[0:01] Hello and welcome to early voting [0:03] training with Ramsey County Elections. [0:05] My name is Kim and I will be talking us [0:07] through an overview of the operations of [0:08] an early voting location. There is also [0:11] an in-person training that provides [0:12] instruction on using the statewide voter [0:14] registration system to look up voter [0:17] records and create absentee records for [0:19] voters as well as optional labs to [0:21] continue practicing the database [0:23] processes. Resources include a manual [0:25] that details everything you need to know [0:27] to run an early voting location and duty [0:29] cards that provide simplified steps to [0:32] carry out the daily processes. [0:35] To start, we'll review some early voting [0:36] details specific to Ramsey County. Next, [0:39] you'll learn the particular roles that [0:41] election judges fill during the early [0:42] voting period. And last, we'll talk [0:45] about additional administrative duties [0:47] like curbside voting, ballot return, and [0:49] campaigning in the polling place. [0:53] Before we get into any of that, if you [0:55] live in Ramsey County and are eligible [0:57] to vote in this election, you will be [0:58] able to cast your ballot at the early [1:00] voting location where you're working. If [1:02] you are a head judge on election day, we [1:04] will deliver your election day materials [1:06] to your specific early voting location [1:08] prior to election day. [1:11] Let's get into the overview of early [1:12] voting. [1:14] This year, we'll be opening the early [1:15] voting locations listed on the slide. [1:18] All locations will be featured on an [1:20] interactive map that will show where [1:21] voters can cast their ballot and drop [1:23] off ballots that were mailed to them. [1:25] The interactive map also displays [1:27] current weight times at each location. [1:29] The head judge will monitor and update [1:31] weight times with the assistance of the [1:32] team. [1:34] These are the specific dates and times [1:36] early voting locations are open for the [1:38] upcoming election. Our main office at [1:40] Plato is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 [1:42] p.m. weekdays, but also has extended [1:44] hours during the early voting period. [1:47] Those hours are listed in your manual [1:48] and on the elections website if you need [1:50] to provide information to voters. On the [1:53] first day of early voting, we'd like you [1:54] to report to your location an hour [1:56] before the location opens for voting. [1:58] You'll see the exact time listed here on [2:00] the slide. For the subsequent days, [2:02] please report 30 minutes before the [2:04] start of voting. On your assigned days, [2:06] please also allow time for closing [2:08] procedures and organization after the [2:11] location has closed to voting. [2:14] Any voter who lives within Ramsey County [2:16] can vote at any of the locations within [2:18] the county. Paper ballots are [2:20] distributed for the precincts most [2:21] frequently served by your location as [2:23] well as a ballot on demand printer to [2:25] print all Ramsey County ballots as [2:27] needed. You will be administering the [2:29] early voting process with a laptop [2:31] computer using a centralized database [2:33] called the statewide voter registration [2:35] system or SVRS. Early voting locations [2:39] operate a little differently from [2:40] polling places on election day as this [2:43] activity falls under some of Minnesota's [2:45] absentee voting law. [2:48] This picture illustrates the flow you'll [2:49] see in an early voting location. Voters [2:52] enter, are greeted by an election judge, [2:54] and instructed to fill out the absentee [2:55] ballot application. Once that's done, [2:58] they proceed to the SVRS judge. That's [3:01] the person who's working on the [3:02] computer. The SVRS judge determines if [3:04] the voter is registered or [3:06] non-registered. They enter the voter's [3:08] information from the absentee ballot [3:10] application into the database and ident [3:13] identify which ballot the voter should [3:14] receive. The ballot is retrieved by an [3:17] election judge, initial by two judges, [3:19] and given to the voter. The voter then [3:21] proceeds to a voting booth to complete [3:23] their ballot and casts it into a ballot [3:25] counter. An assistive ballot marking [3:27] device is available for any voter to [3:29] use. [3:31] So, that's a general overview of early [3:32] voting in Ramsey County. Now, we're [3:34] going to talk through the specific [3:36] election judge roles you'll see in each [3:38] of the locations. [3:40] The first is the greeter judge. They're [3:42] there to welcome the voter, provide [3:44] direction if the voters dropping off [3:45] mailed ballots, and assist voters with [3:47] the absentee application. They will help [3:50] voters locate their sample ballots if a [3:52] voter requests, as well as connect the [3:53] voter with an interpreter. The greeter [3:56] judge is also responsible for managing [3:58] any line that forms as voters complete [4:00] their applications. [4:03] This is an image of the absentee ballot [4:05] application. Every voter needs to [4:07] complete the front side of this form [4:09] before proceeding to the SBS judge. The [4:12] boxes in gray indicate required [4:13] information. You do not have to worry [4:15] about the election dates in box one as [4:17] the voter is there to vote with you that [4:19] day. Regardless of what box they check, [4:22] they are required to provide their name, [4:25] residential address, date of birth, ID [4:28] number, and signature. [4:31] The next role is the SVRS judge. [4:35] The first step is to search for the [4:36] voter's record in the database using the [4:38] information they provided on the [4:40] absentee ballot application. This search [4:43] determines if their registration is [4:44] current or if they need a new or updated [4:46] voter record. If there is an existing [4:49] record, verify the information, [4:51] specifically their name, address, date [4:53] of birth, and ID numbers from the [4:55] application against the voter record. If [4:58] there's not a voter record or the record [5:00] needs to be updated to reflect the [5:01] voter's current information, the voter [5:04] will need to go through the election day [5:05] registration process. [5:08] For all voters, an absentee record is [5:10] created in the database that will show [5:12] whether this individual was registered [5:14] or non-registered, that they voted in [5:16] the election. Instruction on how to do [5:19] this is given in another training. On [5:22] the back side of the absentee ballot [5:23] application is the voter certificate. [5:26] The voter should not complete this with [5:27] the greeter judge as they'll need to [5:28] complete it when they're issued their [5:30] ballot. If the voter does sign it early, [5:32] they can sign their name again next to [5:34] or below the original signature. The [5:37] voter must use the same voter's ID [5:38] number on the back as they used on the [5:40] front of the application. And the [5:42] signature next to the X is critical. [5:45] Once the ballot correct ballot is [5:47] retrieved, give the voter basic [5:48] instructions on marking the ballot and [5:50] where the scan ballot counter is in the [5:52] early voting location for the voter to [5:54] cast the ballot when they've finished [5:55] voting. [5:58] If the voter needs to register because [6:00] they do not have a voter record or need [6:02] to update their information, they will [6:04] do that with the SVRS judge. The judge [6:07] will first view acceptable election day [6:09] registration documentation, which we'll [6:10] discuss on the next slide. It's very [6:13] important that the STRS judge do not [6:15] enter the absentee application [6:17] information into SVRS or proceed with [6:19] the voting process until the voter shows [6:21] acceptable documentation. [6:24] Once it's clear the voter has the right [6:26] documentation, entry into SPS can begin [6:28] while the voter completes the voter [6:30] registration application. The voter can [6:32] but does not need to complete the name [6:34] and address portion of the of the [6:36] application since a label will be placed [6:38] on those lines. The SRS judge will [6:41] complete the election judge official use [6:43] only section at the bottom of the [6:44] registration indicating the registration [6:47] documentation the voter used marking in [6:49] one column only [6:53] as stated. The voter must first provide [6:54] the required proof of residence before [6:56] they can register and vote. We provide [6:58] pads of the yellow sheet shown here for [7:00] your own reference and to provide to [7:02] voters if they must leave the location [7:04] to obtain proper documentation. [7:07] Registration requires strict adherence [7:08] to the approved documentation and voters [7:10] must be able to provide one of the [7:12] proofs. There are no exceptions no [7:14] matter how official a document may look. [7:17] Registration is a detailed process and [7:19] if you're new to this, we encourage you [7:20] to request assistance from your head [7:21] judge or more