union
  County Board of Commissioners for all public
  buildings. On Election Day, the polling place is
  a public building. Due to the fact that precinct
  officials are supposed to stay together during
  the day, we ask that smoking outside the polling
  place be extremely limited. When taking a break
  and/or lunch, only one person should be away from
  the voting area at a time. Lunch/breaks are to be
  very short.

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ID STANDARDSThis only applies to a voter who is
identified as requiring ID
A current and valid photo id, or A copy of a
government document that shows the name and
address of the voter such as a current utility
bill, bank statement, government checks,
paycheck, or other government document.
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By law, the photo ID must be valid (not expired)
and is not required to contain the address of the
voter. It is not the intent of HAVA to use the ID
requirement as proof of residency rather it is
to reasonably establish the identity of the
voter. College ID that has not expired and has
photo of the person then meets the provisions
established by HAVA as a means of identification.

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Media Access

• Members of the media have a First Amendment right
  to report on matters of public interest,
  including elections.
• Media representatives must identify themselves to
  the Chief Judge.
• No voter interviews in polling place or within
  50 area.
• They may take a panoramic photograph/video of the
  voting place but are not permitted use a zoom
  lens that could show the individual voter in the
  process of voting.

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• Media representatives may in no way disrupt the
  voting process by their presence.
• Members of the media should be treated with
  respect.
• Election officials are to report problems with
  Media Personnel immediately to the Elections
  office.
• Precinct officials may state the number of
  persons who have voted. No opinion should be
  given.

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• No one may take still or moving pictures within
  the voting enclosure on Election Day or at
  one-stop site, except with the permission of both
  the voter and the chief judge, except that if the
  voter is a candidate, the permission of the chief
  judge is not required. It provides also that no
  one may record the image of a voted ballot for
  any purpose not otherwise permitted by law. (G.S.
  163-166.3 amended by S.L. 2007-391)

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Judges Assistants Duties Responsibilities

• Registration Judge This official is responsible
  for identifying the voter in the voter
  registration list, applying the correct label to
  the ATV form, recording the type of ID presented
  when the registration book indicates ID required
  for a voter and crossing out the ballot style on
  an ATV label of a voter who has a change of
  address.

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• Ballot Judge This precinct official will assure
  all information is correct on the ATV form, issue
  the proper ballot to the voter and provide ballot
  marking instruction to the voter. The Ballot
  Judge will initial part A of the ATV form after
  issuing a ballot and add the sequence number.

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• Precinct Assistants Duties include monitoring
  the M-100 as the voters scan in their ballots.
  Assistants may also be asked to help with
  curbside voting. One assistant will bring the
  blue bag with the first elections results to the
  Board of Elections office Tuesday night.

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• All officials must..
• Attend a training session
• Meet on Monday night to help set up the precinct
• Stay until everyone leaves other than the
  assistant who is delivering the first results.
• Arrive Election Day at your polling place at the
  time determined by the Chief Judge but no later
  than 6 am
• Help close the precinct and perform duties as
  assigned by the Chief Judge.

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ELECTIONEERING AND BUFFER ZONE G.S. 163-166.4

• Buffer Zone Buffer Zone is 50 feet from the
  entrance of the voting place, where practical.
• County Board of Elections should make available
  to the public all information concerning buffer
  zones no later than 30 days before each election.

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ELECTIONEERING AND BUFFER ZONE G.S. 163-166.4

• Prohibited within the Buffer Zone
• 1. Loitering
• 2. Distribution of campaign material
• 3. Electioneering
• Precinct officials should
• 1. Clearly mark buffer zone
• 2. Check 50 foot boundary often during the day
• 3. Remove any individuals campaigning or
• electioneering in the buffer zone

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What is electioneering?

• Any person or group seeking to influence a
• voters choice in an election by 1.
  Distributing campaign literature by hand
• or voice. 2. Displaying signs.3. Wearing
  T-shirts, hats, pins, buttons while
• loitering or congregating.

