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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Nevada County Grand Jury • 2008-2009

Nevada County Presidential Election – November 2008

Published: November 04, 2008 22 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 8 findings

Voting machines were delivered to the 53 precincts with security seals intact.

Inspectors are responsible for picking up all election day material for their precincts, except for the machines, from the Elections Office prior to election day,

Due to accidents and illness, several poll workers had to be replaced on or shortly before the day of the election. In spite of this, the Elections Office was able to find enough replacement poll workers to fully staff each precinct.

Last minute replacements resulted in some poll workers having minimal or no training.

Several polling places had students as poll workers; they performed well and were particularly effective with the voting machines.

Two polling places were staffed with community organizations: The Grey Goose was staffed by the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) serving in their second election, and the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary staffed the Rough & Ready Firehouse for their first election. Conclusions

Despite additional duties and responsibilities, Inspectors receive no specialized training to cover these. Conclusions

The Elections Office is aware of the problem of accessibility in some of the polling places, and is pursuing the possibility of providing portable wheelchair ramps and other ADA mitigation supplies. Nevada County Presidential Election – November 2008 Grand Jury Reports 2008-09 Conclusions

Recommendations 9

R1

The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should direct staff to include additional time in the training for dealing with all types of voters not listed on the precinct roster. Nevada County Presidential Election – November 2008 Grand Jury Reports 2008-09
R2

The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should work to increase the recruitment efforts in high schools and Sierra College to interest more students in participating in the election as poll workers.
R3

The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should look into expanding the use of organized community groups for the purpose of staffing a precinct with qualified poll workers. Training
R4

The Board of Supervisors (BOS) did not allow compensation for training. Partially disagree. The current Board of Supervisor's resolution authorIZing poll worker pay does not address compensation for training.
R5

Inspectors have numerous duties and responsibilities beyond those of Judges, both prior to and on Election Day. Agree.
R6

Despite additional duties and responsibilities, Inspectors receive no specialized training to cover these. Partially disagree. Wbile Judges and Inspectors receive tbe same training, tbe training is geared more toward Inspectors and covers all their job duties. Instead, tbe Judges are receiving specialized training beyond wbat tbeir job actually requires. Training: Recommendations I. The Nevada County Board of Supervisors should support additional compensation for mandatory training. The recommendation requires additional analysis. As Clerk-Recorder I bave always maintained that Poll Workers in Nevada County and across the state deserve far more compensation tban tbey are currently getting. Their job is complex, and requires dedication, knowledge of voting laws and they are required to attend several training sessions prior to each Election Day. However, given current bUdget constraints the Elections Office must balance the desire to increase Poll Worker compensation with our commitment to fiscal responsibility. A preliminary survey shows that many surrounding counties pay Poll Workers for attending training classes (up to $40 for a class), and if Nevada County were to pay $10 for each training session a Poll Worker attends, tbis would bring us more in line witb Poll Worker compensation in surrounding counties. Our office will conduct an in-depth study of Poll Worker compensation in surrounding counties and make a reeommendation to tbe board on tbis matter prior to December 31, 2009.
R7

The Nevada County Clerk Recorder estimates the cost of processing a ballot cast at a polling place to be $14.00 vs. $7.25 for a vote-by-mail ballot. Agree.
R8

The Elections Office is aware of the problem ofaccessibility in some of the polling places, and is pursuing the possibility of providing portable wheelchair ramps and other ADA mitigation supplies. Agree. Page4of7 Polling Places: Recommendations I. The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should direct staffto continue to seek to remedy accessibility issues where they exist. The recommendation has been impiemented.. The Nevada County Elections Office has received a HAVA VOTE Grant in the amount of $145,200 to survey polling places for accessibility, purchase mitigation supplies, and upgrade training materials. The Elections Office will continue conducting surveys of the remaining polling places throughout the summer and fall and hopes to have all polling place accessibility issues solved in time for the June 8, 2010 Primary Election.
R112
Page 1

