ELECTION NIGHT
What are some things you can start doing prior to the close of polls?
1. Cleaning up the facility
2. Checking the paperwork to make sure everything is signed and completed
3. Assign duties to everyone for when the polls close (Take down signs, packing materials back into the boxes)
A voter arrives at your precinct, and their name is not found in the pollbook, even after doing a county wide search. You call the Registrar's office and discover they are registered in another locality in Virginia. What do you do next?
Verify that the voter is in the correct precinct and allow them to complete a Same Day Registration.
How do you know if your printers are connected to the pollbook and are ready to print ballots and a receipt?
The printer icon on the electronic pollbook will be green if both printers are connected. It will be yellow if only one is connected, and it will be red if no printers are connected.
Can Election Officials leave their precinct during the day?
No, you are required to stay at your precinct unless there is an emergency, or our office contacts you and asks you to go to another location.
What envelope does voter registration applications (Not same day registration) go in?
Envelope 8
Do you close the polls based off the time on the voting machine scanner?
No, use your phone or the time on the pollbook. The time on the voting machine scanner has a tendency to be fast.
What are the most common reasons for voting a provisional ballot?
Same day registration and voter was issued am absentee ballot but does not have the ballot with them to turn it in.
What do you do if the ballot fails to print? What if the receipt does not print?
If the ballot fails to print, you will need to reissue a ballot for the voter. (Explain printing issue on the Statement of Results)
If the receipt does not print, turn off the receipt printer and then turn it back on. This usually resolves the issue. If it still does not print, just continue checking in voters.
If a voter asks you what a question on the ballot means, what should you do?
Tell the voter that you are not allowed to explain the ballot to them. You can offer a pamphlet that explains the question, but you cannot tell them what it means. The only assistance that you can offer is reading the ballot to them and/or helping to mark their ballot as they request. If you assist a voter, make sure to complete the request for assistance form.
What is put into Envelope 7?
USB Thumb Drive and Seals from the voting machine scanner, the ExpressVote, and the Black Printer Bags
Do we have to wait to report our precinct's results until we have all of our paperwork competed?
No, call or text a picture of your unofficial results as soon as you have them.
What do you do after a provisional voter has marked their ballot and completed the green provisional envelope?
Record the voter's information on the provisional ballot log, put the provisional envelope into Envelope 1A, and give the voter a Provisional Notice.
What should you do if there is a paper jam in the printer? What if it prints on two pieces of paper?
Clear the jam out of the printer. If it does not print a ballot after that, you will need to reissue the ballot. If a ballot prints on two pieces of paper, put those papers in Envelope 4 and reissue the ballot.
You are supposed to be at your precinct at 5am, but your alarm did not wake you up and you are going to be late. What should you do?
Call the chief at your precinct, or another official, and call the Registrar's Office to let everyone know that you are on the way.
If you do not use some of the Election Envelopes, such as 1A, 1B, 3, 4, or 5, what should you do?
Complete the empty envelope certification form and check the envelopes that were not used. Two officers will sign and place into Envelope 2. If you do not use the envelopes, do not sign or seal them.
What document should I use to make sure that everything has been completed and put in the correct envelopes?
The Election Night Checklist
A voter is showing in the Pollbook that they have been issued a ballot, but they did not bring their ballot with them to turn it in. What do you do next?
Call the Registrar's office to verify whether the ballot has been returned, then offer a provisional ballot to the voter.
Do you print a ballot from the Electronic Pollbook if the voter is casting a provisional ballot?
No, you will use the emergency paper ballots that were sent for provisional ballots.
When you are getting low on supplies or ballots, who should you contact?
Call the Registrar's Office so that they can have more supplies or ballots delivered to your precinct.
If someone spoils their ballot, what envelope would you put the ballot in?
Envelope 4
What should you do before leaving the precinct?
1. Make sure everything is packed up and ready to be picked up the next day.
2. Make sure the facility is clean and in good shape.
3. Gather all your belongings.
4. Chiefs make sure to have all of your Election Envelopes packed into the black bag to return to the office.
5. Turn off the lights, take out the trash (if your location needs you to), and lock the door behind you.
Why would you ever deny a voter a provisional ballot?
You should never deny a voter a provisional ballot, if they wish to vote one.
What should you do with the electronic pollbook, printer and receipt printer after the polls close?
Unhook all of the cables from the printers and pollbook and put everything back into the bags they came in.
What should you do if a voter brings their ballot back to the precinct and puts it into the yellow drop box/bag?
When you bring the bag back to the Registrar's Office at the end of the night, make sure to inform them that there are ballots in the bag.
What items go into Envelope 2?
Two copies of the Statement of Results, Officer of Election Oath Form, the Ballot Record Report, Poll Count Sheet, the paper pollbook, and the Empty Envelope Certification Form (if used).