[00:00:05]
>> GOOD MORNING. SO GOOD TODAY SEE EVERYONE.
HEREBY CALL TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF FORD BENT COUNTY ELECTIONS COMMISSION. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026. AND THANK YOU COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND BEING HERE TODAY.
AT THIS TIME LET'S PROCEED WITH THE ROLL CALL.
>> JUDGE DANIEL WONG? >> HERE.
>> COUNTY CLERK LAURA RICHARD? >> HERE.
>> REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN GREG BARNS?
>> HERE. >> AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CHAIRWOMAN JENNIFER GADU. >> HERE.
[2. Approve minutes of meeting held on June 16, 2026.]
>> THANK YOU. >> NOW MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS AS PRESENTED. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I DO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOUR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY?
[4. Receive information from the Information Technology Department regarding the following matters, and take any appropriate action:]
>> NO, JUDGE. >> HEARING NONE, I'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4.
ROBIN, SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING, ROBIN. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
ALL RIGHT, HOW ARE YOU GUYS? I WILL START WITH THE ELECTION TECHNOLOGY PURCHASES, KIND OF GOING A LITTLE BACKWARDS.
WE HAVE COLLECTED NEW HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REPLACEMENT, WORKING WITH CHASE THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR FOR THAT.
IT IS ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW SUBJECT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM FOR ELECTION -- EXCUSE ME I-T SUPPORT FOR ELECTIONS, WE HAVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING WE WILL HAVE 5 TECHS FROM I-T DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE WORKING IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WILL BE ON STANDBY JUST IN CASE IT IS NEEDED. ON ELECTION DAY WE WILL HAVE 16 TECHS WORKING 5 LOCATIONS PER TECH ON THEIR ROUTE AND ELECTIONS WILL ALSO HAVE TECHS IN THE FIELD BUT AGAIN ADDITIONAL I-T SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE ON STANDBY.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, TYPICALLY DURING ELECTIONS, WE ARE ALL ON STANDBY READY AND AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WHEN NEEDED SO HOPEFULLY NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED.
THEN ALSO I-T IS -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHASE AS FAR AS SOCIAL MEDIA, ELECTIONS WILL BE MANAGING THE SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THIS UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLE. BUT I-T AGAIN IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST JUST IN CASE THE WORKLOAD BECOMES MORE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE. AND ELECTIONS WILL ALSO BE MANAGING THE WAIT TIMES ON THE GIST MAP THAT WE'VE CREATED AS GIS MAP. BUT OBVIOUSLY IF CHASE AND TEAM HAS TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR FUNCTION, THEN MY GIS TEAM WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND UPDATE THE WAIT TIMES.
AND YET OUR WEB TEAM DEMOED A NEW LANDING PAGE FOR THE ELECTIONS OFFICE. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC AND VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO FIND INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY ON THIS ELECTION CYCLE WHERE THERE'S EARLY VOTING FOR ELECTION DAY. AND THEN WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO POLLING LOCATION ASSESSMENTS. THOSE HISTORICALLY HAVE SOMEPLACES THAT HAVE POOR CONNECTIVITY AND SO WE GO OUT THERE TO PROVIDE A WI-FI SIGNAL BOOST TO KIND OF ASSIST WITH THAT. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION CYCLE. IF WE RECEIVE REPORTS, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY.
AND LAST, THE CAMERA VIEWING, TYPICALLY DURING THE EARLY VOTING AND WHEN BALLOTS ARE RECEIVED OR MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE COLLECTED AND EVERYTHING IS PROCESSED, WE HAVE CAMERA VIEWINGS SET UP ON THE CAMERA WEBSITE.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM, SO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE WITH OUR TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY STREAMING TO THE WEBSITE AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE AND TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT IS ALL THE UPDATE I HAVE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> QUESTIONS, ANYONE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU KNOW I'LL HAVE A QUESTION, RIGHT? YOU MENTIONED THE NEW LANDING PAGE FOR THE WEBSITE.
IS THAT GOING TO BE DEBUTED BEFORE THE ELECTION OR --
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I THINK THEY'RE TWEAKING IT OR FINISHING FINAL UPDATES.THEY JUST SHOWED IT TO CHASE SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUBLISH AND DEPLOY IT WITHOUT GETTING HIS APPROVAL AND SIGN-OFF.
BUT IT IS A VERY FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.
SO WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO PUBLISH IT THE DAY OF EARLY VOTING. WANT TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ADVANCE NOTICE BUT JUST AN ABILITY TO MAKE THAT INFORMATION EASIER TO ACCESS. AND OBVIOUSLY FROM A COUNTY HOME PAGE, THOSE THAT VISIT THE COUNTY WEBSITE DIRECTLY, IT WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAVIGATE TO THEIR -- OR IF WE GO DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTION WEBSITE, THEN YOU'LL HAVE KIND OF A REFORMATTED LOOK TO HELP GET THE INFORMATION OUT EASIER.
>> SO THERE WILL BE SOMETHING ON OUR HOME PAGE AS WELL?
>> YES. >> THE FORT BEND COUNTY HOME
PAGE TO EASILY NAVIGATE TO THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY.
