2. VOTER IS IN ROSTER OF VOTERS
1. Request voter state their name and address if he/she does not volunteer it.
2. Repeat the voter’s name and address back to them.
3. Locate voter in the Roster of Voters and confirm their eligibility.
a. If signature line has a message, see section entitled Message on Signature Line in
Roster of Voters.
4. Quietly state to the voter what political party they are listed as in the Roster of Voters.
5. Point to party type on the Direct Primary Ballot Issue Flowchart so the Ballot Issue
Election can see this.
6. Obtain the voter’s signature.
7. Issue a paper ballot to the voter inside of a yellow secrecy sleeve. If voter requests to use
the Touch-Screen Voting Machine, activate a Voter Card according to the codes on the
Card Activator.
8. Remind voter to return voted ballot inside yellow secrecy sleeve. Also ensure that the
voter knows how to properly mark their ballot by connecting the arrow and advise him/her
how to obtain additional information if necessary.
3. YOU ARE PROCESSING A PROVISIONAL VOTER
The following are conditions in which a voter is voting provisionally and completes a
Provisional Ballot Envelope:
• Voter is not found in the blue Roster of Voters.
• Voter is unable to go to his/her assigned Polling Place.
• Voter is shown as a Vote by Mail voter in Roster but is unable to surrender the ballot.
• Voter moved within Monterey County and did not re-register.
• “ID REQUIRED” appears on the signature line and the voter is unable to provide required
Identification.
• Voter disagrees with listed party affiliation during a primary and insists on voting within
another party or, if voter is listed as Decline to State and is requesting a party ballot that
is not allowed.
• Voter has already cast a ballot and wishes to vote again.
• The voter’s name appears in the pink roster.
Remember: If you are unable to find the voters name in Roster of Voters, the voter might be in
the wrong precinct or might not be registered to vote in Monterey County. Offer the voter a Voter
Assistance Card and suggest he/she call to find out their correct polling place. DO NOT
CREATE A LINE FOR THE VOTER IN THE ROSTER OR INSERT HIS/HER INFORMATION
ON THE CORRECTIONS PAGE!
Issuing a Provisional Ballot:
1. See the images on the following two pages for instructions on how you and the voter are
to complete the Provisional Ballot envelope. Both you and the voter are to complete the
envelope before issuing the ballot.
2. Issue ballot and the completed Provisional Envelope and give voter stub from envelope.
3. Inform voter to return voted ballot to you with voted ballot inside sealed Provisional
Envelope.
4. Reminder voter that he/she may call the Elections Department 28 days after the election
to find out if their Provisional Ballot was counted (hone number is listed on envelope
stub).
5. Place the sealed Provisional Envelope in the blue Ballot Bag.
REMEMBER: If the polling place has multiple precincts, be sure to deposit the ballot in the bag
that corresponds to the precinct documented on the envelope.
NOTE: PROVISIONAL VOTERS DO NOT SIGN THE ROSTER OF VOTERS. If one should
mistakenly sign, provide details on the notes page of the roster (white sheet located at
the back of the Roster).
4. Voter Completes Election Officer
Ballot Type (on voter info line)
Completes This
This Section
Section Ballot of Party issued
Voter prints name here
Voter Signature Today’s Date DOB
Phone Number
Voter’s Current Residential Address
Last 4 digits of SSN
DL or State ID #
Voter’s Former Residential Address (if applicable)
Date of Move (if applicable)
Front of Provisional Envelope
5. Detach
envelope
stub and
give to
voter
Election
Officer
checks off as
many as
applicable
Provide detailed explanation
Print Your Name Here
Mark as applicable
Back of Provisional Envelope
6. VOTER’S IN INACTIVE VOTERS ROSTER (BLUE PAGES)
Voter’s Name in Inactive Voters Roster (Blue Pages):
The blue section of the Roster of Voters lists Inactive Voters whose registration was cancelled
per information from the U.S. Postal Service and/or who have not responded to multiple
requests from the Elections Department.
If a voter is in the blue Roster of Voters, follow the procedures below:
1. Have voter confirm that the information on the voter information line is correct.
2. IF THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT, have the voter sign in the blue Roster of Voters
and process him/her as a regular voter.
3. IF THE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT, request the voter complete a new Voter
Registration Form and process the voter provisionally – THE VOTER DOES NOT SIGN
THE ROSTER.
7. SPOILING A BALLOT
Spoiling a Ballot:
If a voter mis-marks, defaces or requests another ballot after being issued their first one, he/she
may be issued up to two more additional ballots (CEC § 14288). This means the third ballot
issued is the one that will be counted.
If a voter requests a second or third paper ballot:
1. Take the one the voter no longer wants and write “Spoiled” on the back of the ballot
taking care not to show voters choices.
