Observing posts on
Facebook, I conclude that many people do
not understand how elections are managed. This is understandable for most
people who have not served as a poll worker on election day.
I further conclude that
many people who should know, take political messaging advantage of this
situation to stir up conflict for political gain.
I have served as a poll
worker in Elkhart County for many election cycles. I offer the following…
Just a few of the quality
control measures we perform before election day and through election day:
Poll workers are required
to attend training before election day.
On the day of election,
poll workers take an oath regarding many provisions, the first being to support
the Constitution of the United States and the Indiana State Constitution.
We run a “zero tape”
before the polls open and a before any votes are cast. This tape is a print-out
of the record of all votes cast for all races. Before polling begins, it should
show zero for each of all races. We then have everyone in the election center
sign that they agree that no votes have been cast before the polls open.
All actions throughout
the day are done by Republican and Democrat workers working together.
If a voter needs help
with navigating their ballot, a form is signed by both and Republican and
Democrat workers and then both of those, together, assist the voter.
All of these signed forms
are returned at the end of the day to election headquarters.
Many such activities like
those are performed with both parties working together.
At the end of the day,
the polling center supervisor and a main facilitator of the other party,
together in same car, drive all election materials to election headquarters.
I assert, if any
shenanigans take place, every poll worker at the election center must be in on
it…Republican and Democrat.
You know those early
voting ballots? They are saved in a secure location until election day (by law)
and then tabulated on election day. There could be tens of thousands of these
votes.
Have you ever, on
election day, forgotten to bring your ID? You have the option of a “Provisional
Ballot”. You may cast a ballot, but it will not be tabulated until you present
your ID at the Clerk’s election office before “Certification Day.”
Certification day is the final day to tabulate provisional ballots.
Certification day,
according to each state law, may happen 30 days or more after election day.
The election is not over
until Certification Day.
This is why the vote
results may change from those reported on election night.
The following website,
provided by National Council of State Legislatures, shows the Certification
dates for each state.
Rather than be
manipulated by those who know better and just want to stir your sense of
political insult, check out this site and other Secretary of State sites of
each State and see for yourself how elections are managed by Law.
https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines
