Riverside County Grand Jury • 2020-2021 • Agency Response

Submittal to the Board of Supervisors Counw of Riverside, State of California

Published: November 16, 2021 11 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113

Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
After extensive interviews, website reviews, and document reviews, there is significant evidence that Riverside County election officials were well informed of applicable November 2020 Federal and California election laws, regulations, and executive orders. Many city officials who were directly responsible for election activities within their jurisdictions expressed gratitude to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Department personnel for keeping them well informed of changes in California's laws and procedures, especially changes required by Executive Order N- 64-20 and Executive Order N-67-20 during the pandemic. Responao to Grand Jury Finding #1: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 1 . Grand Jury Finding #2: Research Qu$tion 2: Did Riverside County eleclion officials effectively communicate with voters?
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Department make it easier for voters to locale their specific efiction guide, with candidate statements, and sample ballots in two ways by the end ot 2021 : 1. Highlight "Eleclion Guides and sample Ballots" on their website as they did for the options below: AmI IRegister Registeredi OTE 2. lnclude the website link where voters can access their election guides, candidate statements, and sample ballots in their "News Release" announcing that the voter information guirles are on the way to voters Response to Grand Jury Recommendatlon #1: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 1 and will implement the recommendations Grand Jury Recommendation #2:
F2
After extensive interviews, website reviews, and document reviews, there is significant evidence that Riverside County election ofiicials, both those individuals working directly for Riverside County, as well as those individuals who worked directly for cities, made extensive efforts to inform voters of their voting options and locations through news releases, social media, announcements during official public meetings, and websites. Additionally, city officials throughout the county indicated that, except on rare occasions, they received answers to their questions from the Registrar of Voters Department in a timely manner, so they could provide voters accurate information. To summarize Research Question 2 findings: '1. Although there were communication challenges, Riverside Countyelection ofiicials effectively commu n icated with voters. 2. Vote-by-mail ballots arriving before "Consolidated General Election Guides,, was caused by the U. S. Postal Service. 3. lncorrect and misleading information associated with the state's new ballot tracking system was caused by both computer programming errors within the secretary of State's hacking system and the assumption by many individuals that the tracking involved "real time" tracking when it was not designed to function thatway. 4. The Registrar of Voters Department frequently updated November 3, 2020 election results as ballots were processed. 5. There is interest in generating accurate election results faster. 6. The lack of knowledge about the eleclion ballot counting prooess resulted in questions about the hirness and impartiality oftheeleclion. 7. lt was not easy for voters to locate their specific election information guides, with candidate statements, and sample ballots online. Response to Grand Jury Finding #2: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 2. Grand Jury Finding #3: Research Questlon 3: Did Riverside County Registrar of Voters Department provide sufficient training to those who would implement the November 2020 election?
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Anticipating that future elections will require the Registrar of Voters Department print and mail large numbers of vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters (e.9., AB 37), the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Department submit a detailed plan to the Riverside County Executive Office that identifies the steps needed to develop, print, and distribute future election guides and vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters. The detailed plan should include requiring printing vendors to have all ehction materials available for diskibution to the U. S. Postal Service at least two workdays before mailing can legally commence. The detailed plan should be submitted to the Riverside County Executive Office no later than the first public Board of Supervisors meeting in 2022. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #2: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 2 and will implement the recommendation in January 2022. Grand Jury Recommendation #3:
F3
Riverside County Registrar of Voters Department personnel provided training sessions and materials to individuals who worked at the county's ballot processing facility, to city officials invotued in the election process for their communities, to individuals who worked at the 130 Voter Assistance Centers, and to individuals responsible for monitoring vote-by- maildrop-off boxes, including transporting ballots from drop-off boxes to the county's ballot processing facility. To summarize Research Question 3 findings: The evidence was conclusive that the Riverside County Regiskar of Voters Department conducted a comprehensive series of training sessions for several months leading up to the November 2020 election and that the training sessions prepared personnel to fulfill their responsibilities. Survey results reveahd the need for hands-on training, role-playing scenarios, and more training for non-supervisor staff members. Response to Grand Jury Finding #3: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters aglees with Finding 3. Grand Jury Finding 114: Research Question 4: Did Riverside county electioh officials conduct the November 2020 election as reguired by applicable Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders?
