Elections and Polling Place Observations

Commendations 1

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  The Grand Jury commends the Ventura County Elections Division and poll workers on Election Day for their hard work and dedication to ensuring that all County voters were afforded the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. The Grand Jury also commends the County Clerk and Recorder/Registrar of Voters for his efforts to certify the election results well in advance of the date prescribed by California Law. References Ref-01. County of Ventura, Office of Mark A. Lunn, Clerk Recorder/Registrar of Voters, Ventura County Election Officer Handbook Gubernatorial General Election November 4, 2014. Ref-02. County of Ventura website, Elections Division, List of Polling Sites with Voting Precincts http://recorder.countyofventura.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/10/podr009_pollsiteswithvotpct.pdf (accessed January 7, 2015). Ref-03. Wenner, Gretchen, “Perello wins Oxnard council seat by 10 votes,” Ventura County Star, November 25, 2014.

Observations 2

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  Elections and Polling Place Observations Summary The 2014-2015 Ventura County Grand Jury (Grand Jury), in the course of overseeing the election procedures of the County of Ventura (County), monitored the polls on November 4, 2014 (Election Day), by conducting unannounced observations of polling places in the County, and by observing the County Clerk and Recorder/Registrar of Voters (Elections Division) Central Counting Place in the County Center. In preparation for observing polling places, 12 members of the Grand Jury attended the three-hour Election Officer Training Course (Training Course) presented by the Elections Division. In conducting its observations, Grand Jury members used check sheets to record observations of polling place conditions and poll worker performance. An analysis of these check sheets shows that the Grand Jury rated most polling places as clean and in good repair, with acceptable lighting and noise levels, properly set up voting booths, readily accessible voting materials, and welcoming and knowledgeable poll workers. The Grand Jury found that variations from normal ballot procedures were understood and handled well by poll workers. The Grand Jury commends the Elections Division for its hard work in training poll workers and for providing technical support on Election Day. The Grand Jury commends the poll workers for the long hours they spent ensuring that all County voters were afforded the opportunity to vote. The Grand Jury also commends the County Clerk and Recorder/Registrar of Voters for his efforts to certify the election results well in advance of the date prescribed by California Law. Grand Jurors found the Training Course material to be comprehensive but extremely complex for inexperienced poll workers. During visits to polling places on Election Day, the Grand Jury found that poll workers had difficulty in setting up the AVC Edge equipment, which led to delays in opening some polling places. The Grand Jury observed missing signage, particularly bilingual signage, at several polling places. The Grand Jury also observed some degree of confusion at polling places where multiple precincts were located in a single space; in many cases this was recognized and dealt with effectively by poll workers. The Grand Jury recommends that the Elections Division consider revisions to the Training Course, increasing the length of the course to help ensure that the extremely complex information is understood by all poll workers, especially inexperienced poll workers. The Grand Jury recommends that the Training Course strongly emphasize the need for proper signage, particularly bilingual signage, at polling places. The Grand Jury recommends that the Training Course include additional hands-on training to improve setup and usage of electronic voting machines. For experienced poll workers, the Grand Jury recommends that the Elections Division ensure that the content of online training reflect changes to polling place procedures that have occurred since the last election cycle. The Grand Jury recommends that the Elections Division reduce possible confusion by locating only one polling place in a single building. Where multiple precincts are Elections and Polling Place Observations 1
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  located in a single polling place, the Elections Division should take steps to instruct poll workers to clearly separate the precincts and prevent votes from being cast in an incorrect precinct.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.