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For precinct officials 1. Ensure that
electioneering is not occurring within the
specified boundaries.2. Check the voting booths
for campaign literature left behind by
voters. 3. Provide a waste receptacle in which
a voter, if he/she chooses, may dispose of
campaign items.
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4. Do not display newspapers, play radios
or watch television. 5. Do not wear any
political preference or party allegiance
items.
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For voters The following are not considered
examples of electioneering when worn or carried
while in line to vote or while in the act of
voting Campaign hats, Campaign pins, Campaign
T-shirts, Campaign literature.
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Voter AssistanceGS 163-1 66.8/08 NCAC 10B.0107

• Remember, voters needing assistance from a
  precinct official must request the assistance
  stating the reason. When the reason is obvious,
  precinct officials should attempt to avoid
  embarrassing the voter.
• Also, those who are mentally ill, retarded or
  impaired may register and vote. These voters are
  entitled to the same assistance as other voters!

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• Who is entitled to assistance?
• All voters who request assistance.
• Who may assist a voter?
• Near relatives may assist all voters.

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• Near relatives are defined as
• Spouse Mother-in-law
• Parent Father-in-law
• Child Daughter-in-law
• Brother Son-in-law
• Sister Stepfather
• Grandparent Stepmother
• Grandchild Stepchild

Other relatives may assist the voter only if the
voter is blind, disabled or illiterate.
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• Who MAY NOT assist voters?
• Voters employer.
• Agent of the voters employer.
• Officer or agent of the voters union.
• Anyone by telephone.
• Voter must request assistance.
• Precinct officials must not suggest that a voter
  needs assistance.
• Voter must designate from whom he/she would like
  assistance.

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• MONDAY NIGHT SET UP
• The Chief Judge will call you a week before
  Election Day to let you know what time to meet
  Monday night to set up. If you dont hear from
  your Chief Judge, give them a call!
• Arrange the polling place to give voters easy
  access (see lay out in the Black Notebook). Allow
  room for voters to stand in line out of the
  weather if at all possible.

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• 1. Mark voting enclosure by blocking off with
  tape, tables or other boundary markers.
• 2. Set up voting booths with the pen cups.
• 3. Set up tables and chairs as needed.
• 4. Set up and activate the AutoMark
• 5. Put up wall paper and other inside signs.
• 6. Make sure your cell phone is plugged into a
  wall outlet and you can send and receive calls.

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• 7. Chief Judge administers oaths (if needed)
• 8. Mark post executed absentee ballot list.
  (This list is in your supply kit. If there are
  any updates, a new list will be delivered by
  1000 am)
• 9. Place trash can near exit.
• 10. All judges assistants sign pay forms (in
  black notebook)

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• 11. Chief Judge review duties of each judge
  assistant.
• Call Help Desk when you are set up or if you need
  any help.
• REMEMBER DO NOT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
  OPENING THE POLLS UNTIL ELECTION DAY!

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MONDAY NIGHT SET UP

• Mark voting enclosure by blocking off with tape,
  tables or other
• boundary markers
• Set up and activate AutoMark
• Set up voting booths
• Set up table and chairs as needed
• Put up wall paper and other inside signs
• Plug cell phone into wall outlet, send and
  receive call.
• Mark executed absentee ballot list in
  Registration book with yellow
• highlighter.
• Post list in a visible location once it is
  marked off in the book.
• Place a trash can near the exit.
• All judges and assistants sign pay forms
• Chief Judge administers oath of office (if
  needed)
• Chief Judge review duties of each Judge
  Assistant.
• Call the Help Desk when you are set up or if you
  need help.
• DO NOT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF OPENING THE
  POLLS UNTIL ELECTION DAY!
• VERIFIED BY _______________________
  ____________

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• ELECTION MORNING SET UP

Use the Election Morning Checklist in the Chief
Judges Black Notebook to make sure you have done
everything correctly. REMEMBER THE POLLS MUST
OPEN AT 630 AM SHARP!
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ELECTION MORNING CHECKLIST

