Multiple precinct managers, an experienced early-voting trainer, and board members raised concerns Dec. 5 about staffing, training, and scanner security as the board reviewed incomplete election materials from the Dec. 2 municipal runoff.

Ola Kayali, a manager at the Roseville Library precinct, told the board that cuts to a training/compliance officer position reduced hands-on support for new managers and urged restoring hours so trainers can observe operations and provide feedback. "They want them to be available all the time," she said, explaining trainers give actionable feedback and guidance to newer staff.

Judy Bradford, a hub early-boarding manager, described the standard voter verification workflow: a poll worker scans a government ID, verifies information against the poll pad, returns the ID, collects the signed oath, and processes the voter. Bradford defended existing training and procedures after questions were raised about the use of pull pads.

Margaret Williams, an early-voting trainer since 2022, criticized proposed operational changes that would use a single manual for both early voting and election day. Citing 2024 operations, Williams said early voting handled roughly 55% of total votes on day 1 and required 17–19 days of daily reconciliation and chain-of-custody reporting. She warned the county is "collapsing" early voting into an election-day model and said those changes "will produce predictable failures" and urged the board to preserve early-voting training and procedures.

Separately, board members and observers raised a security question about standalone ballot scanners at Buckhead Library that arrived with one external seal missing. Director Williams explained the county uses multiple seals and that while some exterior seals are cosmetic, the statutory seals protecting memory cards (poll-worker and administrative cards) were intact and documented. "If those things were to break off in transport, it does not jeopardize election in any form or fashion," Director Williams said, adding that staff will enhance SOPs to conduct an additional seal check at setup before tabulation.

Board members said they will review advanced loading SOPs and training and will instruct staff to triple-check seal placement and documentation going forward. Observers were invited to notify staff on-site if they see missing seals so staff can address concerns in real time.

The board did not change policy during the Dec. 5 meeting but asked staff to report back on any SOP or training adjustments.