Managing Managing Multiple One-Multiple One-

Stop SitesStop Sites

State Board of Elections Annual State Board of Elections Annual TrainingTraining

March 19-20, 2008March 19-20, 2008

Facilitator: Karen Brinson, District 1 DETFacilitator: Karen Brinson, District 1 DET

PurposePurpose

More one-stop voting sites will be available More one-stop voting sites will be available to the voters of North Carolina in 2008 than to the voters of North Carolina in 2008 than ever before. ever before.

Items to address:Items to address:– Why expand one-stop voting?Why expand one-stop voting?– What’s involved?What’s involved?– How do you prepare?How do you prepare?– What are other counties doing? What are other counties doing?

Background for WorkshopBackground for Workshop

District 1 is greatly expanding it’s one-stop voting District 1 is greatly expanding it’s one-stop voting locations. Most of the counties will have additional locations. Most of the counties will have additional sites for May; others are expanding in November. sites for May; others are expanding in November. Several run satellite sites instead of using the office Several run satellite sites instead of using the office as the location.as the location.

In March, District 1 held a workshop about this topic, In March, District 1 held a workshop about this topic, specifically looking at experiences in Buncombe and specifically looking at experiences in Buncombe and Henderson.Henderson.

Buncombe: 10 sites in May, 20 sites in NovemberBuncombe: 10 sites in May, 20 sites in November Henderson: 4 sites in May and NovemberHenderson: 4 sites in May and November Both counties have managed multiple sites in Both counties have managed multiple sites in

previous electionsprevious elections

GroupsGroups

Group 1: Why? & PublicityGroup 1: Why? & Publicity Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare Group 3: Technology & SecurityGroup 3: Technology & Security

Group 1 (Part 1): Why?Group 1 (Part 1): Why?

Why have multiple one-stop sites?Why have multiple one-stop sites? What benefits do they bring?What benefits do they bring? Working with County Commissioners Working with County Commissioners

& Manager& Manager

Group 1 (Part 2): PublicityGroup 1 (Part 2): Publicity

What can you do to publicize?What can you do to publicize?– Conventional ways to publicizeConventional ways to publicize– Now be creative/think outside of the Now be creative/think outside of the

box…box…

Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare

How far out do you start planning?How far out do you start planning? What’s involved logistically?What’s involved logistically? What supplies, equipment, etc. do What supplies, equipment, etc. do

you need? Delivery? Setup?you need? Delivery? Setup? How do you pick locations? Hours?How do you pick locations? Hours? How do you select workers? How do you select workers?

Schedule? Pay? Monitor? Training?Schedule? Pay? Monitor? Training?

Group 3 (Part 1): Group 3 (Part 1): TechnologyTechnology

What’s involved logistically from the What’s involved logistically from the technology side?technology side?

How far ahead do you start planning?How far ahead do you start planning? When do you set up? What When do you set up? What

equipment, supplies, etc. are equipment, supplies, etc. are needed?needed?

Who will rover or be on call for Who will rover or be on call for support?support?

Group 3 (Part 2): SecurityGroup 3 (Part 2): Security

How do you secure the site, How do you secure the site, equipment, ballots, & supplies from equipment, ballots, & supplies from day to day?day to day?

Things to Things to ConsiderConsider

Group IdeasGroup Ideas Findings from District 1, Buncombe Findings from District 1, Buncombe

County, and Henderson CountyCounty, and Henderson County

Group 1 (Part 1): Why?Group 1 (Part 1): Why?

Why have multiple one-stop sites?Why have multiple one-stop sites? What benefits do they bring?What benefits do they bring?

BUNCOMBE• 1/3 of voters voted one-stop in 2006 (approx. 30,000)

• Philosophy of service

• Makes Election Day easier

• This is the “good stuff” – one-stops are the most rewarding

HENDERSON

• 1/3 of voters voted one-stop in 2006 (approx. 10,000)

• Preferred by large retiree population

• Allows office to focus on Election Day preparations

• Cuts down on office staff overtime

GROUP IDEAS

Group 1 (Part 1): Why?Group 1 (Part 1): Why?

Working with County Commissioners Working with County Commissioners & Manager& Manager

BUNCOMBE

• Budget: Ask for more than you’ll need so you’ll get enough (May 2008: $70K in labor alone)

• Service to constituents – they hear the praise

HENDERSON

• Commissioners asked for the sites because of public demand

• Well funded ($200k funded for municipal & May primary)

GROUP IDEAS

Group 1 (Part 2): PublicityGroup 1 (Part 2): Publicity What can you do to publicize?What can you do to publicize?