experienced judges as you [7:24] learn it. An example of this yellow [7:26] sheet is included in the early voting [7:27] manual for your review before voting [7:29] begins. [7:31] You will see on the sheet above that the [7:33] most straightforward documentation is a [7:35] valid Minnesota driver's license ID or [7:38] tribal ID. The majority of voters will [7:40] provide one of these forms of [7:42] documentation. [7:43] For voters without a valid ID, there's a [7:45] second group of options that includes [7:47] one of several types of photo IDs in the [7:49] first column paired with one of the [7:51] documents listed in the second column. [7:54] These documents may be shown on a phone. [7:57] And finally, in the third group are [7:59] options like using a registered voter in [8:01] the precinct who can confirm the address [8:03] at which a voter lives. This is called a [8:05] voucher. Uh a notice of late [8:07] registration sent by Ramsey County if a [8:09] voter's registration arrived at our [8:11] office after the cutoff date. [8:14] Or even previous registration in the [8:15] precinct. This is commonly used by [8:17] voters who move within their [8:18] neighborhood or apartment building or [8:21] change their name without moving. Again, [8:23] we encourage you to review this sheet [8:25] before you begin serving in the early [8:26] voting location and to ask questions of [8:28] your fellow judges as you learn the [8:30] process. [8:32] We've discussed the non-registered [8:34] process for voters who need a new or [8:35] updated voter record in SVRS. However, [8:38] there is another type of voter who will [8:39] need to go through the non-registered [8:41] process even if their voter record [8:42] contains up-to-date information. This is [8:45] any voter who has a challenge marked in [8:47] their voter record. In this slide, you [8:49] see an example of the red letter alert [8:51] in SBS. [8:53] The there are several types of [8:54] challenges which are listed in the early [8:55] voting manual for your reference. If a [8:58] voter asks, you may also use the manual [9:00] to help you explain the challenge to [9:01] them. All challenges require the voter [9:04] to go through the non-registered [9:05] process. Three challenges, incarcerated, [9:09] citizenship, and guardianship, require [9:11] the additional step of asking the voter [9:13] a set of questions to ensure they're [9:14] eligible to vote. The questions are [9:17] listed in the manual and will be [9:18] administered by the head judge. Except [9:21] for the three challenges just spoken of [9:23] that require questions, you just follow [9:25] the same non-registered process for [9:27] challenged voters as you do for voters [9:28] who require a new or updated voter [9:30] record. [9:33] The next judge in the process is the [9:35] ballot judge. They retrieve the correct [9:37] ballot based on the voter's residential [9:39] address. The ballot judge determines the [9:41] voter's precinct by looking at the SPS [9:43] screen. The SVRS judge can also call it [9:46] out and then retrieve the correct [9:48] ballot. As you can imagine, there is [9:50] opportunity for error here. So, we want [9:52] you to audibly verify that the ballot is [9:54] for the correct precinct. Both the SRS [9:56] judge and the ballot judge can [9:58] acknowledge, yes, this voter is from [10:00] Roseville Precinct 4. Yes, the ballot I [10:02] have in hand and I'm giving to the SRS [10:04] judge is Roseville Precinct 4. Two [10:07] judges must initial the upper right [10:09] corner of these ballots. We're asking [10:11] that you do not pre-initial any ballots. [10:13] Just initial the ballot as part of the [10:14] transaction with the voter. The two sets [10:17] of initials should be provided by the [10:18] SVRS judge and the ballot judge. If a [10:22] voter wants a new ballot, typically [10:24] they've made an error, but a voter can [10:25] exchange a ballot for any reason. The [10:27] ballot judge can manage the process of [10:29] spoiling that original ballot by placing [10:31] it in a designated envelope and [10:33] reissuing a new ballot. In early voting [10:37] locations, we also may need to spoil a [10:39] ballot in SPS. [10:42] This type of spoiling is done when a [10:43] voter is mailed a ballot but now wants [10:45] to vote in an early voting location. It [10:48] requires an SPS process that we discuss [10:50] in a separate training and provide a [10:52] duty card for. But be aware that the [10:54] term spoiling a ballot can mean two [10:57] different things. The ballot judge can [10:59] spoil any ballot that was issued in the [11:01] early