The county election administrator (unnamed in the transcript) told the board that a poll-book battery-life test was completed on Nov. 6 using a large random sample and that those results were forwarded to SBE for review. "The purpose of the test was to gauge the battery, its current life, doing a large random sample," she said.

She reported the office received two Jackery battery backups from SBE that "can be used with the poll books and the poll book printers in the event that a polling place has a power outage." The administrator said a battery-acknowledgement form will be completed at the end of the month and provided to Aaron, the regional manager.

On facilities, the administrator said warehouse work is expected in mid-December: contractors will add electrical service, improve lighting, clean the space and resolve a heating issue by tying into existing ductwork. On training, she said a two-day ES&S election worker training is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8 and Tuesday, Dec. 9, and that Lacey and Taylor will attend.

The administrator also summarized internal working meetings, a risk-limiting audit work group meeting and receipt of the election judge manual; she has been customizing chapters and requested Frostburg State print the manual (a printing quote was received). Board members asked for clarification about battery testing and recruitment; the administrator said batteries in active use dated back to 2006 and that recruitment efforts produced 20 applications from two meet-and-greet sessions.