HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Nov Gen Draft 11.26
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Jefferson County Canvassing Board
Brenda Huntingford, Auditor / Canvassing Board Chair
Kate Dean, County Legislative Authority Chair
James Kennedy, Prosecuting Attorney
1820 Jefferson St. / P O Box 563, Port Townsend, WA 98368
(P) 360.385.9115 (F) 360.385.9228
Canvassing Board Agenda / Meeting
Jefferson County WA
Date & Time: November 26, 2024 / 1:00 pm
Location: First Floor Conference Room (RM 160), Jefferson County Courthouse
Purpose: Certify November 5, 2024 General Election
(10 days after Special & PP / 14 days after Primary / 21 days after General)
Canvassing Board Members for this election:
Brenda Huntingford, County Auditor
Kate Dean, County Commissioner, County Legislative Authority Chair
Philip Hunsucker, Civil Deputy, County Prosecuting Attorney – Designated by PA
Observers Present: __________________________________________________________________
Meeting called to order at __ pm by Quinn Grewell, Election Coordinator
The Canvassing Board met November 25, 2024 at 11:00 am to resolve challenged ballot issues in
preparation for today’s certification. See page 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.
The Oath of Authenticity for the County Auditor, given by the County Legislative Authority, and signed by
the Auditor, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.200. Witnessed and signed by the other two Canvassing Board
Members.
Open Public Comment: ______________________________________________________________
Required Oaths:
- The Oath of Authenticity for the County Auditor, given by the County Legislative Authority, and
signed by the Auditor, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.200. Witnessed and signed by the other two
Canvassing Board Members.
- Delegation of Authority and Oaths for Canvassing Board Members or their designee: Given and
retained for this election.
- Oaths for Personnel: Required for the Auditor’s Staff involved in the signature verification
process. Given and retained for this election.
- Oaths for Personnel: Securing election materials. Given and retained for this election.
Required Notices:
- Notice of Election: Published in the Port Townsend Leader in the October 16, 2024 issue.
Also posted on the Elections web page.
- Notice of Availability of Services: Included in Notice of Election.
- Notice of Logic & Accuracy Test: Included in Notice of Election.
- Notice of Logic & Accuracy Test to Candidates: Sent via mail on September 23, 2024.
- Notice to Political Parties: Sent via email on September 20, 2024.
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Logic & Accuracy Test:
- A TEST DECK of ballots and a pre-determined RESULTS MATRIX in excel was created. This is
used to verify that the tabulation equipment accurately tabulates the votes cast as marked.
- The In-House Unofficial test was performed September 5, 2024.
- The Official Accessible Voting Unit (AVU) test was performed October 4, 2024.
o Observers Present:
1. None
- The Official test was performed October 7, 2024.
o Observers present:
1. Lisa Tuerk – OSOS Representative
Ballot Count - Cumulative & Precinct Reports for the following counts:
November 5, 2024 - Election Night count.
November 7, 2024 - Additional ballots counted.
November 13, 2024 - Additional ballots counted.
November 15,2024 - Additional ballots counted.
November 20,2024 - Additional ballots counted.
November 26, 2024 - Final ballot count. Printout used for certification.
ExpressVote: (Accessible Voting Unit - AVU)
- The AVU is a tool – an “electronic pen” equipped with audio and visual technology – to
assist voters who have a difficult time seeing and/or marking a ballot with a regular pen. It
allows voters to vote a secret ballot independently.
- One machine was programmed and ready for use 20 days prior to the election.
- Zero Voters used it this election.
Logs:
- Seal Logs: Used to verify all election related materials remained under dual control at all
times. (Ballot drop boxes and all storage locations)
- Duplicated Ballot Log: Verifies all original ballots duplicated are accounted for and
secured with canvassing materials. A total of 1190 ballots were duplicated (4%).
Reconciliation:
- Data from VoteWA and Ballot Tabulator results entered into the reconciliation form
provided by the OSOS reconciles with number of ballots received and accepted.
- Elections Summary Report: The total number of ballots voted and tabulated is reported on
this report. This report is generated in our (ERM) Election Reporting Module
(ElectionWare).
