* *** BOE_SUPPLIES TXT - 20 Mar 2024  01:55:24 - JGKNAUTH

Here are some supplies comments left over from previous elections.

 1) 3/18/24:  At our polling place we are fortunate with our outside
    configuration and don't have to use chalk (which washes away) or the
    orange tape (which doesn't stick).  We can handle things well with
    just the "No Campaigning Zone" signs.

    Outside we use tan masking tape for curbside arrows on the asphalt.
    (However that does not stick to wet asphalt.)  Inside we use tan
    masking tape and red painters tape (new for the 3/5/24 election) for
    most floor markings since blue painters tape does not contrast well
    with the dark carpeting in the voting enclosure.  Where blue tape is
    used on the floor for the waiting lines, we highlight it with a
    parallel line of tan masking tape.  I have been bringing from home
    rolls of masking tape and additional blue and red tape.

 2) 11/11/18:  For the CJ lanyard and card holder, the CJ name and
    precinct fields are on one side of the card and "Please return ..."
    text is on the other.  There is a 50-50 chance that the wrong side
    ("Please return") will be visible at any point since that badge will
    flop around a lot and is also on a swivel.  I suggest having the
    name/precinct info be entered on both sides of the card.  For now I
    make a separate card with my name to serve as the reverse side and
    insert it in the holder covering the "Please return".  As of the
    11/6/18 election the "Please return" directive was added as a
    checklist item to the Chief Judge Pocket Guide, where it is more
    likely to be seen and honored, so it does not have to appear on the
    badge iteself.

    Because the cord is very long, I also tie some loose knots in it to
    bring the card holder up nearer to eye-level.

 3) 3/19/24:  For a primary election with many ballot types, the
    Saturday pickup check of the number of supplied ballots of each type
    can be confusing and inaccurate.  I proposed a different format for
    the packing/checking sheet for such complicated elections.  See
    http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/Ballot_Packing_Checklist_2024-03-05.htm
    for the type of sheet I used in the 3/5/24 election.  That election
    was pretty simple, with only three ballot styles for our precinct.
    Some elections I have worked in the past have had many more styles,
    making it difficult to check the ballot inventory at weekend pickup.

    If it would be too complicated to pre-print in the Style column all
    the ballot styles relevant to a specific precinct, the styles could
    be left blank and handwritten in by the CJ when the ballot boxes are
    being opened for checking by the distribution personnel and the CJ.
    Thus one standard form could be used for all precincts.  It would
    need to have enough box columns to handle the largest number of
    normal ballot boxes used by any precinct.  In this election we
    received twelve normal ballot boxes.  Maybe some precinct required a
    few more.  Here is how the template might appear:
    http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/Ballot_Packing_Checklist_TEMPLATE.htm
    This template allows for a maximum of nine ballot styles; it could
    be edited for more or less.

    It is good that nowadays the BT Officials are required to open all
    the ballot boxes on Election Day to do a doublecheck.

 4) 11/07/19:  The stickers used to secure the ballot boxes often come
    loose.  This is often seen for the original Saturday pickup stickers
    and for the Tuesday night stickers.

    3/19/24:  This same problem happens in most elections (as it did
    once again in this one), so I have now removed all the date lines
    that kept noting the same problem had happened again and again.

 5) 11/05/21:  I experimented with using some inexpensive LED lights on
    one of our key "VOTE HERE" arrow signs.  It is in the dark and
    points the way to our hidden Voting Enclosure door.  The lights
    seemed to do the job.

     5/20/22:  The lights were not needed at this time of year.

     7/26/22:  The lights were not needed at this time of year.

    11/08/22:  I did use the lights at the end of the day this time.

    11/07/23:  I did use the lights at the end of the day this time.

    3/18/24:  For the 3/5/24 election, the BOE supplied a large LED
    system, which used a tripod.  That worked well, but was hard to pack
    with all the other things that have to be returned to the dropoff
    site Tuesday night.

 6) On the Precinct Officials website have a file with pictures of all
    the standard signs with an identifier and text information for each
    one.  This would help in CJ <-> WCBOE communication about such
    supplies.  I created a sample file to demonstrate this proposal.
    See http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/WCBOE_Signs.pdf.  This is just a
    rough take with some quick pictures.  I have offered to create a
    full file if I could work with the Operations Center to take
    pictures of the signs and get data to provide text for the file.

 7) 11/10/23:  Make the barcodes larger on the scanner test sheet to
    alleviate the "smudging" problem.  At any rate, test the test sheet.

    3/18/24:  We had no problems with the test sheet in the 3/5/24
    election, so the 2023 problem was probably a one-time occurrence.


Jeff Knauth, Precinct 19-19