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Training covers absentee processing, barcode scanning, DS200 tabulator and ballot-sealing rules
Summary
The trainer reviewed absentee ballot checking, barcode scanning in the Badger book, tabulator procedures (DS200), ballot-initialing rules, and sealing requirements for ballots and provisional envelopes.
Staff member, election training instructor, walked poll workers through absentee ballot intake, barcode scanning, tabulator handling and ballot-sealing procedures. The trainer said a software update after the February election should improve barcode scanning and noted that when scanning absentee envelopes "please make sure that your cursor is in the mailing ID search bar." If a barcode is smudged, workers may search by the voter's name or mailing ID number.
For absentee packets, the trainer instructed workers to verify the certificate envelope includes the voter's signature, a witness signature, the witness printed name and the witness address. After checking an absentee ballot in, staff should write the voter's number on the label.
On tabulators the trainer reminded staff that tabulators will return a ballot to an in-person voter if the machine detects an error, and that poll workers must not cast a ballot with errors for an in-person voter. "If the tabulator detects a mistake on the ballot always return the ballot back to the voter so they can correct it. Again, the voter gets 3 chances to mark their ballot correctly," the trainer said, and recommended offering an express vote ballot if a voter has already spoiled a ballot.
The trainer reviewed ballot-initialing rules: each ballot needs two sets of initials; chief inspectors will provide some ballots with one set of initials and workers should not add their initials until handing the ballot to the voter. Ballots for this election are preprinted with ward numbers, so staff will not need to stamp ward numbers.
For the DS200 tabulator the trainer advised positioning a bar in the back of the machine in the down position before opening polls to avoid jams, and noted that the DS200 will print three sets of results at the end of the night because a school district race appears on the ballot; staff must obtain signatures on all three sets. At closing, all items that include ballots (spoiled ballots, duplicate ballots and related envelopes) should be sealed in ballot bags; unused ballots are not sealed. Provisional ballot envelopes should be sealed in their own ballot bag and returned to City Hall, separate from regular ballot bags.