- Elections Canvass Report: Generated by our Election Reporting Module (ERM) from data
uploaded from the ballot tabulator.
o Scenario one, when giving credit for voting there is no guarantee if a voter who
move and update their registration did not use their previously issued precinct
ballot with their most current envelope.
o Scenario two, there is no guarantee if a voter living at a precinct did not put their
ballot into another voter’s envelope in another precinct.
o Scenario three, it is possible that when issuing a ballot over the counter the wrong
ballot precinct was pulled and given to the voter.
o All of these scenarios are logical conclusions to these discrepancies.
1102 (+1) 1110 (-1)
2203 (+2) 2205 (-2)
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3601 (-1) 3603 (+1)
3604 (+2) 3605 (-2)
Challenged Ballots:
All challenge ballots received a first and second review by signature verification staff. For voters
who had a ballot that remained in the challenged status after the second review, these voters
were notified by first-class mail and, if a phone number or email address on file for a voter, by
telephone, text message, and email, and advise on the procedure for curing the challenge within
3 days of a challenge status.
For voters who did not resolve the challenge, a follow up letter, phone call, text message and
email were made on November 18, 2024 to those voters who did not sign their declaration or if
the ballot signature did not match the voter registration. Voters with a challenged ballot had until
4:30 pm the day prior to certification to resolve the challenge.
Audits:
- Manual Audit of the Ballot Tabulator (6-batch Audit)
o November 7, 2024, six groups of ballots were randomly chosen to audit, totaling 1248
ballots. A ballot count report was generated prior to tabulating the additional ballots and
another report was generated after tabulation.
1. The audit was conducted by Quinn Grewell, Election Coordinator, and Sandi
Eldridge, Voter Registration Coordinator. The ballots were audited for one issue
on the ballot – Governor
2. Results of audit:
The hand count did not match the tabulator count. This discrepancy is
explainable, ballots were first hand counted then scanned through the
tabulator and one (1) ballot would not scan through the tabulator because
it was unable to read the ballot. There are multiple reasons a ballot could
be unreadable by the machine, a slight tear in the ballot a fold or crease
on the timing track, etc..
We hand counted 1248 ballots and the machine counted/ was able to read
1247 ballots.
The ballot that was unreadable by the machine went on to get duplicated
and tabulated.
All other totals match the hand and machine count.
- Risk-Limiting Audit (RLA) – Statewide
o On November 19, 2024, a Risk-Limiting Audit was conducted for one race, Lt. Governor.
A Risk-Limiting Audit (RLA), uses statistics to confirm election outcomes. This check
helps to verify that the apparent winner if an election actually won. Ballots are randomly
selected for review, then compared to the voting system record until enough have been
sampled to confirm that the correct winner was found. If the winner won by a lot of votes,
the sample needed to confirm the outcome may be quite small; if the race was close, the
audit will examine more ballots. The risk limit for statewide ballot comparison risk-limiting
audits (RLAs) is 5%.
1. Statewide 73 total ballots were pulled for this audit; Jefferson County was required
to pull zero (0) ballots for this audit.
2. Results of the audit: Zero Discrepancies Statewide
- Audit of Duplicated Ballots
o 100% of duplicated ballots were audited.
1. Results of audit;
Discrepancies were detected and corrected prior to tabulation.
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- Seal log Audit
o No discrepancies were detected.
- Random Compliance Check (RCC)
o Statewide random compliance check of ballots with a challenge status of “Signature Does
Not Match” was completed on November 18, 2024. Two (2) random Jefferson County
ballots were selected by the Secretary of State to be reviewed by a 3rd staff member that
is trained in signature verification that did not complete the first 2 reviews of the signature.
- Election Audit Event Report
o This audit event report lists all events, descriptions, timestamps, user ID, and modules for
ballot adjudication. 1204 Ballots were adjudicated for this election.
Re-checking ballot deposit sites and all storage areas per WAC 434-261-140
- Prior to certification, ALL ballot deposit sites, ballot storage, processing and tabulation areas
were rechecked by staff to confirm that all returned ballots had been processed.