From District 1, Buncombe & Henderson

• Bus billboards and roadside billboards

• TV coverage & government channel

• Newspaper, radio talk shows & announcements

• Create photo & story opportunities

• Posters (libraries, colleges, county offices)

• Press releases & PSAs (work w/county PR person)

• Materials to candidates

• Building/outdoor banners

• Utility bill mailings

• Decorate site to draw attention & make enjoyable

GROUP IDEAS

Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare

How far out do you start planning?How far out do you start planning?

BUNCOMBE

• 3+ months

• Reserve sites as soon as budgeted

• Make routine visits to sites to get to know the staff ( & vice versa)

• Post One-Stop Meetings: “What can we do to improve?”

HENDERSON

• 3+ months out

• Ongoing agreement & participation with sites; 3 months out confirm

GROUP IDEAS

Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare

What’s involved logistically?What’s involved logistically? What supplies, equipment, etc. do you need? What supplies, equipment, etc. do you need?

Delivery? Setup?Delivery? Setup?

From District 1, Buncombe & Henderson

• Designated staff member as point person; Rover

• Separate from other parts of office to cut down on confusion

• Factor in process and supplies needed for “In Person One-Stop Registration”

• Delivery (bonded company or county maintenance), site setup, ballot/PEB storage (fire proof cabinet), bicycle locks/securing devices, re-key site/room/closet

GROUP IDEAS

Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare

How do you pick locations? Hours?How do you pick locations? Hours?

BUNCOMBE

• Population, voter turnout (heaviest voting precincts)

• Libraries, community centers, local mall (1st time in May)

• Can site accommodate parking needs?

• Hours: 10AM - 6PM

HENDERSON

• Large population & commerce areas; quadrants of the county

• Libraries & town hall

• Requested to be one-stop location; planned facility to include

• Hours: 11AM – 7PM (office 8:30AM – 5PM)

GROUP IDEAS

Group 2: How to PrepareGroup 2: How to Prepare

How do you select workers? Schedule? Pay? How do you select workers? Schedule? Pay? Monitor? Training?Monitor? Training?

GROUP IDEAS

From District 1, Buncombe & Henderson• Applications, retired county employees/temps, most skilled poll workers, community college, political parties, senior organizations

• Ask about technical/computer skill level (test them on laptop); nationwide background checks

• # OF WORKERS – Buncombe: 3-4/location/shift, dedicated staff member & 2 help desk staff; Henderson: 5-6/location, 4-5 floaters/on stand-by, 1 rover

• PAY – Buncombe: $10/hr. Captain, $9/hr. clerks, 5 hr shifts; Henderson: $12.50/hr. Captain, $12/hr. assistants; full day or shifts

• TRAINING – Buncombe: 25 hrs (5 hrs/day for 1 week) ; Henderson: One full day – AM: Admin; PM: voting machines

• Treat them well to keep them! Pizza on Fridays, goody bags, etc.

Group 3 (Part 1): Group 3 (Part 1): TechnologyTechnology

What’s involved logistically from the technology side?What’s involved logistically from the technology side? How far ahead do you start planning?How far ahead do you start planning? When do you set up? What equipment, supplies, etc. are When do you set up? What equipment, supplies, etc. are

needed?needed? Who will rover or be on call for support?Who will rover or be on call for support?

GROUP IDEAS

From District 1, Buncombe & Henderson

• Live, Hybrid, or Disconnected: This impacts the schedule and demands on staff

• Buncombe: one-stop worker assigned to deliver memory stick each AM & PM; Henderson: rover goes to each site daily

• Buncombe: Help desk for support; Henderson: Rover on call and rotating

• Computer related supplies: ink cartridges, a good mouse, etc. Have extras!

Group 3 (Part 2): SecurityGroup 3 (Part 2): Security

How do you secure the equipment, ballots, How do you secure the equipment, ballots, & supplies from day to day?& supplies from day to day?

GROUP IDEAS

From District 1, Buncombe & Henderson

• iVos: “Lock” daily

• m100: sort ballots by precinct/VTD daily (store in fireproof cabinet), “chain together” components to fireproof cabinet

• Re-key site/room/closet during one-stop period and/or have separate entrance into one-stop area

• Law enforcement escort on final day

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Key #1: Recruit one-stop workers earlyKey #1: Recruit one-stop workers early Key #2: Prepare & PlanKey #2: Prepare & Plan Key #3: Budget wiselyKey #3: Budget wisely Key #4: Security is critical Key #4: Security is critical Key #4: Treat One-Stop Voting just like Key #4: Treat One-Stop Voting just like

Election DayElection Day Key #5: Remember the “Service Philosophy”Key #5: Remember the “Service Philosophy”