OBSERVER TRAININGAn Overview of King County Elections Processes

& Observer Training Guidelines

Dean Logan, Director

October 2005

King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division

Facts about King County Elections 1 million plus active registered voters 2,573 voting precincts 527 polling locations 583,765 permanent absentee voters 6,400 military and overseas ballots issued to more than 64 countries 4,150 out-of-state ballots issued Multiple ballot formats required

• Regular ballots• Chinese-language ballots• Provisional ballots• Chinese-language provisional ballots• Absentee ballots• Chinese-language absentee ballots

Six working locations• Admin Building – 5th Floor• Admin Building – 2nd Floor• Mail Ballot Operations Satellite• Temporary Elections Annex • Election Distribution Center• Bank of America Tower – 20th Floor• Seeking additional leased space

Multiple external review processes

• Independent Elections Task Force• Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee• Independent Council Audit• Outside Personnel Investigator

Average six elections per year

Management & OrganizationREALS Division Director

Quality Assurance Team

Election Operations Ballot Processing & Delivery Voter Services

Superintendent of ElectionsFinance, Human Resources

and Communications

Technical Services

Geographical Information Services

Administrative Support

Assistant Division Director

Candidate FilingMinority Language Program

Training & RecruitmentPoll WorkersCanvassing

Troubleshooters

Absentee Ballot InsertionElection Distribution Center

Poll Site LeasesBallot Layout & Printing

Logic & Accuracy Testing

Voter Registration Records Maintenance

including: New Voter Registrations, Cancellations, Name/Address Changes;

Absentee Ballot Request Processing;Provisional Ballot Processing

Petition/Initiative CheckingPhone Bank &

Customer Service

Tabulation SystemElection Management

SystemTechnology Projects

Web Master

We value all members of our organization for all are equally important.

CONTACT INFORMATION:Julie MooreAssistant Superintendent(206) 296-1565julie.moore@metrokc.gov

SERVICE OVERVIEW:• Candidate Filing• Minority Language

Program• Poll Worker Recruitment

and Training• Canvassing • Troubleshooting• Election Day Support

(Help Desk)

LOCATION(S):King County Administration

Building500 4th Avenue, #553Seattle, WA 98104

HOURS OF OPERATION:8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Election Operations

SERVICE OVERVIEW:• Absentee Ballot Processing• Election Distribution

Center• Poll Site Leasing• Ballot Layout and Printing• Logic and Accuracy Testing• Ballot Tabulation

CONTACT INFORMATION:Garth Fell

Assistant Superintendent

(206) 205-1015

garth.fell@metrokc.gov

LOCATION(S): Mail Ballot Operations Satellite

(MBOS)3901 1st Avenue SouthSeattle, WA 98104

Elections Distribution Center (EDC)1215 East Fir StreetSeattle, WA 98122

HOURS OF OPERATION:8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Mail Ballot Processing and Delivery

CONTACT INFORMATION:Anne BrusklandActing Assistant Superintendent(206) 205-7362anne.bruskland@metrokc.gov

SERVICE OVERVIEW:• Voter Registration records

processing and maintenance;

• Absentee Ballot Request processing;

• Provisional Ballot processing

• Petition/Initiative Checking

• Election Customer Service• Staffing 296-VOTE• Opening/distribution on

incoming Election mail

LOCATION(S):King County Administration

Building500 4th Avenue, #553Seattle, WA 98104

HOURS OF OPERATION:8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Voter Services

Temporary Elections AnnexSERVICE OVERVIEW:• Absentee Ballot

Processing• Canvassing • Election Day Support

(Help Desk)

CONTACT INFORMATION:Garth FellAssistant Superintendent(206) 205-1015garth.fell@metrokc.gov

LOCATION(S):Temporary Elections Annex9010 E. Marginal Way S.Tukwila, WA 98108

HOURS OF OPERATION:8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Observer OverviewThe requirement for official observers of the election process is grounded in state law.

King County Elections strives to conduct elections as expeditiously and impartially as possible. Towards that end, all activities will be conducted as open and visible as possible to all concerned.

While the vote itself is secret, the process of conducting an Election is not.

Observers have the right to witness all aspects of the Election process.

Observers play a key role in ensuring the electoral process is transparent and accountable.

Public Observers

Party Observers

Media Observers

Poll Watchers

Types of Observers

Types of Observers

Public ObserversThe general public may observe the election process and will be permitted to do so provided there is room for the person to observe the process and it does not unduly interfere with the election process.

Types of Observers

Party Observers (paid & volunteer)Person(s) nominated by the chair of the King County major political party central committees or designees to observe the election process through the assignment to a particular function in the election process.

Types of Observers

Media Observers People who represent accredited news media, both print, audio and television.

Types of Observers

Poll Watchers Anyone may watch and observe the voting process during voting hours and while the polls are being closed. Poll watchers and observers are asked to check-in with the Inspector upon arrival at a polling location.

Official Poll Watchers must be designated by a campaign director and authorized by the King County Records, Elections, and Licensing Services, (REALS) Director.

General Observer Guidelines The observer has the right to observe all aspects of the Election process. As an observer, you are permitted to observe:

Candidate filing Ballot duplication

Ballot printing Ballot tabulation

Ballot assembly Storage of ballots

Logic & Accuracy testing Provisional ballot processing

Signature verification Ballot opening & inspection

Ballot reconciliation Canvass Board proceedings

Rules for Public Election ObservingBy law, observers may not touch ballots, ballot containers, or

vote tallying equipment. Please remember this while observing election activities.As an observer, you are expected to remain objective and independent from King County Elections. Please refrain from any actions which may jeopardize this status or appear as a conflict of interest.Due to time constraints and the critical nature of our job, we cannot allow workers to be disrupted. Please help us maintain a work environment free of distractions so that everyone can concentrate on their current task. This does not include speaking to members of the Election Supervisory team or the Staff/Observer Liaison – part of their job is to answer your questions.King County Elections’ officials will make every effort to be hospitable to observers and assist you in understanding the operations you are observing.Open food and beverage containers are prohibited in the observation areas.Video taping and use of cellular phones or other wireless communication is prohibited.

(Reference: King County Elections, Policies and Procedures ELE 9-40 (DP) 6.7)King County Records, Elections, and Licensing Services Division, Department of Executive

Services

Public Observer ProcessChecking In: Check-in with Election Staff at your assigned site and sign

Check-in Log. Read, sign and date the provided copy of “Affidavit of

Acknowledgement, Rules for Public Observers” form. Wear the “Observer” badge at all times, while observing. Follow Rules for Public Observing at all times.

Observing: Assigned election staff will provide an overview of the

process you are observing. When possible, a chair will be provided for observers if they

intend to observe more than 30 minutes to an hour.

Checking Out: Check-out and return badge at check-in area at end of your

observation period.

• 2005 General Election Observer Opportunities

• Rules For Public Election Observing

• Affidavit of Acknowledgement

• An Observers Guide- Washington State Elections

Hand-outs and additional materials

• Thank you for being part of the election process in King County!

• Questions?

Observer Q & A