• Use this list to check what you need to do before
  opening the polling
• place.
• Call your staff coordinator if all precinct
  officials do not show up at
• 600 am. (The phone number is in your supplies)
  
• Make sure cell phone is plugged into a wall
  outlet and is turned on
• Set-up voting equipment (M-100)
• All 3 judges sign the Zero Certification Report
  (zero printout tape).
• Call you staff coordinator as soon as you are
  up and running.
• The phone number is in your supplies.
• Post Vote Here sign.
• Post curbside and handicapped entrance signs.
• Mark 50 feet from polling place entrance.
  Remove any signs that may
• have been placed within the 50 feet.
• Synchronize your watches with the voting
  equipment at the polling
• place for the correct time opening and closing
  the polls.
• Go over voter flow one last time with all
  precinct officials.
  
• At 630 a.m. go outside and announce, The
  polls are now open from
• 630 a.m. until 730 p.m.
• VERIFIED BY ______________________________

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Equipment Overview
AUTOMARK
M-100
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M-100
The M-100 is an optical mark (scan) reader that
counts the voters ballot right in the precinct.
a) The machine counts the circles the voter
fills in on the ballot. b) The machine can
detect marks on both sides of the ballot.
c) The voter can insert ballots into the counter
upside down or backwards.
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d) Voters insert ballot into the M-100. The
M-100 counts all acceptable votes and
increases the running total for each race.
Ballots automatically go into the ballot box
under the M-100. e) It runs on battery power. It
must be plugged into AC power to keep battery
charged.
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f) Votes are stored on the PCMCIA (Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association)
card. After the polls close, the Chief Judge
places the card in the blue bag with first
returns.
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The AutoMark (Voter Assist Terminal VAT)
The AutoMark is a means of providing a voter with
special needs an opportunity to vote without
direct assistance. It is comprised of a touch
screen monitor. To use the device, the voter
inserts a preprinted blank ballot into the input
tray of the device. The mechanism inserts the
ballot. The voter completes the selection
process.
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Using the menu on the touch screen, the voter
confirms their selection and the AutoMark marks
the ballot using its built-in printer. (A blind
voter has the use of headphones so they can
follow verbal instructions.) The ballot is
returned to the voter and the voter inserts it
into the M-100 scanner.
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M-100 LCD Messages
Blank Ballots The M-100 will notify a voter if
it encounters a blank ballot. An audio alert will
sound and the display will indicate a blank
ballot. It offers the voter two choices, Accept
or Reject. Voters press Accept if the voters
intent was to cast a blank ballot. The ballot
will be counted sequentially, however there will
be no votes counted for any candidate. Voters
press Return if the voters intent was not to
cast a blank ballot. The ballot will be returned
to the voter uncounted. The voter would then go
back to the voting booth to mark his choices and
re-feed the ballot.
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Codes 100/101/102/104/106/107/108/109/115/124/12
3 Ballot or System Errors Have voter turn ballot
over or different orientation and insert again.
If it still doesnt work, call Page Hall. Pages
phone number is on the phone list provided in
supplies. Code 120 Diverter Not Initialized
Make sure M-100 is pushed all way to back and
flip lid at back has been raised.
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Over-Voted Ballots The M-100 is able to detect
and notify the voter when it encounters an
over-voted race or issue on the ballot. An
over-vote is when more than the allowed number of
selections in a contest has been marked. An audio
alert will sound and the display will indicate
that an over-voted contest was detected and offer
the voter two choices, Accept or Return. If
voter Accepts, the ballot will be counted for all
properly marked contests. For any contest with an
over-vote, no votes for that particular contest
will be counted. If voter selects Return, the
ballot will be returned uncounted. The voter
should then return spoiled ballot to the CJ. The
CJ will provide voter with a new ballot. All
spoiled ballots are placed in Spoiled Ballot
Envelope.
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If a ballot is unable to be processed due to
damage, extraneous marks or other problem, the
alert will sound and the ballot will
automatically be returned to the voter. The
ballot will not be counted and no votes will be
cast. If the display on the machine states a
system message, it will probably be necessary to
call the office to help assist the interpretation
of the message and to correct the matter.
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OPENING THE POLLS M-100 The scanner is
delivered with the Jackson cover in place. Do
not activate the M-100 until Election morning!
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• Please refer to your Precinct Officials Manual
  for step-by-step instructions on setting up and
  activating the M-100. Instructions are also
  included in the Chief Judges black notebook.