AND ALSO UTILIZING A LOT OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
WE HAVE -- [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY AND THERE'S SOME ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT HAVE A LARGER FOLLOWING, SO UTILIZING THEIR SERVICES, THEIR FORM TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THE INFORMATION OUT TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SO -- >> WELL, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT MY SOCIAL MEDIA IS [INDISCERNIBLE] OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS -- OH, YES,
SIR? >> IF I MIGHT FOR JUST A SECOND, THE TECHNOLOGY PURCHASE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO --
>> THERE YOU GO. >> WHAT DO YOU PROJECT IN
IMPLEMENTING THAT NEW PURCHASE? >> THE TIME FRAME OR -- SO TIME FRAME, WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION, YEAH.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING -- WE WILL RECEIVE FUNDING FY27 FUNDING ON OCTOBER 1ST, AND TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT PRIOR TO AN ELECTION, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PROCURE THE SOFTWARE -- EXCUSE ME, PROCURE THE HARDWARE AND GET IT HERE IN TIME. BUT EVEN THE SOFTWARE, JUST PUTTING IT IN PLACE. SO ONCE THE ELECTION IS OVER, THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROCURE IT AND GO THROUGH THE
PROPER PROCUREMENT PROCESS. >> UNDERSTOOD.
BUT DO YOU FORESEE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS PURCHASED AND IMPLEMENTED AND GONE THROUGH THE BETA TESTING IN TIME FOR '28?
>> YES, YES, I DO. >> AND THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THE SUPPORT THAT'S BEEN NEEDED -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU OR FOR CHASE -- HAVE WE SECURED THE SUPPORT ON THAT TO GET US THROUGH THE CURRENT CYCLE?
>> I WILL DEFER A LITTLE TO CHASE AS WELL, BUT I WILL SAY I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE. I'VE SEEN SOME OTHER PURCHASE REQUISITIONS AND WE DO HAVE THE SOFTWARE, BUT I THINK CHASE CAN PROBABLY SPEAK A LITTLE BETTER TO THAT TOPIC.
>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, ROBIN FOR DOING SUCH
[5. Receive information from the Elections Administration Department regarding the following matter(s), and take any appropriate action: ]
A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH.APPRECIATE IT. LET'S MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5. CHASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
CHASE, YOU LOOK VERY DISTINGUISHED.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S GOOD SEEING YOU GUYS AGAIN. BEFORE I JUMP RIGHT INTO IT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ACTUALLY MY ASSISTANT ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR. THIS IS MS. VERONICA FERNANDEZ. SHE'S BEEN WITH OUR OFFICE FOR 18 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO HER EXPERTISE ARE GOING TO BE VITAL MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE OF OUR ELECTIONS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO WAVE TO EVERYBODY SO THEY CAN SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN HERE TO OUR GENERAL NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION PREPARATIONS, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS SINCE WE SPOKE, SO THIS FIRST PAGE HERE MAY LOOK A LITTLE FAMILIAR. THIS WAS A SLIDE ON THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD IN JUNE.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ OFF ALL THESE PAINTS BECAUSE I HAVE THEM LISTED ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES WITH THE WORK THAT WE PERFORMED.
SO NUMBER 1, INTERNAL AND PUBLIC FACING COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENTS. SO AS ROBIN MENTIONED, VERONICA HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK CREATING THE SOCIAL MEDIA APPLICATION AND RECOVERING OUR FACEBOOK -- RECOVERING OUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN POSTING SOME PUBLIC INFORMATION NOTICES ON THESE ACCOUNTS AND WE HOPE IN THE FUTURE --
>> JUST ONE SECOND, CHASE. >> I'VE GOT NO SCREEN.
SORRY. EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOOD?
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SHARE, LOOK AT HIS SCREEN.BUT THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THERE THAN ON HERE SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED IT -- SO MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL BE UTILIZING THESE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO POST NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC, ANY COMMUNICATIONS THAT NEED TO GO OUT AS WELL AS OUR DEPARTMENT WEB PAGE.
WE'LL ALSO BE CONSULTING AS ROBIN MENTIONED WITH BOTH THE I-T AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THEY DO HAVE A LARGER FOLLOWING THAN US AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET EVERYTHING OUT ON EVERY PLATFORM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US IN CASE THERE'S NEWS OR NOTICES.
NUMBER 2, REDUNDANCIES AND COMMUNICATION TOSS POLL COMMUNICATIONS TO POLL WORKERS. OUR VENDOR HAS IMPLEMENTED A LIVE CHAT PLATFORM, THEY'VE ACTUALLY CREATED A LAST TIME FORM FOR US. I MENTIONED IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAD THAT ISSUE DURING THE PRIMARY RUN-OFF IS THAT, SO THIA REDUNDANCY, IN THE EVENT WE LOSE ONE COMMUNICATION SIDE WE STILL HAVE A METHOD TO SEND A BLAST OUT TO ALL LOCATIONS.
OUR CONTINUITY OF OPERATION PROCEDURES, WE'VE CREATED THOSE INTERNALLY. THESE ARE SPECIFIED FOR ELECTION OPERATIONS ESSENTIALLY. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING MORE EMERGENCY SCENARIOS THAT ARE COUNTY-WIDE, THINGS LIKE HURRICANES AND THEY'RE KIND OF TAKING THE DIRECTION ON THAT.
WITH YOU FOR OUR INTERNAL PURPOSES, SAY WE LOSE A POLL BOOK OR WE EXPERIENCE SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES, WE'RE ACTUALLY DESIGNING SOME PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT THE POLL WORKERS CAN FOLLOW AND THAT WAY THEY HAVE DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO WITHOUT HAVING TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE. AND WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THOSE PROCEDURES THROUGH -- DURING OUR ELECTION LAW CLASS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF EARLY VOTING. NUMBER 4, CURRENT SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, AS I MENTIONED THE ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH OUR SUPPORT VENDOR WHOSE NAME IS NEXT ASSETS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB FOR US AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY CREATING THIS SOFTWARE BASICALLY FIT TODAY FORT BEND COUNTY ELECTIONS SO WE'VE HAD MEET CREATIVE CONTROL OVER SOFTWARE AND HOW IT PERFORMS AT THESE LOCATIONS AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TEST IT OUT ON TEN EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT PARALLEL WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE USE. SO FOR INSTANCE, WE USE A CHAIN OF CUSTODY PAPER TRACKING SYSTEM WHERE WE RECORD SEALS WHEN ELECTION EQUIPMENT SWITCHES CUSTODY FROM OUR OFFICE TO THE POLL WORKERS. WE'RE GOING TO AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WHERE THESE POLL WORKERS CAN ACTUALLY SCAN BAR CODES SO IT'S A LOT MORE ACCURATE, IT'S A LOT FASTER AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO IMPLEMENT THIS MOVING FORWARD.
