KEYS TO MEANINGFUL OBSERVATION YOUR COUNTY LOGO

Transcript:KEYS TO MEANINGFUL OBSERVATION YOUR COUNTY LOGO:
KEYS TO MEANINGFUL OBSERVATION YOUR COUNTY LOGO SECURITY AND STORAGE OF VOTING EQUIPMENT YOUR COUNTY • BOARD OF ELECTIONS YOURCOUNTY.GOV Meaningful observation is essential for healthy elections. Many observers want to know more about how voting equipment is securely stored. While observers should not touch voting equipment for security reasons, they can learn by watching pre-election testing of the equipment or visiting the storage facility. Observers can also learn by watching election workers receive, setup, break down and stage voting equipment during early voting or on Election Day What is my role at the storage facility? In most cases, there is no formal role for observers at a voting equipment storage facility. However, if you attend a public event there or take a tour and have concerns, raise them with local or state election officials What should I look for to verify that equipment is stored securely? You can take note of facility security measures. All staff should have official county-issued identification. There should be security cameras throughout the building. There will likely be physical barriers and additional keyed access points between the building entrance and the equipment. Adequate signage should be posted throughout designating secure areas. When can I observe? The voting equipment warehouse is under tight security protocols., but there are publicly scheduled events such as pre-election testing. At all other times, access is limited to authorized staff who have passed background checks. Contact our office to find out about public events or to see if tours of the storage facility are available. What should I expect when visiting a storage facility? When you arrive at the facility, expect to be greeted by authorized staff or even an officer of the law. You will likely be asked to sign in and may have to show identification and wear a visitor’s badge. Outside of a guided tour, you should expect to have limited access throughout the facility. There might be viewing areas designed to allow observation and also keep the equipment secure and staff safe. States and counties may have policies restricting the use of smartphones, photography and recording devices. Stored equipment may be collapsed or packed in travel cases, so it may look different from what you see Election Day. Know that the facility is likely under video surveillance and that your likeliness on video might be preserved for an extended period of time or even be made