By Karen Anderson

Having worked for the Board of Elections on Election Day for almost 20 years, I have done the training and seen the efforts for keeping our elections safe and secure. The general public needs to know what goes into making our voting systems work to give them confidence in the system.

All poll workers must go through training each year. This refreshes memories and introduces any changes and new procedures for each election year. They work as a bipartisan team through every aspect of the election. There is a great deal of paperwork involved in opening and closing the polls.

All election equipment is tested by the Board of Elections before the election to be sure it meets security standards and that the machines are accurately counting ballots. There are security seals on all vulnerable parts of the machines that could be opened. These seals must be checked and recorded to prove that the machines were not compromised. An opening tape is printed to assure that no votes were cast before the polls opened. This tape must read zero votes ensuring that the machines are ready for the public to begin voting. All the paperwork must be signed or initialed by a bipartisan team.

If any voters are not found in the data base at check-in or another question comes up about their ability to vote they may not vote on the machines. They are not turned away. They may still vote. They are directed to the Coordinator to vote by affidavit. The Coordinator gives them a letter from the Board of Elections explaining why they are getting an affidavit ballot. They are given an envelope to fill out. It’s similar to a voter registration form. Once it is completed, the information is checked on the poll pad. A receipt is generated and the voter receives an affidavit ballot to fill out by hand. 

The completed ballot is put in the envelope by the voter. The voter seals the envelope and a bipartisan team initials the envelope. All affidavit ballot envelopes are sealed in a secure pouch which goes to the Board of Elections at the end of the night along with all the other ballots. The Board of Elections checks these ballots to ensure that  the voter is eligible to cast a ballot in the election. The voter receives a letter from the Board stating whether or not the vote was considered valid and counted.

When the polls close, more paperwork needs to be done. Every ballot that was used that day must be accounted for. Sometimes voters make a mistake and ask for a new ballot. Voters get 3 chances to mark their ballot. Any ballot that is spoiled is put in another pouch to be turned in at the end of the day. Each election district must account for every ballot used that day by their district. Then the Coordinator does accounting for the ballots used in all districts at that polling location. Once again the seals on the machines must be checked and recorded. As with everything else, all paperwork is signed or initialed by a bipartisan team. 

The closing poll process takes 30 minutes or more. Everything is packed securely, sealed and returned to the local Board of Elections. Everything is rechecked, reviewed and audited by the local Board of Elections, which then sends the results to the State Board of Elections. The State conducts another review before finally certifying the results. At all levels, a bipartisan panel does the work of certifying the election results. The State stores all paper ballots and other records for 2 years following the election. The ballot storage box is stored in a secure location.

Poll workers do their best to ensure that our elections are safe and secure. They take their responsibilities seriously, believe in our elections and cherish our democracy and the right to vote. They hope all eligible voters come out to make their voices heard. Voting is the right of every American. It is a privilege envied by many people over the world. And it is every citizen’s responsibility.

VOTE!

Karen Anderson is a member of the leadership team of the League of Women Voters of Smithtown a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, visit https//my.lwv.org/new-york/suffolk-county.