THE A PLUS-PLUS TEAM DID A WONDERFUL JOB ON THIS ELECTION LANDING PAGE. SO WHAT THIS LANDING PAGE DOES IS IF YOU GO TO OUR WEB PAGE NOW, YOU GUYS MIGHT RECALL THAT YOU HAVE ON THAT LEFT SIDE THAT LITTLE BANNER, YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUTTONS FOR EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS AND SAMPLE BALLOTS. WE'RE AGGREGATING ALL OF THOSE ELECTION TOPICS OR MATERIALS INTO ONE PAGE BASICALLY, INTO ONE WING. SO YOU'LL HAVE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE INFORMATION FOR THE CURRENT ELECTION GOING TO THAT ONE SOLID LINK. WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO REMOVE ANY LINKS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO THE PAGES THE WAY IT IS SO IF YOU WERE TO GO TO THE OLD SAMPLE BALLOT SECTION, IT'S SIMPLY GOING TO REDIRECT TO YOU THE ELECTION HUB. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE ETA DATE, WE'RE HOPING SOMETIME THE WEEK -- I GUESS THAT'S THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER IN A COUPLE WEEKS SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN AS ROBIN MENTIONED GET A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF EARLY VOTING SO PEOPLE CAN GET USED TO IT AND FIND THAT INFORMATION.
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NEXT SLIDE HERE. SO HE POLLING LOCATION ACQUISITION, AS Y'ALL MIGHT RECALL, I BELIEVE WE HAD 30 EARLY VOTING AND 50 ELECTION DAY SITES CONFIRMED AT OUR LAST MEETING. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 35 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE WILL CHANGE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THAT. THOSE ARE ACTUALLY ON COURT TO BE APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT TOMORROW.WE DO HAVE 96 ELECTION DAY SITES CONFIRMED.
OF COURSE AS WE DISCUSSED PRIOR, WE NEED 101 ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE ELECTION CODE. WE DID IDENTIFY AND CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE 5 SITES AVAILABLE, 2 IN PRECINCT 2 AND 3 IN PRECINCT 3. I HAVEN'T ADDED THIS TO THAT TOTAL. THAT WILL BRING US TO THE 101 THAT WE NEED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE.
I DID NOT ADD IT TO THE TOTAL BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON 6 SITE CONFIRMATIONS FROM PRECINCT 1 AND ONE PENDING IN PRECINCT 4.
MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO ADD THE LOCATIONS TO PRECINCT 1 AND 4 BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO OF THE COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS WITH HISTORICALLY THE LOWER AMOUNTS OF POLLING LOCATIONS, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING DO THIS ELECTION AS WE DISCUSSED IS WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT EVEN ACROSS THE BOARD. , THE BEST WE CAN. IN THE PAST YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RULE THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN 50% IN ONE COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THAN THE OTHER AND IN THE PAST WE'VE NOT -- NOT KEPT IT AS CLOSE AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO.
WE SEE SOMETIMES 15 TO 30, WHEREAS RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABOVE 20 IN EVERY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT. SO MY HOPE IS THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, WE'LL RECEIVE THOSE CONFIRMATIONS FROM 1 AND 4.
IF WE DO NOT, THOSE SITES THAT ARE CONFIRMED TO BE AVAILABLE IN 2 AND 3 ARE KIND OF THE FALLBACK, JUST SO WE CAN REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE. IF OTHER SITES ARE REFERRED TO US, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CALL MORE LOCATIONS, IF YOU HAVE LOCATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW ABOUT IN PRECINCT 1 AND 4, THAT'S THE PREFERENCE, IS TO ADD THOSE SO WE CAN KEEP THE BALANCE. AND I HAVE TO TELL MS. TURNER, I APPRECIATE YOU, WE'VE TALKED -- DISCUSSED USING YOUR TAX OFFICE AS A POLLING LOCATION SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING THROUGH FOR US ON THAT ONE.
THAT WAS A HUGE HELP TO US. INTERDEPARTMENTAL PREPARATIONS, SO WE'VE BEEN HOLDING JOINT ELECTION SECURITY MEETINGS AND THESE MEETINGS ARE ONGOING. WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY AND WILL HAVE ONE MORE PRIOR TO EARLY VOTING FOR THE ELECTION. OFFICES INCLUDED ON THOSE MEETINGS ARE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE SHERIFF OFFERS, THE COUNTY TERN ATTORNEY OFFICED OF COURSE ELECTION.
THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THOSE SECURITY MEETINGS ARE OF COURSE SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR THE VOTERS AS WELL AS PROTOCOLS AND AS I MENTIONED THOSE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS IN THE EVENT OF A COUNTY WIDE EMERGENCY OR EVEN A SITE EMERGENCY.
