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Jericho BCA reviews ballot‑transfer safeguards, polling‑place safety plan and training ahead of March 3 town meeting
Summary
Officials discussed absentee-ballot transfer procedures when tabulators cannot read markings, a one‑page polling‑place safety response plan coordinated with the school principal, possible mobile polling at a local housing site, and training plans for assistant presiding officers before the August primaries.
Officials at the Jericho Board of Civil Authority on Feb. 10 reviewed several election‑day procedures and preparedness items ahead of the town meeting election on March 3.
Jessica, an assistant presiding officer, walked members through absentee‑ballot procedures, emphasizing that when the tabulator cannot read a ballot two people should work together to transfer marks to a machine‑readable ballot, with one person marking and the other checking for accuracy. Board members said the process should be done by a pair and, when possible, balanced across parties to maintain confidence, though they noted party‑balance is a best practice rather than a legal requirement.
The board discussed republishing a simplified, one‑page polling‑place safety response plan. Kathleen and Jessica said they have drafted a single‑page plan and met with Mike Weston, the principal at the school that will host town meeting activities, to review evacuation scenarios and communication protocols when school is in session. They said they will refine the draft and consider an executive‑session review of the plan with appropriate officials before finalizing it.
Members also discussed prior mobile polling at a local housing site (the transcript refers to it both as 'Jerry Hill' and 'Cherry Hill'). The board said previous use was underutilized and considered again trying mobile polling for the August primary and the November general election, contingent on coordination and publicity with the housing coordinator.
Logistics for transporting ballots to the Richmond tabulation site were reviewed: two BCA members should transport ballots after polls close; district procedures expect BCA membership for those involved, and the town lacks an organized Republican committee to nominate alternate party representatives for balance. The group agreed to form a small working group from volunteers who had checked the election survey to help plan training and staffing and to schedule a training session before August if timing allows.
The board set a goal to draft the safety plan and plan training before the next busy election season. The meeting adjourned after members agreed to reconvene to finalize assignments and schedules.
