Polling Locations & Personnel 2016 Primary

Polling Locations & Personnel 2016 Primary

Primary Election Resources Texas Election Code laws governing the election process in Texas Online www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us Texas Administrative Code rules established by all state agencies related to the Primary Election process A copy should be provided at the SOS Training October 9 th in Austin. www.sos.state.tx.us/tac

Primary Election Resources SOS Handbook, Bookkeeping Guide & Forms collection of commonly used forms and reference tools A copy should be provided at the SOS Training October 9 th in Austin. www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/polsub/ccindex.shtml Also available in an editable format on the Exclusive Content section of the RPT website.

Early Voting vs Election Day Early voting is always conducted by the County. Polling Locations Election Workers Election Kits Election Day is conducted by the Party. Polling Locations Election Workers Election Kits These services can be contracted with the County. Election Services Contract Joint Primary Contract

Contracting with the County Contracting with the County Clerk or Elections Administrator to help administer the Primary: Sample 2016 SOS Elections Services Contract in packet Also on the Exclusive Content section of the RPT website Benefits: Greater selection of Polling Locations Ballot Programming and Printing Acquires and Tests Voting Machines Condenses Payments from multiple vendors

Joint Primaries Must be approved by BOTH County Party Chairs and the County Commissioners Court. 2016 Joint Primary Election Services Contract SOS Outlined Contract in Packet Also on the Exclusive Content section of the RPT website Joint Resolution and Statistical Information for Joint Primary for Commissioners Court o Joint Primary Resolution Sample in Packet Also on the Exclusive Content section of the RPT website Even if you do not hold a Joint Primary, you may still use (and are encouraged to use) the same polling locations as the other Party.

Election Judges & Clerks First line of defense against voter fraud by qualifying voters at the polling locations Additional Requirements You may be required to have a bilingual clerk in each precinct or at least make a good faith effort to do so. If you are short on those clerks, you can have one bi-lingual clerk at Party HQ to do telephone translation. Jan 4 th Deadline to notify election workers in writing that they have been appointed to serve. Written Letters, Envelopes, & Postage for this purpose should be calculated for in your cost estimate to SOS. You can contact this service with the County. Training SOS provides online training. County Party is encouraged to hold additional training.

FAQ Election Judges & Clerks Can a judge or clerk serve if they are also running unopposed for Precinct chair? YES A precinct chair not appearing on the ballot because they are declared elected under Section 171.0221 as the only candidate for the office is not ineligible to serve as an election judge or clerk. (Sec 32.053(b)(2)) Can a judge or clerk in a contested precinct chair race serve during early voting? POSSIBLY So long as the county has not adopted countywide polling places. Can they serve as an election judge or clerk in another precinct on Election Day? POSSIBLY The worker may serve as an election judge or clerk in a precinct other than the one in which they are on the ballot. (Sec 32.053(a))

FAQ Election Judges & Clerks Can a candidate for any other office serve as a judge or clerk? POSSIBLY A candidate for public office may serve as an election judge or clerk in a precinct other than the one they are on the ballot in (Sec 32.053(a)) Can family members of candidates serve as judges or clerks? POSSIBLY depending on the closeness of the relation. A person is ineligible to serve as an election judge or clerk in an election if the person is employed by or related within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity,... to an opposed candidate for a public office or a party office in any precinct in which the office appears on the ballot" (Sec 32.054 (a)) Second degree of consanguinity or affinity includes: parents, including step; grandparents, including step; children, including step; grandchildren, including step; siblings, including step; spouses, including ex-spouses if a child of the marriage is living; the parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or siblings of spouses, including ex-spouses if a child of the marriage is living. It does not include aunts or uncles, nieces or nephews, or cousins, or the spouses thereof

Recruiting Election Workers Contact your County Clerk/Elections Admin for list of previous election workers. Precinct Chairs should serve as Judge or find someone else to do so. Judges are to find their own clerks, but you may need to help them do so. Other Places to Look: Student Clerks (more details to follow) College Students Spanish Classes (to meet bi-lingual requirements) Home Owners Associations

Student Election Clerks (Sec 32.0511) Special Requirements for Student Clerks: Student from public, accredited private, secondary Parochial or home schooled 16 years old or order US Citizen Completed the training course Required consent from Principal and parent/legal guardian or if home schooled parent or legal guardian Entitled to compensation Restrictions: No more than 2 student election clerks at a polling place No more than 4 student election clerks at a countywide polling location

Recruiting Students as Clerks Approach the School Principal and ask to be connected with teachers in areas that relate to elections/service: Government teachers May even give students extra credit! National Honor Society Sponsor ROTC Director Reach out to the local home school groups. Promotional Tools Post a large banner at the schools Post on Facebook and Twitter Requires consent from Principal and parent or legal guardian; if home schooled parent or legal guardian Sample permission slip on Exclusive Content Follow Up Recognize the students who worked. (Get them into HS GOP clubs!) Sample certificate on Exclusive Content Opportunity for earned media; take a picture with the students and post in newspaper, website, social media.