5. Personnel in the Elections Office were aware that they were not in compliance with the State Code, and were actively seeking replacement polling places for those polling places located in bars. Agree. 6. As of the date of this report, one of these polling places has been replaced and another has been reconfigured to meet State Code requirements. A third, although it did not serve alcohol during election hours, has been replaced to avoid the perception of impropriety. Agree. 7. The Nevada County Clerk Recorder estimates the cost of processing a ballot cast at a polling place to be $14.00 vs. $7.25 for a vote-by-mail ballot. Agree. 8. The Elections Office is aware of the problem of accessibility in some of the polling places, and is pursuing the possibility of providing portable wheelchair ramps and other ADA mitigation supplies. Agree. Page4of7 Polling Places: Recommendations I. The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should direct staff to continue to seek to remedy accessibility issues where they exist. The recommendation has been impiemented.. The Nevada County Elections Office has received a HAVA VOTE Grant in the amount of $145,200 to survey polling places for accessibility, purchase mitigation supplies, and upgrade training materials. The Elections Office will continue conducting surveys of the remaining polling places throughout the summer and fall and hopes to have all polling place accessibility issues solved in time for the June 8, 2010 Primary Election. 2. The Nevada County Clerk Recorder should continue to make every reasonable effort to secure polling places which are in compliant with State Code Section 12288 regarding polls located in bars. The recommendation has been implemented. In the May Statewide Special Election, no bar or location where there was dispensation of alCOhol was used as a PolIing Place. Field Election Deputy System (FED):

Conclusions 20

CL1 Page 3

Untrained substitutes performed adequately because they were paired with trained, experienced poll workers.
CL2 Page 3

With few exceptions, all equipment and supplies were delivered to the appropriate polling places in a timely manner.
CL3 Page 3

The pool of trained back up Inspectors and Judges was not sufficient to staff all polling places with properly trained substitutes.
CL4 Page 3

The use of student poll workers was effective. Nevada County Presidential Election – November 2008 Grand Jury Reports 2008-09 Page 3
CL5 Page 4

Organized community groups staffing a polling place is easier on the Elections Office as the group oversees their own staffing, schedules, last minute worker problems, assures attendance at training, etc. Because of their self-oversight, they enjoy some privileges regular volunteers don’t get, such as split shifts.
CL6 Page 5

Providing quality training and instruction for poll workers is vital for a secure and problem-free election.
CL7 Page 5

Compensation for mandatory training would be an incentive for greater training participation as well as attracting more volunteers.
CL8 Page 5

More “hands-on” time in equipment training would be beneficial.
CL9 Page 5

Specialized training to cover Inspector’s duties would be beneficial. Nevada County Presidential Election – November 2008 Grand Jury Reports 2008-09 Page 5
CL10 Page 6

Most poll workers were satisfied with the training provided by the Elections Office.
CL11 Page 8

It is not easy in a rural environment to find polling facilities that meet all State and Federal requirements, as well as comfort and convenience for all poll workers and voters.
CL12 Page 8

Some of the polling places are in violation of the State Code governing accessibility for persons with disabilities.
CL13 Page 8

Some of the polling places were in violation of the State Code prohibiting connection of a polling place with any place where any alcoholic beverage is sold or dispensed while the polls are open.
CL14 Page 9

The provision of on-site assistance through the FED system was very successful, and the Jury commends the Nevada County Clerk Recorder for its implementation.
CL15 Page 9

Lack of cell phone reception will continue to be a problem.
CL16 Page 10

The Elections Office is to be commended on the overall conduct of this election, which recorded the largest voter participation in Nevada County history.
CL17 Page 10

The Elections Office has developed adequate procedures to smoothly open, operate and close the Hart equipment.
CL18 Page 10

For the most part, the Hart equipment functioned properly. Most problems were due to operator error.
CL19 Page 10

More “hands-on” experience in the equipment training should clear up any confusion in opening and closing procedures.
CL20 Page 10

Dealing with voters not on the precinct roster is not sufficiently addressed in the procedures training.

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Nevada County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office

Nevada County County Clerk-Recorder Elected County Office