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Registrar of Voters Department produce a video series, by September 30, 2022, lhal illustrates the steps their department goes through in the election process. lt is recommended that the video series emphasize the following topics: . Vote-by-mail drop-off box use, security, and transportation of ballots to the ballot processing facility. . How ballots are processed including signature confirmation and duplicate ballots voided. . Technology usage including certification, continual updates, testing for accuracy, and manual count confirmation. The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury suggests the Registrar of Voters Department consider inviting high schools, school districts, community colleges, and universities within Riverside County that have video production capabilities to produce the video series under its guidance.. The video series could be produced and available for the Registrar of Voters website and Riverside County city websites. 'ln 2017, Education Code sectlons 51470-51474 established the 'State Sea/ of Civic Engagement" which encourages, and creates pathways for students "in elementary and secondary s6hoo/s to become civically engaged in democratic govemmental institutions at the local, state, and national /eyels. " High school students who meet five state requirements will be recognized with the 'State Sea/ of Civic Engagement" on the high school diplomas. Creating videos for the Registrar of Voters Depaftment would help sfudenls meet citeria 3 to eam this special recognition. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #3: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 3 and will implement the recommendation in 2022. Grand Jury Recommendation #4:
F4
with one exception, the November 2020 election was conducted as required LV .ppi*Uf" Federal and Califomia laws, regulations. The one exception occurred on iti" i[i J"r of the four days of in_person voting (i.e..saturday, october 31 ,2020). 6or" ,ot";5 across Riverside County could not cast their votes as planned due to a technical problem. To summarize Research Question 4 findings: Riverside County election ofiicials conducted the November 2020 election as required by applicable Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders. The technical problem occuned at the very beginning of the fourday in-person voling days and it was corrected in time for voters to still cast their ballots. The voting process can be enhanced if voters do not have to wait in long lines to vote. Also, if larger signs are posted near the in-person voting locations it will improve visibility of the voting locations and parking. Respon3e to Grend Jury Finding Il4: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 4. Grand Jury Finding #5: Research Question 5: Were there instances of "election irregularities" during the November 2020 election?
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
ln collaboration with the Riverside County Executive Offce, the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Registrar of Voters Oepartment develop and present a plan to the Board of Supervisors prior to the next primary election, that, if approved and implemented, would allow the public to view, via live streaming, all ballot processing phases in a way that maintains voter confidentiality. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #4: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 4 and will prepare a cost report for review. Grand Jury Recommendatlon #5:
F5
Some interviewees expressed concerns that the November 2020 election was not conducted as required by Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders. Those concerns were in three general areas: (1) accuracy of voter rolls, (2) ballot drop-off box uncertainty, and (3) ballot "chain of custody." To summarize Research Question 5 findings: 1. Although county Registrar of Voters departments across the state assist in correcting inaccuracies within the state's Votecal database, establishing and maintaining the Votecal database is the responsibility of the Secretary of State. 2. There was extensive use of the 80 vote-by-mail dropoff boxes. 3. Minor improvements in the appearance of drop-off boxes will instill more confidence in dropoff box usage. 4. The conclusive evidence establishes that ballot "chain of cuslody" was maintained throughout the November 2020 election. Response to Grand Jury Findlng #5: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 5. Grand Jury Finding #6: Research Question 6: Were ballots accurately counted?
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
ln collaboration with lhe Riverside County Executive Ofiice, the Riverside Coung Civil Grand Jury recommends the Regiskar of Voters Department develop a detailed plan to generate election results faster, yet accurately, and present this plan to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors no later than their first public meeting in2022. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #5: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 5 and will present a report to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors in 2022. Grand Jury Recommendation 116: Recommendatlon 6: The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Registrar of Voters Department investigate what it would cost to produce at least two large signs (e.9., 36 by 24-inch square) per in-person voting location informing voters where to park and where to vote prior to the next primary election. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #5: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 6 and will implement the recommendalion in 2022. Grand Jury Recommendation #7:
F6
Following the November 2020 election, there were numerous media reports about efforts to stop counting ballots and allegations against the use of certain voling technologies to count ballots. Although more of the media attention was directed toward other states, there were californians who expressed concems about Dominion Voting Systems used in Califomia counties as well. To summarize Research Question 6 findings, the evidence is conclusive that ballots were accurately processed, counted, and reported. Response to Grand Jury Finding #6: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 6. Grand Jury Flnding #7: Research Quection 7: ls there any evirlence of eleclion fraud that occured during November 3,2020 election as itwas held within Riverside County?
