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Findings 40 findings
F01
The CED is responsible for voter registration and administration of all Federal, State, County and Local elections in compliance with the California Elections Code. [Ref-02, Ref-06, Ref-08]
F02
In January 2006, the most recent census information available, the County population was stated to be 817,346 with 377,651 registered voters.
F03
On October 20, 2008, the CED stated that there were 425,968 registered voters, a 12.5% increase from January 2008 (378,501). [Ref-08]
F04
In August 2008, the CED predicted over a 70% voter turnout with 50% of the vote by absentee ballot. [Ref-05, Ref-08]
F05
A total of 178,210 absentee ballots were sent to registered voters representing 41.84% of all County voters. [Ref-03, Ref-08]
F06
By October 20, 2008, the CED received and processed a record 78,262 absentee ballots.
F07
As of September 15, 2008, there were 365 precincts assigned to 284 polling places. [Ref-03, Ref-04]
F08
Seventeen polling places had more than one ballot type (e.g., City or unincorporated County ballots) issued to voters at a single polling place.
F09
The CED provided on-line and hands-on training for poll workers. Inspectors are required to attend; other poll workers are encouraged to attend training sessions. [Ref-01, Ref-02, Ref-08,] ________________________________________________________________ 2 Did Your Vote Count?
F10
To prepare for the election, the CED hired 50 to 60 temporary workers for two to three months.
F11
The CED used approximately 1,500 workers at the polling places during the election.
F12
Prior to the election, the CED established eleven absentee ballot drop- off locations, one in the Government Center and one in each of the ten cities.
F13
The CED permitted early voting only at the CED office in the Government Center. Election Day
F14
Total voter turnout was 343,690 (80.69%) of the County’s 425,968 registered voters; 194,104 persons (45.57%) voted at the polls and 149,586 (35.12%) voted by mail. [Ref-9]
F15
There were 15,237 provisional ballots (late registered or someone voting in a site other than their precinct of record) cast during the election. [Ref-9]
F16
There were a total of 37,263 absentee ballots delivered to the CED by other than regular mail; 26,615 ballots were hand delivered to polling places, 2,900 were issued and returned to the Government Center and a total of 7,748 were hand delivered to the Government Center. [Ref-10]
F17
Each polling place housed an average of twelve polling booths and was staffed by four to five poll workers, one of which was an Inspector (supervisor).
F18
There was insufficient parking at many polling places, mostly at schools.
F19
There were insufficient supplies, such as pens and stationery, at some polling places.
F20
Some polling places did not have enough absentee or provisional ballot storage bags.
F21
At least two sites were missing a ballot box from 7:00 a.m. to at least 10:00 a.m. Ballots were stored in a secured bag until they were later processed when the ballot box was delivered.
F22
At the time of the Grand Jury inspection, voting equipment was not set up correctly or powered on at some polling places.
F23
Some polling places were not large enough to comfortably accommodate voters, voting equipment, and booths.
F24
Waiting lines exceeding 50 or more people were noted at several polling places in the morning and evening.
F25
Street indexes were not updated on a regular basis. ___________________________________________________________________________ Did Your Vote Count? 3
F26
Incorrect ballot types (e.g., City or unincorporated County ballots) were handed out at some dual ballot/precinct polling places. This was observed by Grand Jury members in one polling place for the Santa Paula School Board Election and reported by the CED in one other location not observed by the Grand Jury.
F27
There was confusion among some voters as to which table to register and receive their ballot at some multi-precinct polling sites.
F28
The voting procedure required dual cross checking of voter’s name and address on data sheets prior to a voter being given a ballot.
F29
Grand Jurors observed that identification was inappropriately asked of voters at some of the polling places.
F30
In at least one polling place, provisional voters were inappropriately told by poll workers/inspectors that their vote would most likely not count.
F31
There were 26,615 absentee ballots delivered by hand to polling places. At times, voters handed in two or three ballots and signatures were not checked.
F32
Some poll workers appeared to have difficulty in lifting voting equipment.
F33
Grand jurors observed campaigning taking place within 100 feet of a polling place. Post Election
F34
According to the CED, the cost of the election was $2,218,075. The projected cost by CED if an all-absentee ballot election (currently not allowed by election code) were held is $2,027,000, a savings of about $200,000.
F35
Absentee ballots reduce the cost by over $2.00 per vote in another county. [Ref–13]
F36
There were 15,237 provisional ballots received during the election, 12,414 were validated and counted.
F37
CED officials state that verification of deceased registered voters relies on voluntary notification by families and by occasional cross checking of death certifications within the Public Health Department and the CED.
F38
Absentee ballots delivered by hand at polling places or received by the CED office in the final days before the election are not counted until signatures are verified during the weeks after the election.
F39
Validation of provisional ballots was completed during the days after the election.
