* *** COMMENTS_ON_2022.V.1_AND_2_DOCUMENTS TXT - 27 Mar 2022 22:55:33 - JGKNAUTH Comments on 2022.v.1 and 2 Documents ======== == ======== === = ========= Most of the comments below were originally made in 2020 on the 2020.v.2 documents and then again last September on the 2021.v.1 documents. In September 2021 I was told the comments might not even get handled for the March 2022 election, which is now the May 2022 election. I'm now hoping for November 2022. I have flagged with "======" those comments that are new for the 2022 documents. For the old comments, I have updated the page numbers, year references, etc., where appropriate. 2022 Primary and Cary Municipal Elections Manual (2022.v.2) ---- ------- --- ---- --------- --------- ------ ---------- Page 10: In the "Open" section, "Close and seal the cardboard boxes". -> "Close and seal any full cardboard boxes". Add "It is acceptable to leave a box unsealed if it is not yet full. Then you can add more ballots to that box at the end of the day before sealing all the boxes." This was previously confirmed in 2020 in an FAQ, but the Manual has not been corrected. Page 12, 15, 22: These pages mention either just a Saturday pickup, or ======== just a Sunday pickup. Nowadays this activity is spread across both days. Right? Page 16: Third item from bottom: "(except for restroom breaks or ..." -> "(except for restroom breaks, meal breaks, etc., or ...". Usually our Officials take meal breaks one person at a time, and are typically isolated in the Break Room for that. Page 18: Under "During the Day": What about working with the Chief Judge on voter challenges? I know this never occurs (so far), but it was important enough to have a full page (94) later in the Manual. Page 25: Seventh bullet: For the normal booths, add "Twisting the legs into the divots helps create a tighter seal." This was done on page 26 for the accessible booths. Page 32, 88: The Chief Judge quiz had a question about buffer zones vs multiple entrances and exits. I didn't see anywhere in the Manual where the "not at exits" was made clear. I recall it was covered in an FAQ some time ago. Page 34: First paragraph: "all eligible registered voters in your precinct, ..." -> "all eligible registered voters in your precinct who have not voted in this election,". Page 52: There should be a section on what to do if a voter requests a ======= party change, which often happens in primary elections. Voters sometimes become disconcerted when told the only thing we can do is give them a form to make the change for future elections; the change will not be effective for this election. Maybe also mention that a party change cannot be done at an early voting site. Registration information updating via the form is the only way to do it. Page 52: First bullet under "Voters...Who Have Moved..." ======= Perhaps mention the cancellation form on ReadyToVote.com as you do in the third bullet. Page 54: Text in lower left corner about unaffiliated voters who ======= change their minds: This looks good, but it is not covered in the Ballot Table Quick Guide, although things as likely to happen ARE mentioned there. I assume there might be a BTQG space problem. At least it could mention this Manual page. Page 58: Also cover the case in which the voter changes his/her mind ======= after getting an ATV but before getting a ballot. This is described in the BTQG. Mention pages 54 and 59 for other situations in which you may need to spoil a ballot. Page 65: Item 5. "Sign and date Section B of the ATV." I have pointed out the missing "and date" many times. Item 8. Mention that the ATV should not be numbered yet. Item 14: "to check the ATV and then place the ballot ..." I am the person that usually gets the ATV/ballot from the curbside person. Very often I have found that the Official forgot to sign and/or date the form. The CJ/J should always check the ATV and get it correct before proceeding. Page 66: As was agreed to in 2020, it is alright to pre-tear-off some stickers, just not more than will be needed. The VAQG has it right. Just use the same wording in the Manual. The intent was not to tear off a huge number of stickers that might then go to waste. Every election I have worked in, the Tabulator Monitor always tends to tear off a few and have them ready to go since that can make things go more smoothly, especially when there is a burst of activity in that area. Page 82: The highlighting of the individual reason types was removed. I think the bold type was helpful here in the 2020 manual. In general I like this year's use of sans-serif font style vs 2020's serif style. I did prefer the smaller font size in 2020, which resulted in fewer overflowed lines than this year. However if the size change was intentional because someone found the smaller font size hard to read, so be it. Page 85: In the "ATV Forms" section: "If a Registration Official marked an A ..." -> "If a Registration Official or Chief Judge marked an A ..." Page 90: First paragraph: "collect lists of people who have voted from observers." -> "collect from observers lists of people who have voted." Page 104: In the "Pollbooks" item, somehow get in "who have not voted" a la the page 34 comment above. Page 106: Item 4: Add "although that is usually undesirable." This would also be added to the corresponding item on page 4 of the RTQG. I noticed that although the text of the Manual and the RTQG are almost identical, the RTQG has additional text for items 4 and 9; the RTQG is the more critical document for this procedure, so if one is to have more info, the RTQG is the right one. Again, after judicious use of a 3/8-inch drill, various size bits, and a rat-tail file, the Manual now fits in my three-ring binder with the rest of my election material. Ballot Table Quick Guide (2022.v.1) ------ ----- ----- ----- ---------- Page 2: See the comment on Manual page 54. Some special handling for ======= unaffiliated voters is detailed there, but is not mentioned in the BTQG. Help Table Quick Guide (2022.v.2) ---- ----- ----- ----- ---------- Flow Chart 1: In the '"V" PRINTED ON LABEL' area: Page 76 of the Manual has some good questions to ask the voter to resolve a "V" situation. It's too detailed to go in the flowchart, but it might be a good idea to put a reminder here to look at that part of the Manual if it is hard to determine why "V" occurred for the voter. Flow Chart 1: Column 2, second block from bottom: "Use voter's address ============ in Section A..."): In all the other blocks where the voter is instructed to complete Section A, the special processing for unaffiliated voters is mentioned. It is not mentioned in this block. Maybe as a reminder have a reference to footnote 1 as is done in some of the other blocks. Just a footnote callout won't cause any column text overflow if longer text might be a problem. Chief Judge Pocket Guide (2022.v.2) ----- ----- ------ ----- ---------- Page 16: Last item: "Ballot Too Long." -> "Ballot Held Too Long." I had previously asked if this was a typo or a DS200 software error since the Message Text column and Cause column seemed at odds. The same chart is in the Voter Assistance Quick Guide. I raised the question again a few weeks ago since the same text appeared in the 2022 documents. BOE responded: "Regarding your question about the Tabulator error message, this is because there are different length ballots for different elections, and the Tabulator cannot distinguish between holding on to the ballot versus a different length ballot." Jeff