voting location. [11:05] Voters tend to go to the early voting [11:06] location that is closest to them. So, we [11:08] provide pre-printed ballots for [11:10] precincts closest to the location. [11:12] However, we may not provide preprinted [11:14] ballots for some precincts that are [11:15] quite a bit further away from your early [11:17] voting location. If you don't have a [11:20] pre-printed ballot for a voter, you will [11:22] use the ballot on demand printer. This [11:24] device can print ballots for any [11:26] precinct within Ramsey County. We'll [11:28] provide each head judge with hands-on [11:30] instruction for using the printer and [11:32] will include a duty card in the supply. [11:34] The head judge may assign someone to [11:36] inventory the ballots and print a few [11:38] ballots to ensure busy precincts are [11:40] stocked. [11:43] Another position is the equipment judge. [11:45] The equipment judge is stationed near [11:47] the ballot counter to assist voters who [11:49] have any questions or need help casting [11:50] their ballot into the machine. This [11:53] judge should not allow any voters to [11:54] leave with a ballot. They also should [11:57] not allow any voter who came in with a [11:58] ballot they received in the mail to cast [12:00] it into the ballot counter. Mailed [12:03] ballots may be recognizable because they [12:04] have been folded and have not been [12:07] initialed. Mailed ballot should be [12:09] placed back into the signature envelope [12:11] and sealed if the voter wants to drop it [12:13] off at the location, but the voters [12:15] should be informed they can spoil that [12:16] mailed ballot and vote through the early [12:18] voting process. The equipment judge will [12:20] also make sure I voted stickers are [12:22] available for voters. [12:26] Next, we have the head election judge [12:28] who manages the location. They manage [12:30] staff and administrative duties. They [12:32] are the main contact with our office and [12:35] they are responsible for completing [12:36] forms that they will return to Plato [12:38] along with the ballots and applications [12:40] at the end of the day. Head judges may [12:43] ask another head judge to make the daily [12:45] return, but please let our office staff [12:47] know if this occurs. Head judges are [12:49] assigned by the elections office and [12:50] will contact their location's team of [12:52] judges before the start of early voting. [12:55] If you have interest in serving as a [12:56] head judge in the future, please notify [12:59] the elections office. [13:02] Our office also provides a variety of [13:04] support for the early voting location. [13:06] Staff or specially assigned election [13:08] judges may visit the location and [13:10] provide support on site. We also have a [13:12] hotline judges can call with their SPS [13:15] specific questions and a number for [13:17] additional supplies that will be picked [13:18] up by the head judge during returns. [13:22] Now, we'll discuss additional notes and [13:24] other tasks that are performed in the [13:25] early voting location. [13:28] In odd years, the city of St. Paul uses [13:31] the ranked voting method for their [13:32] mayoral and city council races. Ranked [13:35] voting is not used for the school [13:36] district race. Note that the ballot for [13:39] St. Paul municipal races has a different [13:41] layout than races in any other [13:42] jurisdiction. [13:44] Special instructions and signage will be [13:46] provided for ballot marking. [13:49] Some of our precincts are split into two [13:51] school districts. And you'll need to be [13:53] aware of this when one or more school [13:54] districts have a candidate race or [13:56] ballot question on the ballot. For [13:58] example, if a voter lives in Ardan Hills [14:00] precinct 1 on the school district 621 [14:03] side, they'll get a different ballot [14:04] from voters who live in Ardan Hills [14:06] precinct 1 on the 623 side. Ballot [14:09] judges must be aware that during school [14:11] district elections, there will be some [14:12] precincts with these splits. The school [14:14] district will be indicated in the ballot [14:16] header and on the label. The ballot [14:19] judge can check with the SCS judge for [14:21] the correct district. Sometimes when [14:24] there is a school district split, one [14:25] part of a precinct may not even have an [14:27] election while the other does. The [14:30] highlighted precincts have a school [14:31] district split with two different [14:33] ballots this cycle. [14:37] For some elections, especially in odd [14:39] years, there may be more than