INTERNAL TRAINING, WE ARE TRAINING IN CERTAIN AREAS TO CREATE SOME REDUNDANCIES SO WE CAN APPROACH TO TRY TO GO THREE LEVELS DOWN WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, TO HAVE BACK-UPS AND ALTERNATES IN CASE THOSE ARE NEEDED AND WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE EMS SYSTEM, THE GIS AND THE POLL BACK SYSTEM.
SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THOSE ADDITIONAL TRAININGS INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR OFFICE AS WELL. SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING, I-T IS ASSISTING US RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY WITH THE EVID POLL BOOK HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTING SO SINCE WE ACQUIRED THESE NEW POLL BOOKS IN NOVEMBER OF '25, THERE IS ONE COMMON ISSUE THAT WE FACE AT THE BEGINNING OF EARLY VOTING. IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY SET UP ELECTION DAY IT'S A VERY BASIC -- SEEMS TO BE A VERY BASIC HARDWARE PROBLEM WHERE IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION WITH THE EXPRESS VOTE PRINTER, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS PROBABLY ACCOUNTS FOR ROUGHLY 90% OF OUR TECHNICAL CALLS IN THE MORNING OF EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.
SO I-T IS ACTUALLY ON SITE WITH US THIS WEEK TO SEE IF THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT LONG-TERM LOCATION SOLUTION TO THIS.
OUR SHORT-TERM SOLUTION HAS BEEN SIMPLY HAVING THE POLL WORKERS DISCONNECT, TURN OFTEN THE DEVICE, RECONNECT, THEN TURN IT BACK ON, WHICH SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE 99.9% OF THE TIME.
BUT IF WE CAN GET THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROS OVER IN I-T TO ELIMINATE THIS, THIS WOULD GIVE US MUCH SMOOTHER STARTS TO THE DAY. SO JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.
DID Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE POINTS THERE BEFORE I SLIDE ON OVER? YES, SIR?
>> NUMBER 5. ON THE POLLING LOCATIONS.
>> YES, SIR? >> I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT. I WOULD ASK YOU -- I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE SECURE THOSE 6 LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 1, YOU KNOW, JUST SO THE VOTERS FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT A FAIR PROCESS GOING HERE. SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU, IF YOU RUN INTO A SNAG, DON'T FALL BACK TOO QUICK TO THE ALTERNATE PLAN.
ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE FROM A HIGHER AUTHORITY, GO TO A HIGHER
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AUTHORITY -- I KNOW WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ALLOWING US TO USE SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES AND IF WE NEED TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEM, THEN LET'S DO THAT, LET'S GET YOU SOME HELP FROM THE JUDGE OR FROM THE STATE OR WHOEVER. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY THAT WE KEEP IT AS EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTY AS WECAN, SO THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. >> YES, SIR, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN MAKING SO MUCH EFFORT INTO PRIRCHLT PRECINCT 1 AND THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR US IS GETTING THOSI SAID WHY I'VE HELD OFF FOR SO LONG IN ADDING THOSE LOCATIONS, IS TO PRIORITIZE THAT.
>> I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE OUT THERE ON THE ISLAND BY YOURSELF. IF YOU NEED A BIGGER HAMMER, IF
>> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU AND WANT TO SUPPORT YOU IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN'T ASK FOR
THAT ASSISTANCE. >> NO, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND ALL THE HELP THAT YOU'VE OFFERED AND THE JUDGE AS WELL AS YOUR TEAM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT YOUR TEAM HAS OFFERED
JUST CALL ON US. >> APPRECIATE THAT.
YES, MA'AM? >> EARLY VOTING, ONLY 35
COMMUNITIES? >> I CAN'T HEAR YOU?
>> EARLY VOTING, ONLY 35. IS THAT THE MOST THAT WE CAN HAVE OR IS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CONFIRMED FOR EARLY VOTING?
>> IT'S THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONFIRMED FOR EARLY VOTING.
WE CAN HAVE MORE -- THAT'S TYPICALLY THE RANGE THAT WE FOLLOW. I BELIEVE WE HAD AWFULLY 35 ALLR 36 SO THIS IS COMPARABLE SO WHAT THE PRESIDENTIAL NUMBER -- IF IT'S PREFERRED THAT WE ADD LOCATIONS, WE CAN FOR EARLY VOTING. EARLY VOTING IS A LITTLE BIT -- IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND ANY POLLING LOCATIONS, BUT EARLY VOTING IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET A CONFIRMATION AND A GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THE SITE OVER TWO FULL WEEKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE DAY.
SO THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT HAVE CONFIRMED WITH US.
YES, SIR? >> ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A QUESTION.
EDUCATE ME ACTUALLY, IN EACH POLLING LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE
THE ELECTION JUDGE, RIGHT. >> YES, SIR.
>> WHAT OTHER QUALIFICATION OF -- WHAT GENERAL QUALIFICATION
FOR ELECTION JUDGE? >> I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING MEMORIZED BUT THEY NEED TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER IN THE COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY. THEY NEED TO -- THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE SOME TRAINING WITH US. WE TYPICALLY START POLL WORKERS OUT AS CLERKS SO THEY GAIN SOME EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY MOVE INTO THE JUDGESHIP POSITION.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN A PRESIDING JUDGE AND AN ALTERNATE JUDGE AND THEN BETWEEN THE ACTUAL CLERKS THAT SERVE
THOSE JUDGES AT THE SITES. >> SO BILINGUAL IS NOT A
CRITERIA, RIGHT? >> SO THERE'S A CERTAIN SUBSET OF RULES. SO IT IS REQUIRED IN OUR COUNTY.