2. Place this Spoiled ballot in to Plastic Bag D.
3. If this is the third ballot being issued to the voter, remind him/her that this is the last ballot
to be counted. Also offer your assistance to the voter in marking his ballot.
For voters using the Touch-Screen, this machine has a review screen that allows voters to
change their vote before pressing the “Cast Ballot” button. Once the ballot is cast, the voter
may not go back or vote again.
8. MESSAGE ON SIGNATURE LINE IN ROSTER OF VOTERS
MESSAGE ON SIGNATURE LINE IN ROSTER OF VOTERS
1. ID REQUIRED: Requires voter to show a valid form of identification as this voter may
have registered to vote by mail, did not provide the required identification during
registration, and is voting in their first Federal Election in Monterey County.
a. Acceptable Forms of Identification showing current name and address are:
q California Driver’s License/Photo ID
q Copy of Utility Bill
q Bank Statement
q Paycheck
q Other government-issued document
b. Process voter according to eligibility. If voter is unable to present valid
identification, issue voter a Provisional Ballot.
2. VBM: This means the voter has been sent a Vote by Mail Ballot. Go to the section
entitled Vote by Mail Voters to process this voter accordingly.
9. VOTE BY MAIL VOTERS (CEC § 3015, 3016, 3017)
Situation 1: Voter has Vote by Mail Ballot AND is IN Their Registered Precinct
1. Ask voter to surrender their Vote by Mail Ballot and the blue Return Envelope.
2. Write “SURRENDERED” on the Envelope and place envelope in Plastic Bag D.
3. Voter signs Index-Roster over “VBM” on the signature line.
4. Issue ballot per Party and Ballot Type in Roster of Voters
Situation 2: Voter DOES NOT HAVE Vote by Mail Ballot and is IN Their Registered
Precinct
1. Issue Voter a Provisional Ballot.
Situation 3: Voter Dropping Off Vote by Mail Ballot at Polling Place
A Vote by Mail Ballot may be dropped off at any polling place in Monterey County prior to 8:00
p.m. on Election Day.
1. Make sure Vote by Mail voter has signed the blue Vote by Mail Envelope and the
envelope is sealed.
2. Ask if person returning Ballot is the voter.
a. If YES – place voted ballot in the blue Ballot Bag.
b. If NO – ask person returning Ballot if he/she is one of the following authorized
individuals and confirm that he/she has signed in the appropriate place on the blue
envelope.
q Authorized individuals are: Spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild,
brother, sister or person residing in same household.
10. VOTER CHANGED ADDRESS OR NAME
Voter Changed Address
Any person who registered to vote in Monterey County on or before the 15-day registration
deadline prior to that election may vote. Also, any registered voter may vote at the Elections
Department, 1370 B South Main Street, Salinas.
Use the table below to determine what kind of ballot to issue a voter who has moved.
Voter Moved…. Action Taken
BEFORE 15-day registration deadline (May 1. Voter signs Roster of Voters.
19, 2008) within the SAME precinct (CEC § 2. Issue Voter Registration Form for
2116). address update
BEFORE 15-day registration deadline (May 1. Process voter as Provisional (see
19, 2008) to a DIFFERENT precinct and did Cannot Find Voter in Rosters
not re-register (CEC § 14311 and 2116). section).
AFTER 15-day registration deadline (May 1. Voter signs Roster of Voters.
19, 2008) and goes to OLD polling place 2. Issue Voter Registration Form for
(CEC § 2116). address update.
AFTER 15-day registration deadline (May 1. Process voter as Provisional (see
19, 2008) goes to NEW polling place (CEC Cannot Find Voter in Roster of Voters
§ 14311 and 2116). section).
Voter Changed Name
Reason Action Taken
Due to marriage, divorce or decree AFTER 1. Have voter sign with former
date of registration (May 15, 2008). surname.
2. Print voter’s current surname
in brackets.
3. Issue Voter Registration Card.
11. VOTERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUIRES ASSISTANCE
Language Assistance
Monterey County is required by Federal law to provide election information and assistance in
Spanish and English.
Bilingual Election Officers should be prepared to provide a full and accurate translation of any
part of the ballot and on voting instructions. Election Officers are not required to translate the
entire sample ballot nor are they to give advice on how to vote.
Bilingual Election Officers Must:
q Respond promptly to all reasonable requests for language assistance.
q Provide a full and accurate translation of all or any part of the ballot, if requested to do so by
a voter. Election Officers are not required to translate candidate statements, analyses nor
the full text of measures from the sample ballot.
q Ensure that:
All bilingual signs (English and Spanish) are posted in the appropriate places.
§
The English and Spanish sample ballots are available on the Voter Processing Table.
§
You wear your bilingual name bag next to your identification badge all day.
