* *** POSTMORTEM_2023-11-07 TXT - 13 Nov 2023 08:00:04 - JGKNAUTH Postmortem Report for Precinct 19-19 for 11/7/2023 Election ---------- ------ --- -------- ----- --- --------- -------- > SUMMARY < ======= The voter turnout at Precinct 19-19 was good for a municipal election, with a steady flow almost all day. There were no major problems. The weather was excellent. > STATISTICS < ========== The calculations below use the number of voters eligible to vote in a municipal election in Precinct 19-19 as of 11/3/23. The turnout for this election was about 15.1% at the polling place and 0.9% via absentee voting (mail-in or one-stop) for a total of about 16.0% of the Precinct 19-19 people eligible to vote in this election. Tabulator vs ATV counts: 1138 vs. 1138 Provisional ballots: 3 Spoiled ballots: 3 Emergency bin ballots: 0 Challenged ballots: 0 Curbside voters: 40 ExpressVote voters: 0 Observers: 1 (0 Precinct-Specific Observers) (1 At-Large Observer) Registered voters: 7527 (eligible for this municipal election) (as of 11/3/23) (out of 8147 total registered voters) Monday-list absentees: 62 (the long list in pollbook box #1) Last-minute absentees: 3 (the short list gotten from the PO website) ---- Total absentees: 65 Voting booths set up: 19 (includes 1 provisional and 1 accessible) Total chairs at tables: 0 (at 5 square 42" tables and 3 long 72" tables) -- Total "booths" 19 Ballot Count Reconciliation web page: http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/Ballot_Count_Reconciliation_2023-11-07.htm > STAFFING AND EMAIL CONSIDERATIONS < ======== === ===== ============== After the typical changes over the two months since the initial assignments, we were staffed with 14 Precinct Officials. However one person dropped out just before the election and no replacement was provided. Given the good voter turnout and heavy curbside usage, 13 was just enough people. We ended up with only one Republican assignee. We had no email problems in this election. > CJ PORTAL AIRTABLE REPORTS < == ====== ======== ======= 1) The CJ portal was again very helpful for accessing up-to-date information about assigned Officials. The old portal format was restored. That fixed some problems reported in the last election. 2) There were several bugs in the system that is supposed to email each Chief Judge about any staffing changes for his/her precinct. The problems were reported and fixed. > POLLING PLACE SETUP < ======= ===== ===== 1) We used essentially our normal, large-election setup for the polling place. See http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/Sanford_Creek_Elementary_Layout_3RT.pdf However we did not set up any tables as extra voting booths. The 19 booths supplied by the BOE were more than adequate for this turnout. 2) Our Door Monitor (DM) and/or Line Monitor (LM) reminded voters to have their photo ID ready. We also had a big photo ID reminder sign on the door. 3) Signs, floor arrows, and directions from our Voting Booth (VB) Officials guided voters from the polling booth area to the Tabulator, which is hidden around a bend. There did not seem to be any voter difficulties with finding the Tabulator. > REGISTRATION TABLE < ============ ===== 1) We used the same "file jacket over RT sign post" technique in this election as in previous elections to allow much larger letters on the RT signs. The RT Officials created some excellent signs, clearly visible from a distance. This is needed because the back of our RT wait lines are far from the RT signs, but it is at the back of the RT lines that you most need the letters to be readable. 2) We did sometimes have long RT lines and did occasionally use the full Disney line, but never had a line go out the door in contrast to the election last November. 3) The "Future Voter" stickers is neat idea. We gave out many. > POLLBOOKS < ========= 1) We received ten binders and used nine. Among them we distributed over 1500 pages containing over 7500 labels. The pollbooks originally came in three large boxes. At pack-up time the RT Officials were able to get the now slimmer pollbooks into just two boxes. That was important because the CJ car is overflowing Tuesday night and a third box would not have fit. 2) There were no problems this time with pollbook binder rings that did not close properly. > PHOTO ID < ===== == 1) Two RT Officials and a curbside voter all made the same mistake of marking the ATV'S (HAVA) Photo ID checkbox, thinking that indicated an "NC-required photo ID" had been supplied, not that a "HAVA photo ID" was required and had been supplied. The "NC-required photo ID" process, forms, etc. appear to be just glued on to the pre-"NC-required photo ID" documentation and processes. Hopefully it will be better integrated by the 2024 elections. 