one option [14:41] to choose from in this election cycle [14:43] drop- down menu in SVRS. The correct [14:46] selection will depend on the precinct in [14:48] which the voter lives. You will be given [14:50] instructions and other aids. If this is [14:52] the case [14:58] in odd years, be aware of other [15:00] circumstances. Some ballots may be [15:02] one-sided, other ballots two-sided. [15:04] Translated sample ballots may be [15:06] arranged by ballot style instead of [15:08] precinct. The head judge will get more [15:10] details about the particulars for this [15:12] year. [15:15] Now, let's talk in more detail about the [15:17] ballot return process. As a quick [15:19] overview, mailed ballots can be returned [15:21] at any of the early voting locations by [15:23] the voter or another person who legally [15:26] is called the voter's agent. Your job as [15:29] the election judge is to review the [15:31] signature envelope for proper [15:32] completion. The head judge can assign [15:34] someone to focus on mailed ballot return [15:36] if we have enough voters who want to [15:38] take advantage of this service. [15:41] Along with their blank ballot, voters in [15:43] Minnesota receive one of two signature [15:45] envelopes that are mailed to them when [15:46] they request their absentee ballot. The [15:49] registered signature envelope will have [15:50] a label at the top that lists the [15:52] voter's name, address, and precinct. [15:55] You, as the election judge, will need to [15:56] verify that the rest of the signature [15:58] envelope is completed properly. You're [16:00] looking for the voter's ID number, their [16:03] signature, and the witness information. [16:06] The witness can be any US citizen or a [16:08] notary, and must view the voter's blank [16:11] ballot before recording their name, [16:13] title of a notary, and their signature [16:15] on the envelope. When you are receiving [16:17] a dropped off absentee ballot, you'll [16:19] want to verify all information is [16:21] completed properly on the signature [16:23] envelope. [16:25] The other type of signature envelope is [16:27] for non-registered voters. The label at [16:29] the top has the voter's name, address, [16:31] and precinct. The voter needs to write [16:33] their ID number, and signature, and the [16:35] witness needs to write their name and [16:36] signature, and provide a title if they [16:38] are an official or a notary. It is also [16:41] required for a non-registered voter that [16:44] the witness check the box indicating [16:46] which election day registration [16:47] documentation they saw as proof that the [16:50] voter resides at the address listed on [16:51] the label. If one of the boxes is not [16:54] checked and we take the envelope, the [16:56] voter's ballot will be rejected by the [16:58] absentee ballot board. [17:02] If the voters returning their own [17:03] ballot, they don't need to complete any [17:05] additional paperwork. If the signature [17:07] envelope, registered or non-registered, [17:09] is missing voter information, the voter [17:11] can fill it out right there before [17:13] submitting it to you. However, if the [17:15] envelope is missing witness information, [17:17] we can't accept that envelope because [17:19] it's incomplete. However, the voter can [17:21] vote with you that day at the early [17:23] voting location. They'll need to fill [17:25] out another absentee ballot application [17:27] and have their mailed ballot spoiled in [17:29] SPSS, but they can be treated like [17:31] anyone else and go through the early [17:33] voting process. [17:36] If the ballot is returned by a person [17:38] other than the voter, they're called the [17:40] voter's agent. They will need to fill [17:41] out additional paperwork called the [17:43] absentee ballot agent delivery log. They [17:46] also need to show you, the election [17:47] judge, their ID. An agent can return [17:50] ballots for up to three other people, [17:52] and that rule applies for the entire [17:54] election. So, the agent cannot do three [17:56] one day and three the next day, just [17:58] three for the entire election. If an [18:01] agent requests to obtain a ballot for [18:02] someone else, you can instruct them to [18:04] contact our office. This is a service we [18:07] provide and it's specific to the week [18:08] before election day. They will need to [18:11] visit the Plato office to carry out this [18:13] process and should call first for [18:14] details. [18:16] Here is an image of the agent delivery [18:19] log. The agent will need to complete [18:21] this for each voter for whom they are [18:23] dropping