SO IT ACTUALLY DEPENDS ON THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION THAT IE WITHIN YOUR COUNTY. AND FOR BEND COUNTY WE ONLY HAVE TWO LANGUAGES THAT ARE REQUIRED, THAT'S ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
I BELIEVE HARRIS HAS THREE, IT INCLUDES -- I'M NOT SURE, MAYBE MANDARIN BUT DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT.
BUT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY OF THE SERVICES OFFERED THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TRANSLATIONS FOR THE SERVICES OR FOR VOTING, RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU SEE YOUR BALLOT OR IF YOU EVER SEE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, IT HAS BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON THE BALLOT.
THE VOTING BOOTHS, THE EXPRESS MARKING DEVICES AT THE POLLING LOCATIONS, HAVE THE OPTION TO SWITCH BETWEEN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. NOW, AS A WORKER, THE CODE IS VERY VAGUE ON HOW IT'S WRITTEN, WHERE IT REQUIRES A WORKER.
SO I BELIEVE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IN THE CODE IS THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE BEST FAITH EFFORT TO STAFF A BILINGUAL SPEAKING POLL WORKER AT EACH OF THE LOCATIONS, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT ITSELF TO HAVE A BILINGUAL SPEAKER AT EACH OF THE LOCATIONS.
NOW, WE ARE REQUIRED AS A COUNTY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE, SO IF A SITE DOES NOT HAVE A BILINGUAL SPEAKER WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE POLL WORKER CALL OUR OFFICE AND HAVE A BILINGUAL SPEAKER STAFFED AT OUR OFFICE THAT CAN SPEAK TO THE VOTER OR ANOTHER MECHANISM TO TRANSLATE FOR THE VOTER THAT NEEDS THAT SERVICE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I UNDERSTAND, YEAH.
FOR PEOPLE SPEAKING OTHER LANGUAGES, THEY WILL HAVE SOME
SUPPORT TOO, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, SIR.
>> AND THEY CAN BRING IN THEIR OWN TRANSLATOR AS WELL?
>> YES, SIR. THEY CAN HAVE A TRANSLATOR AND THEY WILL HAVE A TRANSLATOR SIGN A NOTE OF SINCE FORM.
WE'VE BEEN KIND OF PLAYING THIS AND THIS IS KIND OF A PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH ROBIN MORE ON.
WE HAVE TABLETS OUT AT THE LOCATIONS AND WE'VE BEEN KIND OF SHOPPING AROUND AND CONSIDERING TRANSLATION APPS ON THESE TABLETS, WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF ZOOM OVER A SAMPLE BALLOT AND IT CAN TRANSLATE FOR YOU, OR MAYBE EVEN TRANSLATE VERBALLY BETWEEN US IF WE'RE COMMUNICATING VIA THE APPLICATION.
SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
NOT IN A MOTION RIGHT NOW TO IMPLEMENT.
OF COURSE THE TABLETS DO COME STANDARD WITH GOOGLE TRANSLATE, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE A LITTLE -- MAY NOT WORK THE BEST
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ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW SO -- >> THE DIFFICULTY -- BECAUSE WE HAVE 91 OR 90 SOME LANGUAGES SPEAKING IN FORT PENNED --
>> BEND -- >> SOME OF THE SOFTWARE ONLY OFFER CERTAIN ONES SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN SHOPPING AROUND, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT PURCHASE OR GO THAT DIRECTION, WE WANT ALL OF THEM, RIGHT, SO TO BE ABLE TO KNOCK ALL THE BIRDS OUT. YES, SIR, BUT THAT'S A GOOD
QUESTION. >> CHASE, JUST FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE BILINGUAL SPEAKERS.
YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IN THE PAST.
I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE SYMPTOM COMMUNICATION PUT OUT BY YOUR OFFICE WITH SOME CLARITY TO ALL THE JUDGES AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE LAW IS.
>> YES, SIR. >> AND THAT EVERYONE IS
FOLLOWING THE LAW. >> YES, SIR.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS CRYSTAL CLEAR HOW THAT WORKS AND WHAT THE STATUS IS ON THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED PRIOR THAT WE'VE HAD SOME MISCOMMUNICATION PERHAPS IN THE OFFICE AND WE'RE GOING TO RECTIFY THAT AS SOON AS WE GET BACK TO THE OFFICE. VERONICA AND I ARE GOING TO
TACKLE THAT SO -- >> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> TAKE CARE OF THAT. YES, MA'AM?
>> DON'T KNOW THEM ALL. I HAD OUR TRAINER AND AS WELL AS ONE OF OUR POLL WORKERS, THEY'VE SELECTED SOME OF THE STRONGER TECHNICALLY -- YEAH, EXPERIENCED POLL WORKERS.
SYNCH OWE RANCH I KNOW WILL BE ONE MOST CERTAINLY BUT I CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU A LIST AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
YES, MA'AM. >> SO CHASE, ON THAT PATH THAT YOU'RE DOING, IS THAT SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU DO FOR US, ROBIN -- THROUGH TAX SEASON, YOU TRY TO GET THE IPADS THAT WE
PUT OUT IN THE LOBBY FOR -- JUS- >> DO YOU KNOW?
>> FOR THE TAX OFFICE, WE HAVE IPADS IN THE LOBBY FOR THE TAX SEASON AND IT DOES PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, SO IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO INPUT?
>> SO THE PADS -- THE ONLY THING THE VOTERS WOULD USE THE PADS FOR -- WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PUTTING THE SAMPLE BALLOTS ON THOSE PADS SO THEY CAN'T ACCESS THE SAMPLE BALLOTS IF THEY REQUEST ONE FROM THE POLL WORKER BUT THESE DEVICES ARE ACTUALLY MORE FOR THE POLL WORKER AS KIND OF LIKE A SITE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN A WAY. SO AS MENTIONED, THE ASSET TRACKING, THAT CHAIN OF CUSTODY WILL BE ON THE TABLET AS WELL.