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OPENING THE POLLS AUTOMARK
Please refer to your Precinct Officials Manual
for step-by-step instructions on setting up and
activating the AutoMark. Instructions are also
included in the Chief Judges black
notebook. Remember to set up the AutoMark and
activate it on Monday night.
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How does a person get to vote?
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In order to vote, a voter must have ...
1. A properly completed ATV Form
2. An official Union County ballot
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Section A This section must be completed for ALL
voters, voting anything other than provisional.
Section B Used for name changes and all address
changes.
Section C Must be completed for all transfers.
Section D Used ONLY for curbside voters. Section
A must be completed as well.
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SECTION A
Ballot Judge writes the NEXT sequential number
here. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Record the type of VALID ID presented if
designated ID REQUIRED on the Label.
ALL VOTERS MUST SIGN THE FORM !!!! NCGS
163-166.7(a)
Ballot Judge MUST initial.
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SECTION B
Voter Registration Number ALWAYS required when
filling out this section.
Has the voter lived here for 30 days or more?
Fill in the bubble for their answer. If NO, when
was the move date?
Signature ALWAYS REQUIRED!!!
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SECTION C
SHORT AND SIMPLE IF a voter is TRANSFERING IN or
you are TRANSFERING THEM OUT of a Precinct, EVERY
SINGLE LINE OF SECTION C MUST BE COMPLETED along
with most of the information in Sections A and
B!!!!!
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SECTION D CURBSIDE AFFIDAVIT
PRECINCT NAME
UNION
PRECINCT OFFICIAL MUST SIGN.
VOTER MUST SIGN!!!
DONT FORGET!READ THE OATH TO THE VOTER!!!!
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OH NO!!! I USED THE WRONG ATV LABEL!!
If an ATV label is peeled off in error from the
registration list and you discover the error
before you place it on an ATV form, place the
label back where it came from. If you discover
the error after you place the label on an ATV
form, place that ATV form at the page of the
registration list from which you removed the
label. Remove the correct label and place it on
another ATV form. If the label becomes unusable,
write the voter registration number and ballot
style on another ATV form.
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PERFECT SCENARIO VOTER
The name the voter stated will be exactly what is
on the Voter Registration List. The PHYSICAL
ADDRESS the voter stated will be exactly what is
on the Voter Registration List.
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1) Voter States name, physical address. 2) Registr
ation Judge identifies voter on the Voter
Registration List and verifies the name and
address match what the voter stated. (NOTE If
ANYTHING does not match what the voter stated,
the voter is not a Perfect Scenario
Voter.) 3) Registration Judge removes the label
and places it on a blank ATV form in Section A
and states the name and address back to the
voter. If the voter agrees the information is
correct the voter signs the form in Section A
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4) The voter is then instructed to give the form
to the Ballot Judge. 5) The Ballot Judge receives
the form and proofs the Label and signature
match, pulls the ballot style indicated on the
label. 6) The next sequential number (23, 24, 25,
26, 27, 28,) is recorded on the top right hand
corner of section A, where it indicates ATV .
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7) Ballot Judge then initials the bottom right
hand corner of section A in the Officials
Initials spot. THIS ACT VERIFIES YOU HAVE ISSUED
THE CORRECT BALLOT BASED ON THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED. 8) The voter is given the ballot,
instructions for marking the ballot and directed
to the voting booths. 9) The completed ATV
form is placed in the basket in sequential order.
( Do not skip numbers or lose your sequence.
This will aid in reconciling at the end of the
night.)
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95 of your voters on Election Day will be
Perfect Scenario Voters !!! If a voter is not a
Perfect Scenario Voter, then you will refer them
to the PTA for assistance.
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Unreported Moves
IMPORTANT!!! Put a large X over the ballot
style number on the ATV Label before you send
them to the PTA. THIS VOTER SHOULD VOTE THEIR
CORRECT BALLOT AND WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT
POSSIBLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
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ID REQUIRED
IMPORTANT!!! Mark on the ATV form the type of ID
presented. If the voter does not the required ID,
refer that voter to the PTA.
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Exceptions to be referred to the PTA Include..

