To: Board of Supervisors
From: Kristin Connelly, Clerk-Recorder
Report Title: Presentation - Graduates of the Certified Election Observer Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RECOGNIZE the graduating members of the County's Certified Election Observer Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
In an effort to increase transparency and provide a greater understanding of the election process, the Clerk-Recorder-Election Department implemented its Certified Election Observer program in 2022. Unlike typical election observers who visit to observe a particular activity, this program is aimed at providing an overall view of the entire election process from voter registration to final certification, with “behind the scenes” access and the ability to ask questions to learn about what it takes to conduct an election.
The Certified Election Observer program is a comprehensive, rigorous program that includes multiple online and in-person sessions during the election. The course curriculum includes topics essential to understanding the statutory laws, procedures, and coordination required to conduct an election: election security, voter registration/list maintenance, poll worker training, in-person voting, vote-by-mail ballot processing, voting system testing, audits, ballot counting and adjudication, the canvass of the vote, provisional ballots, balancing and reconciliation processes, and certification of the election. Members were issued a “passport” of election activities to observe and received passport stamps as they completed the activities.
We recognize Genoveva Calloway, Nancy Bocanegra, Patrick Kenney, Emily Mazza, Nicole Shorter, Jonathan Bash, Kelsey Bye, Susan Hyde, and Shannon Jean for participating and becoming graduates of the program. They will be ambassadors for the Elections Division as we continue our mission to build public trust in elections. The Elections Division will continue the program for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election in November.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
We will fail to recognize these members of the community that have volunteered their time to learn about the election process.