SO THEY WILL HAVE DIFFERENT TOOLS TO USE, YES, MA'AM.
THANKS. >> ALL RIGHT, SO I DO HAVE A BREAKDOWN HERE OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS AND THE SPLITS BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT AS WELL AS EARLY VOTING ON ELECTION DAY.
AS YOU SEE, EARLY VOTING, WE HAVE 35 LOCATIONS CONFIRMED.
WE ARE HEAVY IN PRECINCT 3. WE HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN HEAVY IN PRECINCT 3. NOW, JUST KIND OF WANT TO MENTION AND CLARIFY PRECINCT 3 IS ACTUALLY A LARGE GEOGRAPHIC REGION, RIGHT. SO A LOT OF THOSE LOCATIONS WE'VE USED HISTORICALLY, SOME HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN IN PRECINCT 3, THEY'VE BEEN IN PRECINCT PERHAPS 2 AND 4 IN THE PAST AND JUST KIND OF WANT TO MENTION THAT, A LOT OF THOSE LOCATIONS ARE ACTUAL LITTLE VERY CLOSE TO THE BORDER WITH THE COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS. SO THIS RULE THAT THE ELECTION CODE, OF COURSE WE WANT TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE AND FOLLOW THE LAW ABOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE LOCATIONS ON THE MAP, THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY CLOSE TO THE BORDERING A LOT OF THEM TO THE BORDERING COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS.
BUT THAT BALANCE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. SO ELECTION DAY, AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE 96 TOTAL CONFIRMED LOCATIONS WITH 22 IN PRECINCT 1, 25 IN PRECINCT 2, 27 IN PRECINCT 3 AND 22 IN PRECINCT 4.
AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE CURRENTLY I BELIEVE IT WAS 6 LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 1 THAT ARE PENDING AND ONE LOCATION IN PRECINCT 4. THAT IS MY PREFERENCE TO ADD THOSE LOCATIONS TO KIND OF EQUAL THOSE NUMBERS OUT ACROSS THE BOARD. WORSE CASE SCENARIO, AT THE VERY LAST RESORT WE WOULD NEED TO ADD SOME INTO 2 AND 3 IN ORDER TO GET THAT NUMBER UP TO 101. BUT AS -- I THINK THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR US. AS I MENTIONED, IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN CLOSER TO HAVING LIKE 15 OR 12 OR 15 IN ONE AND THEN 24030 IN 3 SO WE'RE DOING -- I THINK WE'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB AT TRYING TO SPREAD THEM OUT AND KEEPING THEM EVEN ACROSS THE BOARD. AND AS I MENTIONED I APPRECIATE MR. VAUGHAN'S, JUDGE AND MS. TURNER FOR HELPING US OUT WITH THOSE POLLING LOCATIONS THIS TIME AROUND.
THAT'S BEEN A HUGE HELP SO -- ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE? NO? OKAY.
SO I JUST HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES HERE.
JUST KIND OF WANT TO FILL YOU ALL IN ON SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ARE MAYBE NOT ON THE FOREFRONT. SO IN OUR ELECTION SECURITY DISCUSSIONS WITH OF COURSE THE SHERIFF, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I'VE KIND OF BROUGHT UP THE ELECTIONEERING CONCERNS WE'VE HAD ESPECIALLY OVER THE
[00:30:03]
COURSE OF THIS SPRING. WE ACTUALLY DID RECEIVE A LOT OF REPORTS FROM ELECTIONEERING SO JUST TO KIND OF CLARIFY, OUT AT THE POLLING LOCATIONS, AS I AM KNOW YOU ARE ALL AWARE BUT I'LL KIND OF GO OVER IT AGAIN, THERE ARE 100-FOOT DISTANCE MARKERS SO IT'S AN ELECTION CODE THAT YOU CANNOT ELECTIONEER WITHIN 100 FEET OF THE ENTRANCE OF A POLLING LOCATION.WE ALL KNOW EVERYONE OUT THERE GETS A LITTLE PASSIONATE AT TEENAGERS YOU KNOW, OR AT TIMES, THEY MIGHT BE CONFUSED ON THE RULE BUT WE DO HAVE CANDIDATES AND WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MAYBE IN THE CANDIDATE'S CAMP THAT ARE COMING ACROSS THAT 100-FOOT DISTANCE MARKER EITHER TO TALK TO VOTERS OR MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP SOMEBODY IN A POLLING LOCATION. I ALWAYS TRY TO ERR ON BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, I THINK THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING INTENTIONALLY BUT IT HAS BECOME AN ISSUE. WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF REPORTS. TYPICALLY WHAT WE'LL DO IF WE RECEIVE REPORTS OF THIS IS WE'LL ACTUALLY CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR THE LOCAL JURISDICTION'S LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THAT'S A MUNICIPALITY OR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE'LL HAVE THEM AT LEAST GO OUT AND CHECK ON THE INCIDENT AND HAVE THEM DISCUSS IT WITH THE CANDIDATE. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ESCALATING OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING PHOTOS OF PEOPLE VIOLATING THIS RULE, AND THIS IS A MISDEMEANOR TICKETTABLE VIOLATION, RIGHT. SO WE DO NEED TO UPHOLD THE LAW HERE. AND IN SPEAK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WE ARE KIND OF PLANNING A ONE WARNING ISSUED STANCE ON THIS.