• Unreported Moves
• Name Change
• Jurisdictional Disputes
• Incorrect Precinct
• No Record Found
• Verify Registration Information
• Absentee
• Inactive Voter

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All these exceptions need to be referred to the
PTA. If they are in your Registration Book, pull
the ATV label, place it on an ATV form and send
the voter to the PTA with the unsigned form.
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IF A VOTER IS NOT A PERFECT SCENARIO VOTER
PLEASE REFER THEM TO THE PTA FOR ASSISTANCE.
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CURBSIDE VOTER (G.S. 163-155)
(No problems with this voter. Due to age or
disability this voter chooses to vote outside
the voting enclosure.) 1) Curbside Official
determines a voter desires to vote curbside due
to age or physical disability. 2) Voter states
name, physical address and fills out Section D of
the ATV form. 4) Precinct Official will
administer the oath to the voter. 5) Curbside
Official brings the form inside to the
Registration Judge who identifies voter in the
Voter Registration List. Then verifies the name,
and address match what the voter stated.
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6) Registration Judge removes the label and
places it on ATV form in Section A. 7) The
Curbside Official brings the form to the Ballot
Judge and the Ballot Judge issues the correct
ballot to the Curbside Official and initials
Section A. 8) Curbside Official brings the Ballot
and the ATV Form back to the awaiting curbside
voter. Have the voter sign Section A on the ATV
Form. After the voter signs, give the voter the
ballot and go over the ballot marking
instructions. ONLY if the voter requests
assistance, should you offer assistance. (NOTE
The same assistance rules apply as in the
enclosure.)
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9) Once the voter has completed voting, have the
voter place the completed ballot in the
folder. 10) Bring all materials back in the
voting enclosure scan the voted ballot into the
scanner. (NOTE Maintain the privacy of the
ballot during this entire process.) 12) The
completed ATV Form goes to the Ballot Judge. 13)
Ballot Judge records the next sequential number
(23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, ) on the top right hand
corner of Section A with C/S beside the number
and place the completed form in the wire basket
holder in sequential order.
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Sequence number with C/S to indicate Curbside.
Ballot Judges initials
Part D completed with the voters signature and
the precinct official who administered oath.
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Write-In Votes Write in votes are counted only
for persons who have filed petitions with the
board of elections. The board will instruct
precinct officials about which write-in
candidates votes to count. For eligible write-in
candidates the rules for write-in votes are as
follows
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• The name should be written immediately below the
• printed name on the ballot.
• 2. The write-in should be counted whether or not
  the box next to the printed name is checked.
• 3. Even if slightly misspelled, the write-in
  should be counted when it is clear to the
  precinct officials what name was intended.
• 4. To be counted, the name must be written in it
  may not be on a sticker or stamped on the ballot.