- On November 25, 2024, one day prior to certification, ALL possible areas where ballots could be
were checked again for any unprocessed ballots.
Miscellaneous:
- Replacement ballots: 1,310 replacement ballots were issued.
- Ballots Deposited at Drop Sites: 15,115 (64%)
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Preliminary Canvassing Board Meeting
Date & Time: November 25, 2024 / 11:00 am
Location: First Floor Conference Room, Jefferson County Courthouse
Purpose: To make determinations on ballots referred to them.
Meeting called to order at 11:00 am by Quinn Grewell, Election Coordinator.
Canvassing Board Members present:
Brenda Huntingford, County Auditor
Kate Dean, County Commissioner –County Legislative Authority Chair
Philip Hunsucker, Civil Deputy, County Prosecuting Attorney – Designated by PA
Rules of Engagement:
Do not openly discuss or acknowledge identifying factors about the voter and/or ballot.
When working with the members to resolve challenged ballots remain fair and impartial.
Do not openly discuss outside of this meeting the names or any other personal information of the voters
and/or ballots that have been or were challenged and/or rejected.
Observers present:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of Ballots referred to the Canvassing Board on August 19, 2024:
(G-1) Post Marked Too Late 10
(G-2) No Signature 36
(G-3) Empty Envelope 2
(G-4) Ballot W/O Declaration 5
(G-5) No Signature on File 2
(G-6) Invalid /Suspended (informational only) 18
(G-7) Other Election (informational only) 5
(G-8) Late Transfers (Holds) (informational only, included in reconciliation
report)
3
Provisional Ballot 3
Other than Voter 3
Questionable Signature 125
Total Ballots Referred to Canvassing Board:
Group Item #’s
G-1 Post Marked Too Late Authorization to reject:
G-2 No Signature Authorization to reject:
G-3 Empty Envelope Authorization to reject:
G-4 Ballot W/O Declaration Authorization to reject:
G-5 No Signature on File Authorization to reject:
Item # Description Accept Reject Refer to PAO
(Y/N)
1 Provisional Ballot
2 Provisional Ballot
3A Provisional Ballot
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Item # Description Accept Reject Refer to PAO
(Y/N)
3B Questionable
4 Other than Voter
5 Other than Voter
6 Other than Voter
7 Questionable Signature
8 Questionable Signature
9 Questionable Signature
10 Questionable Signature
11 Questionable Signature
12 Questionable Signature
13 Questionable Signature
14 Questionable Signature
15 Questionable Signature
16 Questionable Signature
17 Questionable Signature
18 Questionable Signature
19 Questionable Signature
20 Questionable Signature
21 Questionable Signature
22 Questionable Signature
23 Questionable Signature
24 Questionable Signature
25 Questionable Signature
26 Questionable Signature
27 Questionable Signature
28 Questionable Signature
29 Questionable Signature
30 Questionable Signature
31 Questionable Signature
32 Questionable Signature
33 Questionable Signature
34 Questionable Signature
35 Questionable Signature
36 Questionable Signature
37 Questionable Signature
38 Questionable Signature
39 Questionable Signature
40 Questionable Signature
41 Questionable Signature
42 Questionable Signature
43 Questionable Signature
44 Questionable Signature
45 Questionable Signature
46 Questionable Signature
47 Questionable Signature
48 Questionable Signature
49 Questionable Signature
50 Questionable Signature
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Item # Description Accept Reject Refer to PAO
(Y/N)
51 Questionable Signature
52 Questionable Signature
53 Questionable Signature
54 Questionable Signature
55 Questionable Signature
56 Questionable Signature
57 Questionable Signature
58 Questionable Signature
59 Questionable Signature
60 Questionable Signature
61 Questionable Signature
62 Questionable Signature
63 Questionable Signature
64 Questionable Signature
65 Questionable Signature
66 Questionable Signature
67 Questionable Signature
68 Questionable Signature
69 Questionable Signature
70 Questionable Signature
71 Questionable Signature
72 Questionable Signature
73 Questionable Signature
74 Questionable Signature
75 Questionable Signature
76 Questionable Signature
77 Questionable Signature
78 Questionable Signature
79 Questionable Signature
80 Questionable Signature
81 Questionable Signature
82 Questionable Signature
83 Questionable Signature
84 Questionable Signature
85 Questionable Signature
86 Questionable Signature
87 Questionable Signature