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury acknowledges that even the topic of "election fraud" is controversial. To summarize Research Question 7 lindings, there is no evidence of election fraud during the November 2020 eleclion. Response to Grand Jury Findlng #7: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 7' GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS Grand Jury Recommendation #1:
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Regiskar of Voters Department modify their training sessions as follows: . For in-person voting location supervisors and assistant supervisors, insert hands-on training activities and role-playing scenarios, especially with the technology to be used in the election. . For in-person voting location personnel not serving as a supervisor or as an assistant supervisor, modify their training sessions to include a more comprehensive view of how to assist voters when supervisors and assistant supervisors are not available. These training enhancements should be included in future training sessions prior to the next primary election. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #7: The Riverside County Regiskar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 7 and will implement the recommendation in 2022. Grand Jury Recommendation #8: Recommondetion 8: The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Registrar of Voters Department develop and implement a policy that requires all future in-person voting locations to confirm that the technology functions properly prior to opening those locations for in-person voting. lt is recommended that this policy be established and implemented prior to the next primary election. Response to Grand Jury Recommendation #8: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Recommendation 8 and the recommendation has already been implemented. Grand Jury Recommendation #9:
F114
Research Question 4: Did Riverside county electioh officials conduct the November 2020 election as reguired by applicable Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders? Finding 4: with one exception, the November 2020 election was conducted as required LV .ppi*Uf" Federal and Califomia laws, regulations. The one exception occurred on iti" i[i J"r of the four days of in_person voting (i.e..saturday, october 31 ,2020). 6or" ,ot";5 across Riverside County could not cast their votes as planned due to a technical problem. To summarize Research Question 4 findings: Riverside County election ofiicials conducted the November 2020 election as required by applicable Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders. The technical problem occuned at the very beginning of the fourday in-person voling days and it was corrected in time for voters to still cast their ballots. The voting process can be enhanced if voters do not have to wait in long lines to vote. Also, if larger signs are posted near the in-person voting locations it will improve visibility of the voting locations and parking. Respon3e to Grend Jury Finding Il4: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 4. Grand Jury Finding #5: Research Question 5: Were there instances of "election irregularities" during the November 2020 election? Finding 5: Some interviewees expressed concerns that the November 2020 election was not conducted as required by Federal and California laws, regulations, and executive orders. Those concerns were in three general areas: (1) accuracy of voter rolls, (2) ballot drop-off box uncertainty, and (3) ballot "chain of custody." To summarize Research Question 5 findings: 1. Although county Registrar of Voters departments across the state assist in correcting inaccuracies within the state's Votecal database, establishing and maintaining the Votecal database is the responsibility of the Secretary of State. 2. There was extensive use of the 80 vote-by-mail dropoff boxes. 3. Minor improvements in the appearance of drop-off boxes will instill more confidence in dropoff box usage. 4. The conclusive evidence establishes that ballot "chain of cuslody" was maintained throughout the November 2020 election. Response to Grand Jury Findlng #5: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 5. Grand Jury Finding #6: Research Question 6: Were ballots accurately counted? Finding 6: Following the November 2020 election, there were numerous media reports about efforts to stop counting ballots and allegations against the use of certain voling technologies to count ballots. Although more of the media attention was directed toward other states, there were californians who expressed concems about Dominion Voting Systems used in Califomia counties as well. To summarize Research Question 6 findings, the evidence is conclusive that ballots were accurately processed, counted, and reported. Response to Grand Jury Finding #6: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 6. Grand Jury Flnding #7: Research Quection 7: ls there any evirlence of eleclion fraud that occured during November 3,2020 election as itwas held within Riverside County? Finding 7: The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury acknowledges that even the topic of "election fraud" is controversial. To summarize Research Question 7 lindings, there is no evidence of election fraud during the November 2020 eleclion. Response to Grand Jury Findlng #7: The Riverside County Registrar of Voters agrees with Finding 7' GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS Grand Jury Recommendation #1:
No recommendations for this finding