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Write-In Tally Form
General Election November 4,
2008 PRECINCT ___________ TOTAL
WRITE-IN VOTES _________ Write in
candidate for U.S. President Name
Total of Votes Cynthia McKinney
_____________ Brian Moore _____________ Ralph
Nader _____________ Other Name

______________ Write in candidate for U.S.
Senate Name Total of Votes Walker Fry
Rucker _____________ Other Name
______________ Write in
candidate for Commissioner of Insurance Name To
tal of Votes Nathaniel Cooper _____________ Oth
er Name
______________ Chief Judge _____________________
______________ Judge
____________________________________ Judge
_____________________________________
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CLOSING PRECINCT 730 p.m. - Judge announces,
The polls are closed. Any voter in line at this
time shall be allowed to vote. Official
determines last voter in line at 730. Only those
persons in line at 730 p.m. will be allowed to
vote. DO NOT lock doors. Anyone can witness
the closing of the polls. They may not interrupt
the process. If you feel threatened, call police.
NOTE Precinct officials must stay together
during the tabulation of votes. They cannot
separate for any reason.
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AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE, DO THE FOLLOWING
Complete End of Day Checklist. Follow
Closing Polls instructions exactly as written.
Place all forms, tapes, broken seals and PC
cards in the blue return bag for the runner to
bring into the office No completed forms go
back into black notebook. Place used
Authorization to Vote forms together. Judges
must sign the last ATV form. Sign all machine
tapes and Write-In Tally form Do ATVs,
printout, PTA Log and number of voters voting on
machines balance?
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Chief Judge- keep your cell phone turned on and
with you until you get back to the office. Put
only signs that came out of tub, back into tub,
otherwise, leave on top of the tub. Leave
building as you found it. Clean up your papers,
kitchen area take trash (bag in supplies) that
you have accumulated with you. Remove red tape
outside. Leave nothing outside. Did you
properly secure scanner AutoMark for pick up
Wednesday morning? Make sure all doors on the
M-100 stand are properly locked. Are machine
keys back in proper envelope?
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CLOSING THE POLLS M-100
Follow the instruction exactly as written. Be
sure all write-in votes are counted on the Write
In Tally Sheet before you seal your ballot box.
Do not write on your results tape. Remember all
ballots must be return to the Elections office
election night. Make sure all the doors are
locked and secured on the M-100 and the Jackson
cover is in place.
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PRECINCT ASSISTANT WITH BLUE BAG 1. Get on the
road ASAP! Get directions if you do not know
where the Elections office is located! 2. Deliver
the bag to the Election Official in the parking
lot with the BLUE VEST, no one else! 3. You dont
need to get out of your car. There will be a sign
in the parking lot directing you where to stop to
deliver your bag.
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• Do not write on registration printout. All
  changes must
• be on proper form.
• EVERYONE VOTES!! Do not send anyone away from
  your precinct without offering them the chance to
  vote a provisional ballot.
• Refer all voter problems to the Precinct Transfer
  Assistant. If there is a personnel problem, let
  Chief Judge know. Chief Judge handles, if
  possible, but document on notepad.

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• Assistants operating scanner Make sure ballot is
  accepted before voter leaves. If the ballot is
  rejected, the voter, not Precinct Assistant must
  correct the problem and resubmit the ballot.
• Spoiled ballots are kept in the Spoiled Ballots
  Envelope. Remember all ballots must be
  accounted for at the end of the night.
• Keep all used, numbered ATV forms. You will use
  these to balance at the end of the night.

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• All precinct workers are asked to refrain from
  personal conversations with voters. Also talking
  between co-workers must be kept to a minimum. We
  must give our attention to our job.
• Observers must be allowed to look at the
  completed ATV forms if requested.
• Voters scan their ballots, not a Precinct
  Official! We are available to help if needed.

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EVERYBODY VOTES!!!! DO NOT SEND ANYONE AWAY FROM
YOUR PRECINCT WITHOUT OFFERING THEM THE CHANCE TO
VOTE A PROVISIONAL BALLOT
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Just one more thing.. Please complete the
post-test in your booklet and turn in to me
before you leave. Thanks for ALL YOU DO!! We
could not conduct this election with out you.