AND SO WHAT OUR PLAN IS IS TO PROVIDE THE ELECTION JUDGES BASICALLY THESE CARBON COPY WARNING BOOKS, AND SO IF THEY SEE SOMEBODY IN VIOLATION, A CANDIDATE THAT'S OUT AT THE POLLING LOCATION, THEY WILL TAKE DOWN THEIR INFORMATION, THEY WILL SIGN THE WARNING AND THEY WILL PROVIDE A COPY TO THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY'VE WARNED. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE ON.
THIS HAS BEEN A LARGER DEAL, IT'S BEEN KIND OF PICKING UP ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, WITH THE ELECTIONS AND OF COURSE THE ELECTION CLIMATE THAT'S OUT THERE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.
NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE SHERIFF AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HOLD A MEETING WITH ALL THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS IN THE COMING WEEKS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ACROSS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS AND THEY KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD. YES, SIR?
>> SO LET ME CLARIFY HERE. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS VIOLATING VIOLATING -- THAT THE ELECTION JUDGE WILL ACTUALLY COME OUT AND ISSUE THEM THE WARNING?
>> YES, SIR. >> I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> OKAY. >> I'M NOT AGAINST IT -- ENFORCING THE LAW, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
BUT YOU MAY BE PUTTING THOSE ELECTION JUDGES IN A PRETTY COMPROMISING SITUATION. I KNOW, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THE POLICE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GETTING SOMEONE TO SIGN A TRESPASS WARRANT OR THINGS OF THAT SORT.
AND IT MIGHT PUT THEM IN A SITUATION THAT CAN BE PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU KNOW, DEMANDING SOMEBODY SIGN SOMETHING OR YOU KNOW, FILL THIS OUT.
THEY'VE ALREADY BROKEN THE LAW SO --
>> I UNDERSTAND. AND IN AN EVENT LIKE THAT -- WHERE -- IF THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE OR TO APPROACH WITH THE INDIVIDUAL THEY CAN ALWAYS CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND WE CAN ASSIST THEM IN THAT WE CAN EITHER GO OUT ON SITE OR SPEAK TO THE PERSON. IF THE INDIVIDUAL REFUSES -- AND OF COURSE THIS IS A WORKING PROCEDURE, RIGHT.
AS I MENTIONED WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS ON WHAT THE FINAL DECISIONS ARE AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO REFER BACK TO THE SHERIFF AND THE COUNT COUNTY ATY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT IF SOMEONE WOULD REFUSE TO SIGN THE WARNING, THEY WOULD CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT AWAY AT THAT POINT.
>> WELL, I JUST -- I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT ELECTION WORKER IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY ENCOUNTER SOMEBODY THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW -- THEY'RE INTENT ON NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW, THEY'VE ALREADY BROKEN IT AND PUT THEM IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, IF YOU WILL.
DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING HURT OR -- I THINK WE NEED TO BE
REALLY CAREFUL WITH THAT. >> YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND AND WE'LL CUTBACK WITH THE SECURITY TEAM AND THE COMMITTEE THERE AND I'LL ADDRESS THAT WITH THEM. BUT WE OF COURSE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO THE POLL WORKERS, ONCE WE -- ONCE WE HAVE OUR FINAL DECISIONS AND OUR APPROACH ON THIS TOPIC, WE WILL INFORM THE POLL WORKERS DURING THE ELECTION LAW MEETING, AND I WILL RAISE THAT CONCERN, IF ANYBODY HAS A CONCERN, THEY CAN COME DIRECTLY TO ME OR TO ONE OF MY STAFF, OF COURSE, AND WE CAN TAKE IT OVER FROM THERE FOR THEM.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
>> RIGHT. >> SO I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM TAKING A PICTURE, SOMETHING OF THE VIOLATOR, AND TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, A LICENSE PLATE, SOMETHING AND RELEASE A NAME AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LET THEM TAKE IT FROM THERE.
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I HAVE A LITTLE DISCOMFORT WITH THAT.>> I UNDERSTAND, AND WE'LL ADDRESS THAT WITH THE SECURITY
>> YES, MA'AM? >> IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AT OTHER LOCATIONS, SO WOULDN'T IT BE JUST LIKE MORE SIMPLE JUST TO DO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST, JUST TAKE A NAME AND THAT WAY YOU HAVE A NAME ON THE LIST, THE TIME AND THE DATE, WITH THE JUDGE? BECAUSE SHE NORMALLY COMES OUT AND SAID, HEY, YOU'RE ACROSS THE LINE AND THE SECOND TIME COME AROUND, THEN REPORT IT TO POLICE IF YOU NEED TO, SAME SITUATION
JUST NOT APPROACHING THEM -- >> THAT'S POSSIBLE, AND I HEAR CONSENSUS HERE, DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS -- OKAY.
>> WE HAVE MICHELLE HERE. BUT I DO HEAR A CONSENSUS BETWEEN YOU AND MR. BARNS, SO KIND OF ON THE SAME FORMAT, SO WE'LL DISCUSS THIS AND ADDRESS IT AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP
WITH A BETTER SOLUTION TO THAT. >> THAT WOULD BE BETTER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.
>> PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WE PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE, SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, HEY, I'M NOT GOING
>> SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.
>> AND THE APPROACH, AS MICHELLE JUST POINTED OUT, IS THAT WE DO WANT TO LIMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE AS WELL AT THE LOCATIONS, RIGHT. WE WANT TO TRY TO SOLVE THINGS WITH A DIALOG, WITH THE INDIVIDUALS OUT AT THE LOCATIONS, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY ADDRESS THAT AT OUR NEXT
MEETING. >> MAYBE CARMEN AND I COULD JUST TRAVEL AROUND OVER THE COUNTY --
YES, MA'AM? >> -- BECAUSE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I COULD GIVE YOU MY NINE ALREADY AND I'M SURE YOU COULD GIVE YOURS TOO.