2) Is there some good term to designate the new photo ID process that NC has now introduced? It needs to be distinctly named so it isn't confused with the HAVA photo ID process. The two are definitely different, e.g., having different criteria for what is a valid photo ID. The ATV needs to be redesigned to clearly handle this. 3) What are the HAVA photo ID expiration dates? Manual page 43. 4) An RT Official mistakenly allowed a phone image of a photo ID to be used instead of a hardcopy. This error was discovered later and was not repeated. 5) More details on RT photo ID processing need to be documented, e.g., on the pollbook name lookup step. I have been told that the order mandated by the NCSBE is name, photo ID, address. Yet the NCSBE video shows name, address, photo ID. Also, when I voted one-stop at the Op Center, they used the name, address, photo ID order. In https://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/RT_Photo_ID.htm I tried to give details of how I interpreted the process using the mandated name, photo ID, address order although I still think the name, address, photo ID order is more natural and better. > BALLOT TABLE < ====== ===== 1) We had two ballot styles, so two BT Officials and a scanner. See the "SCANNER" section below for a scanner problem. 2) During the day I was able to audit almost all the ATVs from the Ballot Table. I found few errors; they are described elsewhere in this report. 3) We had a formatted worksheet to help do the unvoted-ballots inventory at the end of the day. Also we had made a copy of the Reconciliation Form so the BT Official could fill out a draft after poll closing. (Lots of arithmetic required for all this.) This process worked very well. The BT Official could uncover and resolve problems before the Judges had to fill out the official Reconciliation Form for the blue bag, so that part of blue bag processing went very easily and quickly. > SCANNER < ======= There is a test sheet supplied with the scanner. The mismatch test passed with no problem. However the match test failed. The scanner would not beep for a match between the two simulated bar codes. We got a replacement scanner from our Coordinator, but it failed exactly the same way. So apparently the test sheet was the problem. Our scanner Precinct Official had noticed that one of the simulated barcodes looked smudged. On Election Day, using real ATV labels and ballots, both scanners worked fine. Possibly next time the test sheet barcodes could be printed larger to lessen the smudged appearance. Having a reliable test sheet is important. This sheet should help at Monday Setup to see if there is a scanner problem. In the 2024 primary election, probably all precincts will have a scanner and probably there will be many new Officials who have never used this type of scanner before. Letting them practice during Monday Setup is desirable. > HELP TABLE < ==== ===== 1) We had two Help Table Officials and two laptops. They had to process only three provisionals. Unfortunately one of these occurred just as we were about to close the polls. That delayed our end-of-day operations somewhat. 2) One provisional was related to photo ID -- a stolen wallet, so no ID was available and a Photo ID Exception Form was required. There were no other photo ID problems at the HT or RT. 3) Of course there were cases of unincorporated voters having to be told they could not vote in this election. Also there were the usual cases of voters who just came to the wrong polling place and were then directed to their actual polling place. And cases of voters who needed the standard transfer in or out processing. There were no problems with any of these. > CURBSIDE < ======== 1) We had 40 curbside voters, more than usual for a municipal election. Our previous high mark for a municipal election was 26. Fortunately it was a teacher workday, so there were no carpool lines to contend with. Most went smoothly, but we did have two very angry voters as described below. These were unpleasant experiences for our two first-time Curbside Officials. Unfortunately such things do occur occasionally and you just have to balance them with all the pleasant and thankful people you deal with. 2) The very first curbside voter ignored our driving instructions and parked in the wrong place. Then while that car was being processed the second curbside car went to the right place and the driver was very upset that she was not being handled while the first (improperly parked) curbside car was being handled. She said her doorbell pushes were being ignored and was very angry. Since this was the first curbside experience for both of our Curbside Officials, who were working together for the first car, it was understandable (except to the angry lady) why it took a while to get to her. Eventually she calmed down after talking further with the Officials. 