County Clerk
Group Findings
V. Study Group Findings
During the course of nine meetings held from February through May 1999, the Travis County Election Study Group made the following findings.
- Group support
of the problem background.
The study group supports the facts established in the problem background of this report. All factors listed are vital points to consider in the evaluation of a solution to the problem statement. - Positive
perception equals trust.
"Perception is everything." Travis County election officials have made a commitment to this community to implement an accurate and fair election process. Their objective is to produce the most open and accessible elections possible. However, as our electronic voting system appears to have reached its capacity, producing later and later results, the community perceives the voting process as unorganized, when the system is actually insufficient. A system that is unorganized leaves itself open to error. Thus, a system perceived as unorganized leaves itself open to criticism and the perception that errors are occurring. Therefore, maintaining an open and orderly voting process will retain the public's trust in our elections. - The human
element is a critical factor in the conduct of elections.
In other countries' governmental systems, the military may conduct the elections. In America, registered voters become election pollworkers and give their time and talent to conduct elections. Election professionals serve as the resource to administer election programs. The election judges and clerks working at the polling place are typically a diverse and representative cross-section of precinct residents. These minimum wage pollworkers receive materials and training from the election administrators, but they conduct the election for themselves and their neighbors-of the people, by the people, for the people. Any change in election procedures or equipment must be easily implemented to ensure smooth transition for voters and pollworkers alike. As with voters, election workers should not feel intimidated by the election process or system of voting. - Elections
involve complex procedures.
In evaluating voting systems, the study group has discovered that from the voter's position, the act of voting appears to be uncomplicated. Yet the administration of an election proves very complex. The challenge comes in keeping such a complicated election system "voter-friendly." - Citizen registers to vote.
- Voter becomes aware of an election.
- Voter goes to the polling place.
- Voter's eligibility is confirmed.
- Voter signs in on the poll list.
- Voter selects ballot, votes, puts in ballot box, gets "I Voted" sticker.
- Voted ballots are counted.
- Results are announced
- Citizen registers to vote
- Voter application must be processed
- Voter certificates must be mailed
- Voter registration rolls must be maintained
- Voter becomes aware of election
- Election order must be approved and notice of election published
- Candidates must file and be certified for place on ballot
- Candidate must follow campaign finance requirements
- Elections Division must respond to voter questions
- Voter goes to the polling place
- Approximately 80-90 early voting locations must be recruited, confirmed, and locations published
- More than 200 election day polling places must be recruited, confirmed, and locations published
- Arrangements must be made for delivery of tables, chairs, voting booths, etc.
- Precinct polling place information must be provided to the public
- Election judges and clerks must be recruited and appointed
- Election judges and clerks must be trained and paid
- Election judge must maintain order and handle problems at polling place
- Voter's eligibility is established
- List of eligible voters must be maintained and provided to election judges
- Procedures must be established to confirm that the voter is indeed registered to vote and in which Travis County precinct
- Election Division and Voter Registration Office must provide administrative phone support to precincts
- Voter signs in on the poll list
- Forms and supplies must be procured and distributed to all early voting and election day polling places
- Verification process must be established and implemented to ensure that the number of signatures on the poll list equals the number of voted ballots
- Voter selects ballot, votes, puts in ballot box, gets
"I Voted" sticker
- Number of ballots must be determined for each precinct
- Ballots must be prepared, printed, and distributed
- Ballot inventory records must be maintained
- Ballot boxes must be locked, sealed, and distributed
- Election judge must sign ballots
- Voter must receive oral voting instructions from election clerk
- Number of voted ballots must equal number of signatures on the poll list
- Voted ballots are counted
- central counting station must be secured and set-up
- Ballot counting staff must be recruited, assigned, trained and paid
- Scanner programming must be obtained
- Scanners must be prepared
- Ballots, forms and supplies must be processed through receiving substations
- Secured ballots and forms must be sent to central counting station by sheriff's deputies
- Ballots must be received and secured at the central counting station
- Ballots must be sorted, straightened, and aligned
- Ballots must be individually audited for intent of the voter
- Unresolved ballots must be processed
- Ballots must be tabulated
- Counts must be checked and verified against the poll lists
- Results are announced
- Election return reporting systems and computer technicians must be in place
- Data must be transferred from scanners to computer for processing
- Cumulative and precinct returns must be printed, checked, and copied for posting and distribution throughout election night
- Return files must be created, converted, and transmitted to media and the Internet throughout election night
- Final reports must be produced for public distribution
- Canvass of official election returns by authority ordering election
- Recount process must be implemented if recount petition is filed by candidate or party
- Contest occurs if filed and granted in district court
Voter's Perspective -- Simple Process
Following is a basic outline of the election process from the voter's viewpoint.
Administrator's Perspective -- Complex Details
To ensure open and impartial elections, federal, state, and local statutes have been established. In line with those statutes, policies and procedures are developed, systems are created, and administrative tasks are detailed. Following is the previous voter outline with a brief listing of some of the associated administrative tasks.
Any voting system must be fair and accurate in administration, yet uncomplicated and straightforward in application. The challenge once more is to keep it simple for the voters, yet maintain a sophisticated check and balance system to ensure the integrity of the election process.
- return to Mission Statement
- continue on to Findings, part II