>> YES, MA'AM, AND WE DO HAVE OFFICERS PATROL CERTAIN OFFICERS, JUST BECAUSE WE AREAS- THERE'S A COUPLE THAT COME TO MIND OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD TOO SO THAT'S DEFINITELY GOOD INFORMATION, YES, MA'AM. BUT WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THAT AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS.
>> I JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
WAIT TIME APPLICATIONS, SO AS ROBIN POINTED OUT, ANY SITE ISSUES THAT ARE REPORTED TO US, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TRY TO POST THESE ON THE WAIT TIME INTERACTIVE MAP ONLINE, SO IF A VOTER ACTUALLY ACCESSES THAT APPLICATION, THEY WILL SEE SAY IF WE HAVE A DOWNAGE OF AN EXPRESS VOTE MACHINE, IF ONE OF THE POLL BOOKS GOES DOWN AND THERE'S AN EXTENDED WAIT FOR A PARTICULAR REASON, WE CAN POST THE ACTUAL TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING AT THE INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS AND WHAT THE RESPONSE TIME IS GOING TO BE ON THAT. SO THAT SHOULD BE SOME GOOD INFORMATION FOR THE VOTERS THERE.
ONGOING TEAMS ISSUES, WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE ON OUR PSV STATUS WHICH IS PENDING STATE VERIFICATION, THIS IS TYPICALLY FOR NEW VOTERS OR ANYBODY THAT UPDATES THEIR ADDRESSES AT THE DMV. AS Y'ALL MIGHT RECALL, I ADDRESSED THE ISSUES WITH TEAMS AT OUR LAST MEETING.
TEAMS IS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE ONLINE. THEY UPDATED THAT LAST YEAR.
THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE SOME KINKS IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY ARE WORKING TO FIX THAT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR -- COORDINATING WITH OUR TEAMS REPRESENTATIVES FOR OUR COUNTY IN ORDER TO FIX THOSE. BUT THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS CURRENTLY COUNTY-WIDE SO EVERY OTHER COUNTY IS ESSENTIALLY EXPERIENCING THAT SAME ISSUE. SO I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL SAW THAT AROUND IN THE NEWS, BUT JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT WITH YOU GUYS. POLL BOOK SAFEGUARD IMPLEMENTED, SO I DID MENTION THAT OUR VENDOR FOR THE EVID, THEY DID IMPLEMENT THE SAFEGUARD THAT WILL PREVENT THE INCORRECT POLL BOOK FILE FROM BEING UPLOADED IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TABLE SO I HOPE THAT GIVES EVERYONE CONFIDENCE THAT THAT CAN NO LONGER HAPPEN.
JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP THERE. FACT SHEET UPDATES, AS PART OF THAT LANDING PAGE AND THAT ELECTION HAD HUB, WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE AND INCLUDE THOSE INTO THAT HUB. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS OUR OFFICE KIND OF PUTTING TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION, HOPEFULLY TO CLEAN UP SOME MISCOMMUNICATION OR MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT LIKE HOW PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WORK. WE HEARD A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION THAT PROVISIONAL BALLOTS DON'T COUNT.
THERE WERE PEOPLE GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TELLING PEOPLE YOUR PROVISIONAL BALLOT IS NOT GOING TO COUNT, WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT THE CASE. THOSE ARE BASICALLY CROSS-REFERENCED WHEN THEY RETURN BACK TO THE OFFICE AND ACTUALLY SOMETHING LIKE 90% OR MORE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS END UP COUNTING. ONE OF THE LARGER REASONS FOR PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AS MENTIONED BEFORE IS IF SOMEBODY REQUESTS A BALLOT BY MAIL, BUT SAY THEY THEY EVER RECEIVE IT OR SEND IT
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IN LATE AND WE NEVER GOT IT, WHEN THEY SHOW UP AT THE POLLING LOCATION, OUR SYSTEM IS GOING TO SHOW THAT THEY APPLIED NOR A BALLOT BY MAIL, THAT IT'S IN TRANSIT.WELL OF COURSE WE CAN'T LET THE VOTER VOTE NORMALLY, OTHERWISE THEY COULD HAVE TWO BALLOTS COUNTED, SO AT THAT POINT THEY'RE OFFERED A PROVISIONAL BALLOT, SO WE CAN VERIFY THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM THEM IN THE MAIL AND THAT IS IN THE QUEUE TO BE COUNTED.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY A SAFEGUARD TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OPERATIONS ARE GOING CORRECTLY AND THAT VOTER STATUSES CAN BE CROSS-REFERENCED AND ALL THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT. SO JUST KIND OF WANT TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THE MISCOMMUNICATION THAT'S FLOATING AROUND THERE IN THE ELECTION SPHERE BUT WE'LL INCLUDE WHAT DOES THE SUSPENCE STATUS MEAN, WHAT ARE THE IED ID REQUIREMENTS, WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT OUT THERE.
AND SO PUBLIC INFORMATION AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ACTUALLY CREATED A NEXT DOOR MEDIA SITE AS WELL AS REGAINING OUR FACEBOOK. WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED POSTING SOME NOTICES ALREADY. MS. RICHARD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL, I THINK THIS WAS YOUR IDEA BACK IN THE DAY, VERONICA HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THESE POSTINGS AND WE ARE FOLLOWING UP AND WE ARE POSTING THESE FLYERS OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION TO LET THE VOTERS NOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
VERONICA'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS? GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU, CHASE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT, NOW DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING?
>> I'LL SECOND. >> MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. APPRECIATE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.