Election Judges & Clerks Trainings Law is covered in the Online Training. Elections Administration or County Clerk may provide training, especially for equipment. County GOP should provide additional training for Party items, such as pct. Convention packet. Must repeat the following Oath aloud: I swear (or affirm) that I will not in any manner request or seek to persuade or induce any voter to vote for or against any candidate or measure to be voted on, and that I will faithfully perform my duty as an officer of the election and guard the purity of the election.

Election Judges & Clerks Trainings A polling place should never be left unattended or with only one election worker. 3 minimum number of election works (Sec 32.033(b)) Presiding Judge & 2 Clerks One Clerk may be the Alternate Judge No electioneering allowed within 100 feet of the polling location. No sound amplification or loudspeakers allowed within 1,000 feet of the polling location. No use of electronic recording devices within 100 feet of the voting station (unless the person is an employee in the building or presiding election judge.) Any VOTE HERE signs must include neither OR both political party names or symbols

Election Judges & Clerks Trainings For a voter to be allowed to vote, the voter must: Present authorized form of photo identification. Be listed on the poll list of registered voters. Verify current address within the county. Sign the signature roster. Be currently registered in Texas county of former residence to be eligible to vote a limited ballot in new county only during early voting at the main EV site.

Election Judges & Clerks Trainings Assisting a voter -- conduct by a single election officer or qualified assistant: Reading the ballot to a voter. Directing the voter to read the ballot. Marking the Voter s ballot. Directing the voter to mark the ballot. Depositing the ballot in the ballot box at request of the voter.

Election Judges & Clerks Cost Estimate Postage for at least two letters 1. Certificate of Appointment 2. Compensation Wage Election Judge and Clerk Compensation Rate is set by the CEC. SOS Rule states Cannot be less than minimum wage - $7 per hour. May not exceed $8 per hour. If a county chooses to pay more, SOS will NOT cover the funding over $8 per hour. To be paid, worker must have certificate of completed training and completed time sheet signed by Judge.

Election Judges & Clerks Cost Estimate Election Judge and Clerk Compensation: Using Voting Machines - election workers from each polling place can be paid up to ONE hour before voting begins through voting and may not be paid for more than two hours after the polls close or the last voter has voted. Not Using Voting Machines - ONE election worker from each polling place can be paid up to ONE hour before voting begins through the end of voting. SOS will have a chart in their materials outlining how many Judges/Clerks are allotted based on number of voters at that location. $15.00 may be paid to the Election Judge or Clerk who delivers the election records, including voted ballots and unused supplies, to the courthouse after polls have closed. Election Judge and Clerks CANNOT be paid for their time attending training or compensated for travel.

Polling Locations Selection Public Buildings: (government owned, including schools) CANNOT charge for space, personnel, utilities or other expense incurred if the election is on a day when the building is normally open for business. MUST allow for electioneering outside the 100 foot exclusion zone if used as a polling place (Sec 43.031). Must be accessible to and usable by the elderly and physically handicapped. Adequate parking for voters and election workers. May not allow precinct conventions at their site unless you have included that requirement in the contract.

Polling Locations Selection Submit requests/contracts EARLY and in WRITING to reserve space and include special requirements such as allowing electioneering, handicapped accessibility and room for precinct convention(s). o Polling locations must be approved by the CEC Make arrangements for: o Tables & Chairs o Someone on duty at 6am on Election Day to open the polling location o Someone on hand to lock up the building at the end of the polling

Consolidated Precincts A consolidated precinct polling site MAY NOT CONTAIN territory from different Commissioner or Justice of the Peace Precincts Congressional Districts State Senate Districts State House Districts State Board of Education Districts. County Executive Committee (CEC) may order two or more election precincts to be consolidated into one polling location. A minimum of FOUR polling locations must be provided on Election Day one in each County Commissioner Precinct. UNLESS there are no local candidates running and the Primary Election Ballot is IDENTICAL for everyone in the county then all precincts can be combined into one polling location