F40
Determination of the outcome of at least four close races was not known until several days after the election. ________________________________________________________________ 4 Did Your Vote Count? Conclusions C-01. The physical layout and setup of several polling places inconvenienced voters. (F-18 through F-24, F-27) C-02. The Grand Jury concluded that some inspectors made procedural errors in running their polling places. As a result, the voting process was inconsistent from one polling place to another. (F-22, F-25 through
Recommendations 8
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R01The Grand Jury recommends that the CED should minimize polling places with more than one ballot (e.g., City vs. unincorporated County) by adding polling places. (C-01 through C-05)
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R02The CED should improve procedures to ensure that at multi-precinct polling places, voters are given the correct ballot (e.g., City vs. unincorporated County). (C-01 through C-05)
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R03The CED should develop procedures that ensure an experienced poll worker is assigned to direct voters to the correct table to receive their ballot and to oversee the overall location at polling places with more than one precinct. (C-01 through C-05)
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R04The CED should ensure that at least one worker at each site is able to lift and handle heavy equipment. (C-04)
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R05The CED should require that all poll workers, especially inspectors, get the proper training so that they understand what needs to be done before, during, and after the election. (C-01 through C-06) ___________________________________________________________________________ Did Your Vote Count? 5
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R06The CED should explore ways, including State legislation, to streamline the voting process, such as: (C-01 through C-07) • enabling registered voters to swipe their driver’s license or ID card through an automated system to process them to vote • 100% voting by mail • 100% voting by mail with prepaid return postage
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R07The CED should educate the public on how to delete deceased voters from the voter rolls by putting information in the pre-election voter pamphlet and in the sample ballot. (C-07)
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R08The CED should ensure that policies and procedures, such as verification of Federal, State, and County data bases, are in place to purge all deceased voters from the ballot process before each election. (C-05 through C-07) Responses Responses Required From: Clerk Recorder, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-08) Responses Accepted From: Ventura County Board of Supervisors (R-01 through R-08) References Ref-01. City of Ventura Press Release dated October 7, 2008 http://www2.cityofventura.net/newsmanager/templates/?a=575&z=12 Ref-02. Election Officer Handbook for the November 4, 2008 election Ref-03. Ventura County Star, September 23, 2008, “Polling Places and Election Officers Publication” Ref-04. Ventura County Elections Division list of polling sites with voting precincts, September 9, 2008 Ref-05. Ventura County Star, October 31, 2008, “Record 425,968 registered local voters” http://www.venturacounty star.com/news/2008/oct/31/record-425968- eligible-to-vote-in-v Ref-06. Easy Voter Guide http://lwvc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=easyvoter_home Ref-07. Ventura County Star, October 21, 2008, “Hundreds swamp Elections Division” http://venturacountystar.com/news/2008/oct/21/hunderds-swamo-elections- division/ Ref-08. Article from Ventura County Clerk Recorder website “About Elections” http://recorder.countyofventura.org/aboutelections.htm Ref-09. Ventura County Elections Division Semiofficial Reports http:/recorder.countyofventura.org/Election5Result_hdr.htm ________________________________________________________________ 6 Did Your Vote Count? Ref-10. Ventura County Star, November 11, 2008, “Provisional ballots may decide outcome for some elections” http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/nov/11/provisional-ballots- may-decide-outcome-for-some/ Ref-11. Ventura County Star, November 13, 2008, “41,000 ballots are left to count; supervisor contest still uncertain” http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/nov/13/races-still-in-limbo- as-more-votes-tallied/ Ref-12. Ventura County Star, December 10, 2008, “School trustee ousted by one vote questions results” Ref-13. 2005-2006, Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report “Absentee Ballot and Mail-In Voting Processes”
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 7C-01. The physical layout and setup of several polling places inconvenienced voters. (F-18 through F-24, F-27) C-02. The Grand Jury concluded that some inspectors made procedural errors in running their polling places. As a result, the voting process was inconsistent from one polling place to another. (F-22, F-25 through F-27, F-29 through F-31, F-33) C-03. An election in Santa Paula for a position on the school board may have been adversely affected by errors in the distribution of ballots. (F-26, F-27) C-04. There were deficiencies in necessary equipment and personnel at some polling places that caused avoidable difficulties. (F-19 through F-22, F-32) C-05. The key causes of delays during the voting process were manually verifying a voter’s name and address, processing dropped off absentee ballots, and assisting persons using the provisional voting procedure. (F-14 through F-16, F-20, F-23, F-24, F-27, F-28, F-36,) C-06. Election results were delayed because of the volume of absentee ballots received by the CED office in the final days before the election, absentee ballots turned in manually at the polls, and provisional ballots cast by voters on election day. (F-05, F-12 through F-16, F-31, F-36, F-38 through F-40) C-07. The CED relies on the public, the Clerk Recorder, and the Public Health Department for information on deceased voters which may not always be current. (F-37)
Commendations 2
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CM1 Page 9The Grand Jury commends the CED for its integrity and non-partisan actions in counting the ballots in the November 4, 2008 General Election. The Grand Jury would also like to commend the CED staff for its quick response to information requested for the writing of this report. ___________________________________________________________________________ Did Your Vote Count? 7
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CM2 Page 10(This page intentionally blank) ________________________________________________________________ 8 Did Your Vote Count?
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Ventura County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Ventura County County Clerk-Recorder
Elected County Office