§
Audio Assistance
To assist voters requiring audio assistance, encourage them to use the Touch-Screen as it
includes headphones and a keypad for an audio version of the ballot thus allowing the voter full
privacy. You must activate the audio ballot for voters requiring this assistance (For enabling the
audio unit, see Page 12 of the Opening Procedures handbook).
Assistance in Marking the Ballot
By law, voters may be assisted by up to 2 persons in marking their ballot. If a voter requires
assistance from you or anyone else (with the exception of the voter’s employer or union agent),
follow the procedures below:
1. Complete the Assisted Voter section in the Roster of Voters.
2. Write the name of the voter requiring assistance on the Assisted Voter List.
3. Issue a ballot according to eligibility.
Curbside Voting
If a voter is unable to enter the polling place, he or she may vote outside. Follow the procedures
outlined below to process this type of voter:
1. Using the Roster of Voters, determine if the voter is eligible to vote in the precinct.
2. Bring the Curbside Voting Form (1/4 sheet located in blue Supplies Bag) along with the
ballot privacy sleeve and a pen.
3. Have the voter complete the Curbside Voting Form.
4. Allow the voter to privately cast their Ballot using the pen provided. Ask them to place the
Ballot inside the privacy sleeve and hand it back to you.
5. After voter has handed the privacy sleeve to you, remove ballot stub and give it to the
voter.
6. With the ballot inside the privacy sleeve, return to polling place and insert voted ballot into
the black Ballot Box.
7. Return Roster of Voters to the Voter Processing Table.
If voter is NOT in Roster of Voters, go to the section on Processing a Provisional Voter.
12. DISTURBANCE AT POLLING PLACE
Disturbance at Polling Place
If any person is unruly, abusive, or threatens in any way the safety of the Precinct Board, a voter
or the orderly conduct of the election, call 911 immediately followed up with a call to the
Elections Department office.
Be sure to record the incident on the Call Log form in your red Inspector
Binder.
13. ELECTIONEERING
Electioneering:
Electioneering within 100 feet is prohibited (CEC § 18370). If you are unable to resolve
problems of electioneering within 100 feet of the polling place, call the Elections Department
immediately. If electioneering occurs on someone’s private property within 100 feet of a polling
place, call your Field Inspector to have him/her measure the distance, and then call the
Elections Department.
Examples of Electioneering include:
q Buttons of a political nature
q T-shirts of a political nature
q Signs of a political nature either on or in vehicles within the 100 foot range (even on
private property)
q Newspapers
q Books of a political nature
It’s good practice to periodically walk the perimeter of the polling place and check inside the
voting booths and face of the touch-screen voting machine for Electioneering!
14. MEDIA AT THE POLLING PLACE
Voting is, by necessity and design, a public process. As the purveyors of information to the
public, members of the various media may arrive at your polling place to cover one or more
aspects of the process for their viewers, readers or listening audience. In most cases this is not
a problem and needn’t be disruptive, however, it’s important to know the media MAY NOT
INTERFERE with the voting process in any way.
Listed below are general guidelines for members of the media:
CAN DO:
ü Complete exit polling at least twenty-five (25) feet from any and all entrances to polling place
(CEC § 18541 and Attorney General Opinion)
ü Review posted yellow Roster.
ü Photograph voters with permission and as long as there is no disruption to other voters or
the voting process.
CANNOT DO:
ü Interfere with voting process
ü Photograph, videotape, or otherwise record a voter entering or exiting a polling place without
a voters permission.
ü Remove posted yellow Roster.
MUST DO:
ü Photographers or videographers must get permission from subjects and must ensure that
neither paper ballot nor on-screen ballots are legible in the photos or footage.
Election Officers are asked to limit comments to the media to those issues about which they
have first-hand knowledge. Technical questions or questions regarding policies or procedures
should be directed to the Monterey County Elections Department.
15. POLLWATCHERS/OBSERVERS AT THE POLLING PLACE
Pollwatchers/Observers at Polling Place
Pollwatchers or “Observers” are members of the public engaged in observing activities at the
polls. They may be affiliated with voter advocacy organizations, the California Secretary of
State, the Department of Justice, campaigns or political parties. As with members of the media,
Pollwatchers MAY NOT INTERFERE with the voting process in any way.
If someone identifies him/herself as a Pollwatcher or Observer have them sign in and out on the
Observer Sign-In Sheet.
Listed below are the guidelines for Pollwatchers/Observers.
Observers/Pollwatchers Will Be Asked To:
1. Complete a sign-in sheet indicating their name and the times they are present to observe.
Please check in with the Election Officers and let them know who you are, who you
represent, and your plans for observing.
2. Leave all personal bags, backpacks, and/or briefcases in their cars.
3. Turn off their cell phones/pagers/PDAs so as not disturb the process.
4. Keep their voices to a low whisper and maintain a professional manner while observing the
elections processes.