88 Questionable Signature
89 Questionable Signature
90 Questionable Signature
91 Questionable Signature
92 Questionable Signature
93 Questionable Signature
94 Questionable Signature
95 Questionable Signature
96 Questionable Signature
97 Questionable Signature
98 Questionable Signature
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Item # Description Accept Reject Refer to PAO
(Y/N)
99 Questionable Signature
100 Questionable Signature
101 Questionable Signature
102 Questionable Signature
103 Questionable Signature
104 Questionable Signature
105 Questionable Signature
106 Questionable Signature
107 Questionable Signature
108 Questionable Signature
109 Questionable Signature
110 Questionable Signature
111 Questionable Signature
112 Questionable Signature
113 Questionable Signature
114 Questionable Signature
115 Questionable Signature
116 Questionable Signature
117 Questionable Signature
118 Questionable Signature
119 Questionable Signature
120 Questionable Signature
121 Questionable Signature
122 Questionable Signature
123 Questionable Signature
124 Questionable Signature
125 Questionable Signature
126 Questionable Signature
127 Questionable Signature
128 Questionable Signature
129 Questionable Signature
130 Questionable Signature
131 Questionable Signature
*An indication in red will be made if a voter resolves the challenge AFTER the canvassing board
meeting but BEFORE the deadline of 4:30 pm 11/25/2024. These ballots, if any, will be processed
and included in the final count.
Open Public Comment: None
Number of Challenged ballots ACCEPTED by the Canvassing Board on November 24, 2024, as noted
above, to be processed and included in the final count:
Motion to accept __ ballots and reject__ ballots as noted above (includes ___ from (G-1 - G-5):
Motion made by:
Motion second by:
All in favor:
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All ballots referred to the Canvassing Board will be packed in the retention box.
Motion to adjourn:
Motion made by:
Motion second by:
All in favor:
Canvassing Board Meeting November 25, 2024 to resolve ballots submitted to them adjourned
at:_____ am.
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Total All Mail Ballot Voters eligible for this election: 30,593 (includes 13 ACP voters, 28,579 active voters
and 2,001 inactive voters for this election).
Total All Mail Ballots Returned as valid and reconciled with credit for voting:
24,867 voters with credit for voting.
Other Canvassing Items Include:
All correspondence pertaining to this election.
Security:
All materials for canvassing this election were stored in secure storage. Secure storage is a
container or room that stores voted ballots and electronic data containing voted ballot images.
Secure storage must employ the use of numbered seals and logs that document each individuals
access to the voted ballots or voted ballot images, and detect inappropriate access to the secure
storage. Voted ballots and voted electronic ballot images must remain in secure storage except
during processing, duplication, resolution, inspection by the canvassing board, or tabulation.
Immediately after tabulation, all ballots counted are sealed in containers that identify the election
and retained for 22 months.
Recounts:
- The last day to request, and pay for a recount, is December 2, 2024 (within 2 business days of
certification). The board will be notified immediately if a recount is requested.
Canvass Materials:
- All canvassing materials for this election will be packed for retention and given to the records
manager. Retention for this election is 22 months after date of certification.
Official returns will be sent to:
- Secretary of State
Certificate of Canvassing Board signed.
Open Public Comment:_______________________________________________________________
These minutes shall be open to public inspection. RCW 42.32.030
Motion to accept minutes as written made by:
Motion second by: All in favor:
Motion to adjourn made by:
Motion second by: All in favor:
Meeting Adjourned at:
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Dated at Port Townsend, Washington this 25th day of November 2024.
___________________________________________________
Brenda Huntingford, County Auditor
__________________________________________________
Kate Dean, County Commissioner Legislative Authority Chair
__________________________________________________
Philip Hunsucker, Civil Deputy, County Prosecuting Attorney – designated by PA