General Election 2010

1. General Election 2010 A Review

2. 2010 General Election – A Review Many things happened during the 2010 General Election; some good, some not as good; all were learning experiences: • Instant Runoff Voting • iVo Calibration • One-Stop Voting • Recounts

3. Election Equipment and Integrity iVotronic DRE Voting Equipment M100 Optical Scan Voting Equipment

4. NC Uses Two Types of Vote Tabulators In North Carolina, we are fortunate that citizens have a high level of trust in the integrity of the elections process. We depend equally on iVo and M100 equipment to provide accurate counts of votes cast for all of our elections.

5. “Sibling Rivalry” Exists… Although “sibling rivalry” is common, and even natural, neither the state nor the counties can choose a “favorite” tabulator type. Both DRE and optical scan equipment provide North Carolinians with the reassurance that elections professionals conduct fair and accurate elections. WE CANNOT PLACE A PRICE TAG ON THIS TRUST.

6. Calibrating an iVotronic: What happens if I touch the screen like this? Because not all fingers are created identical, proper calibration and re-checking calibration ensures that voters may easily cast their votes of choice.

7. One-Stop Voting…animal, vegetable , or mineral? • “Early Voting” • “No-excuse voting” • “One-Stop” • “In-Person Registration” • “Same-Day Registration” • “Satellite locations” • “Additional locations” We hear – and use – all these terms interchangeably. So what is one-stop voting, really? One-Stop Voting is, by definition (N.C.G.S. 163-227.2): IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING Why is this distinction important?

8. One-Stop Voting = In-Person Absentee Voting • Absentee Ballots must be retrievable • A voter must make application to cast an absentee ballot, and the application must be witnessed • Absentee ballots, including ballots cast during the one-stop voting period, are not counted until Election Day

9. One-Stop Voting = In-Person Absentee Voting • The law specifies that One-Stop, In-Person Absentee Voting must be conducted in a uniform manner statewide. This is why submission of implementation plans to the State Board for additional sites and hours is mandated • Voter Challenge procedures are a hybrid of absentee ballot challenge and election day challenge procedures • Because One-Stop is Absentee Voting, prospective voters are given the convenience of registering to vote and casting a ballot at the same time

10. The most important reason that accurate understanding of one-stop voting is simple: More and more North Carolina voters and prospective voters enjoy the convenience of the early voting period. As election professionals, we must be prepared to answer voter concerns: • Why is my ballot numbered? • On Election Day, how do you know I already voted? • Will my vote count just like if I voted on Election Day? • How is a person allowed to register and vote at the same time? • Are you going to look at my ballot and tell people how I voted?

11. 2010 Voter Registration and Turnout

12. North Carolina citizens are paying attention! …Not just to the conduct of their elected officials, but also to the methods used to elect those officials. In addition, each election cycle adds new voters to the registration rolls. It is an important part of our job to articulate the “whys,” “hows,” “whens,” “wheres,” “whats,” and “whos” to voters so that the process is transparent and clearly understood.

13. …but it’s not all seriousness! We have collected several thoughtful comments from voters as well as some really funny stories to share with you today. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to the elections process in North Carolina.