3) We had a curbside situation that may indicate something undesirable in the new Tabulator software. When I (the Chief Judge) entered the ballot for the curbside voter, the Tabulator kicked it out with the new warning message that the ballot was blank and gave the Accept or Reject choices. So I pushed the Reject choice and the Curbside Official took the ballot back out to the voter to explain the situation and get the voter's direction -- Was this intentionally blank or was it just too lightly marked for the Tabulator to detect the marks? The lady was infuriated by this, saying we had looked at her ballot, etc. Of course it was not that we had looked at the ballot; it was the Tabulator that detected no marks and explicitly said the ballot was blank. No explanation satisfied this lady. (She was already mad because she had previously insisted that requiring a photo ID was not legal. The Curbside Official had explained that it was now the law.) Finally she told the Curbside Official to have the Tabulator accept the blank ballot. Before leaving she said she would raise a complaint with the BOE. 4) Another Official temporarily took over for one of the main Curbside Officials while she took a break. No one warned me this was taking place, so I did not have a chance to ensure that the substitute understood the correct procedures and would follow the documented instructions. It turned out he didn't. For the two curbside voters he handled he did not get the voter's signature in Section A or initial section A. He thought the two signatures in Section B covered both A and B, contrary to what the curbside instructions clearly say. Unfortunately this error was not caught by the CJ or Ballot Table Officials until much later, long after the voter had left; we should have caught it right away. > EXPRESSVOTE < =========== 1) The invisible passwords on the ExpressVote and Tabulator are a terrible design, making it much harder to enter the correct password. 2) It took three tries to get the ExpressVote to recognize the Election Code (password). The CJ and both judges watched closely (as closely as the poor ExpressVote design allows) and all agreed that it looked like the correct password was entered each time. But it worked only on the third attempt. Fortunately on the Tabulator it worked the first time. 3) We have been told there will be ExpressVote documentation and training for the 2024 elections, available to both CJ and non-CJ Officials. There was almost none for the 2023 election. 4) I'm very glad we had no ExpressVote voters. In fact we almost never have a HAVA machine voter at this polling place in contrast to other polling places where I have worked. To ensure we did not have to search thru all the ballots for ExpressVote ballots (which I already knew since I would have had to help create them), I pressed the magic button on the Tabulator just before we started closing the polls on the Tabulator. "0" was good to see. > TABULATOR AND BLACK TABULATOR BASE < ========= === ===== ========= ==== 1) There were no Tabulator or Black Tabulator Base issues this time. 2) There were no runaway voters. If voters tried to leave early, our Tabulator Monitors explicitly told them to wait until the Tabulator display showed their ballot was accepted or rejected. All waited. 3) There was a tape roll in the CJ Supply Bag, but no instructions for it. I assume "Tabulator is out of tape!" is something for which we would call the Help Line, but hope it never happens in the middle of a busy election. There were also no instructions for how to return it; we put it in the gray bin. (The CJ Supply Bag was VERY full Tuesday night.) > RECONCILIATION PROCESS < ============== ======= There were no reconciliation problems. Everything checked out exactly using the numbers provided by the Ballot Table Officials. See http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/Ballot_Count_Reconciliation_2023-11-07.htm This process went quickly and smoothly because of the preparation already done by the BT. > CAMPAIGNERS/OTHERS < ================== 1) There were no serious problems with campaigners or anyone else other than the two angry ladies mentioned above. 2) Two campaigners did ask to use the school's restroom, which can be reached only by going thru the Voting Enclosure -- not allowed for campaigners. Fortunately the Town of Rolesville left the park's porta potty in place thru the election. (I have emailed the new Rolesville Parks and Recreation Director to thank him for that.) We provided a map to the porta potty, so I was able to direct the campaigners to it. I had also pointed them to the BOE documentation that lists the restroom restriction. > OBSERVERS < ========= 1) We had one at-large Observer, who stayed at the polling place for a few hours. She just observed; she did not ask for the ATVs. She seemed mainly interested in RT processing and pointed out some things she didn't hear. Sometimes some Officials were not repeating the voter's name and address, or not doing it so she could hear it. I went to those Officials and reminded them of the requirement and that it should be done before the pollbook label was removed. 2) I gave her a copy of the RT process the Officials were supposed to be using (see item 5 in the "PHOTO ID" section above) and we discussed that. > HARDWARE AND SUPPLIES < ======== === ======== 1) We red-tagged two voting booths -- broken hinge and bad leg socket. 2) We red-tagged one of the curbside privacy shields. One side had split apart so an inserted ballot could get caught in the opening. See http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/BOE_Supplies.txt for some other supplies comments from past elections that still apply. See http://jgkhome.name/WakeBOE/BOE_Wish_List.txt for my current general wish list. > DOCUMENTATION AND TRAINING < ============= === ======== 1) I marked up the Chief Judge Pocket Guide (CJPG) that I returned in the CJ Supply Bag. I'll get another copy back to the Training Team. 2) Document where to find the ExpressVote count, which is needed to know how many ExpressVote ballots to search for when packing up the ballots. The number is on the Tabulator tape and also is accessible by pushing the magic Tabulator screen button just before you start closing the polls on the Tabulator. 3) In the CJPG, edit the "Bags and Reconciliation Form" section. I put a suggested replacement in the marked-up CJPG mentioned in item 1 above. 4) Allow CJs to view the Basic online course. 5) In training videos, don't use scotch tape to hang signs on glass doors. In previous emails I had pointed this out for several videos. > PICKUP/DROPOFF < =============== There is no way we can complete packing up at SCES in time to meet a 9:00 delivery time, a very well known situation. This time I was not able to start driving until 9:31. I had called the BOE at 8:30 to again report this continuing problem and that I would have to drive to the new "missed deadline" site at the NC Commons building. They later called back and said I could deliver to the Op Center instead, a shorter drive which I am used to doing every election since modem reporting was deleted in 2018 and the earlier deadlines were set. > MISCELLANEOUS < ============= One of our Officials found a woman's credit card. Fortunately, just as we were closing, her husband stopped in to see if we had found it. He retrieved the card; otherwise it would have gone in the blue bag. > PICTURES < ======== For some pictures and explanatory text about the 19-19 voting enclosure, voting equipment, etc., see https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZPjC5DqhUuxT1f1M6 If you are unfamiliar with viewing Google Photo albums, http://jgkhome.name/Misc/Google_Photos.htm gives some hints. In particular, note how to use the "circle i" to view the full text beside each picture. When viewing the information, be sure to scroll to the top; sometimes Google Photos starts the information display partway down. > SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE < =========== === === ====== 1) All of the Tabulator tapes (not just the first one) should have signature lines for the Judges. 2) There was a pad of Help Table Referral Forms in the CJ Supply Bag, but no instructions for their use -- not in the bag, nor in any of the BOE documentation, nor on the PO website, nor in any classes. The BOE Staff later emailed me an explanation. I suggest attaching a brief statement somewhere, saying the Help Line would tell us how to use this form if they were called about certain photo ID situations; otherwise ignore the forms. 3) When packing up, we sealed the orange ExpressVote box with an "Unvoted Ballots" label, as previously instructed to do by the BOE Staff. We then treated this box just like any other box of unvoted ballots. So it became Box 9 of 9 on its label. However at dropoff they told me they wanted this box NOT to be included in the total count on the labels. I think they said just leave the "Box _ of _" blank on the orange box's label and not include that box in the count of all the unvoted ballot boxes. So in our case the label on the brown boxes should have been "1 of 8", etc. for this election. In fact that was what we had originally done and then realized we had not included the orange box of unvoted ballots (they are all boxes of unvoted ballots). We then changed all the "8"s to "9"s. BOE, if something is important, you need to document to us what is required (especially if it seems illogical); otherwise you will get who knows what from all the precincts. Report written by Jeff Knauth, Chief Judge for 19-19 with input from the other Officials for this precinct