off a ballot. So, if they're [18:24] bringing three ballots back, they need [18:26] to fill in this log three different [18:28] lines. They write the date, their name, [18:31] their address, the voter's name and [18:34] address, and provide their signature. [18:37] If the agent brought the voter's ballot [18:39] and the signature envelope is missing [18:40] some information, it cannot be accepted [18:42] by the elections office. So, you want to [18:44] encourage the agent to return the [18:46] envelope to the voter so they can [18:47] complete it properly. If the agent [18:49] insists on leaving it with you even [18:51] though you know it's incomplete, you can [18:53] take it and the elections office will [18:55] contact the voter to let them know of [18:57] their voting options. [19:00] During the early voting period, a voter [19:02] can vote curbside, meaning they stay in [19:04] their car. We'll provide signage [19:07] specific to your early voting location. [19:09] The head judge will be notified the [19:10] voters outside waiting for service. [19:13] Voters can also return their mailed [19:15] ballot outside from their car. [19:19] If a voter calls, the head judge will [19:20] alert another judge to bring out the [19:22] absentee ballot application. Once that's [19:24] complete, the judge will bring it to an [19:26] SCS judge who will look up the voter in [19:28] SVRS. If the voter is not registered, [19:31] the election judge will return to the [19:32] vehicle and view the voter's election [19:34] day registration documentation before [19:37] the SVRS judge processes the [19:39] application. [19:41] If the voters registered, [19:44] the SCS judge will immediately process [19:46] the application and obtain the correct [19:47] ballot. At this point, two judges of [19:50] different major political parties will [19:51] bring the application, the ballot, a [19:54] secrecy sleeve, pen, and I voted sticker [19:57] out to the voter. [19:59] Once the ballot and materials have been [20:01] brought to the voter, the voter [20:02] completes the voter certificate on the [20:04] back side of the absentee application. [20:06] Next, if the voter is not registered, [20:08] they complete the voter registration [20:10] application. Then the voter can fill in [20:12] their ballot. You want to ask the voter [20:15] to remain at the location until a judge [20:16] returns to tell them the ballot was cast [20:18] successfully into the ballot counter. [20:23] Election judges can assist an unlimited [20:25] number of voters during the early voting [20:26] period. When assisting with activities [20:29] other than marking a ballot, such as [20:30] completing an application or providing [20:32] language assistance, law allows for only [20:34] one judge to assist with that activity. [20:37] We ask you only help as much as you are [20:39] requested to by the voter. [20:42] If however you are existing assisting a [20:44] voter with marking a ballot, you will [20:46] need two judges of different major [20:48] political parties. You will need to mark [20:50] the ballot according to the voter's [20:52] direction. Enter the voting area and [20:54] remain with the voter throughout the [20:56] process. Be sure to direct questions and [20:58] information to the voter, not to others [21:00] with the voter. You may use a voter's [21:03] completed sample ballot as direction on [21:05] marking the ballot for the voter. [21:08] A voter may choose anyone to assist with [21:10] marking a ballot except for an employer, [21:12] an agent of their employer, or an [21:14] officer or agent of the voters's union. [21:17] Assistance may also help with any other [21:19] part of the process, including [21:20] completing an application, or language [21:22] assistance. That person must stay with [21:25] the voter through the process and leave [21:26] with the voter when they exit the [21:28] location. [21:31] An individual cannot linger within the [21:32] early voting location. They must be [21:34] there to vote or to assist another [21:36] voter. No campaigning is allowed inside [21:39] the location or on the property of the [21:40] building. Voters may wear political [21:42] clothing as long as it does not contain [21:44] candidate names or political parties or [21:47] words and phrases from questions on the [21:49] ballot. [21:51] We've reached the end of the early [21:53] voting training. If you have any [21:54] questions, please feel free to reach out [21:56] to our office. Otherwise, ask your head [21:59] judge during the early voting period. [22:01] Thank you for being part of Ramsey [22:02] County Elections Judge Team.