5. Sign-out upon leaving the polling place.
Observers/Pollwatchers May:
1. Make notes about the proceedings at the polls, including the opening and closing
procedures.
2. Obtain information from the Precinct Roster that is posted near the entrance.
3. Look at the copy of the Precinct Roster being updated at the worktable, if the Election
Officers are not using it and there are no Voters waiting to vote.
4. Upon request, be permitted to observe and inspect, without physical contact, and in the
presence of an Election Officer, the integrity of all externally visible security seals used to
secure voting equipment in a time and manner that does not interfere with the conduct of the
election or the privacy of any voter.
Observers/Pollwatchers May Not:
1. Interfere in any way, in the judgment of a Monterey County Elections Officer, with the
procedures or the conduct of any election. Interfering with the preparation and holding of an
election, or with voters lawfully exercising their rights of voting at an election, is punishable
by imprisonment for up to 3 years in state prison (CEC § 18502).
2. Talk to Elections Officers or voters in such a manner as to interfere with or delay the voting
process.
a. Observers have the right to ask Election Officers questions regarding election
procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the Registrar of Voters for an
answer. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, the
Election Officers may stop responding and direct the Observers to the Registrar of
Voters for all further answers.
3. Touch any voting materials or equipment or sit at the official worktables.
16. 4. Use the area between the official worktables, voting booths and vote tabulating equipment as
observation point/post.
5. Intimidate or impede, or attempt to intimidate or impede, in the judgment of an Elections
Officer, staff or voters in any way.
6. Insist that the Election Officers stop processing voters so the Observers may view either
the Precinct Roster being updated at the worktable or the second copy of the Precinct
Roster posted by the doorway.
7. Interfere with the timely closing of the polls or transportation of the ballots to the Central Office
or receiving centers.
8. Talk to voters relating to the casting of a vote, display any election material, wear candidate
badges, or speak to a voter relating to their qualifications to vote within 100 feet of the
entrance to the polling place.
9. Use cellular telephones, pagers or two-way radios inside the polling place, or within 100 feet
of the entrance to the polling place.
10. Use cameras, including cellular telephone cameras, or video recording devices of any kind
while inside the polling place or photograph, videotape, or otherwise record a voter entering
or exiting a polling place with intent of dissuading them from voting.
a. Photography of any sort in the polling place is a highly sensitive issue. Voters may
and can object to being photographed or videotaped.
11. Remove or view any materials, including the posted Precinct Rosters, in a way so that others
are unable to use them.
12. Use the telephone or other polling place facilities.
13. Talk in a loud voice or behave in a disruptive manner.
14. Congregate in excessive numbers inside the polling place.
15. Eat or drink within the polling place.
16. Wear the uniform of a peace officer, private guard, or security personnel.
Prior to the 8:00 a.m. opening of the polls, close all doors to your polling place (but do not lock
them). This will ensure any observer or voter must make him/herself known prior to entry.
Should an observer request to watch the set-up and opening of the polling place, inform them
they may do so, however, they are to be escorted at all times around any voting equipment
and/or Official Table supplies.
For more information on Pollwatchers/Observers, see your Election Officer handbook.
17. VOTER WANTS TO CAST BALLOT ON TOUCH-SCREEN VOTING MACHINE
Follow the steps below to ready a Voter Card:
1. Ensure display screen on the front of the Card Activator reads “INSERT VOTER CARD.”
2. Next, with the arrow facing down, insert/push the Voter Card into the yellow opening on
the top of the Card Activator until it lodges in the Activator. The display screen on the
front of the Card Activator should now read “Enter Ballot Code.”
3. Enter the corresponding Activation Code for the voter Ballot (Ballot Type/activation code
is located in Activator bag).
4. Verify that the screen on the Card Activator displays the correct ballot code.
Yes
5. If so, press the “YES” button on the keypad. The prompt will change to “ACTIVATE
THIS CARD?”
Yes
6. Press the “YES” button again. The activated card will pop up and is now ready to
hand to the voter.
No
7. If the ballot code is NOT correct or was entered incorrectly, press the “NO” button.
This will take you back to the “Enter Ballot Code” screen where you can re-enter the
Ballot Code. Once you have reentered the Ballot Code, you will again be offered the
opportunity to confirm its accuracy. Follow the prompts as previously stated.
8. Once the activated card has popped up, remove the activated Voter Card from the Card
Activator and hand it to the voter. Offer instruction, if needed, on how to insert the Voter
Card into the touch-screen voting machine to begin the voting process.
9. Direct the voter to the touch-screen voting machine assigned to his/her precinct and be
sure that the voter knows how and from whom to obtain additional instruction as may be
desired.
