Overview of 2012 election changes

1. Presentation to
Mainstream Education Foundation
Brian D. Newby
Election Commissioner
Johnson County, Kansas
www.ElectionDiary.com
www.jocoelection.org
http://my.jocopolo.com
March 1, 2012

2. Today’s Discussion
Over the next few minutes, we will:
• Level-set on Election Numbers
• Review Population and Voter Trends
• Touch Base on Key Drivers 2012
• Discuss Photo ID Procedural Changes and
Approach
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 2

3. Johnson County Election Office By The Numbers
Staff Members: Voters:
16 Full-time Over 365,000
Employees, up to Registered voters
250 part-time
Voting
Precincts: 451
Locations:
Up to 286
Voting
Machines:
2,407
Ballots:
Advance Voting
Up to
Locations: 4
1,461
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 3

4. Eight Months From Today:
“Presidential Election 2012”
• Advance voting will be well underway
• Fifth election with voter ID
• Seventh election with new registration closing
timeframe (3 weeks instead of 2)
• Advance voting sites and polling places, wherever
they will be, will have been identified and utilized.
• Maybe the second with new citizenship
registration requirements.
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 4

5. Johnson County, Kansas
Est. Population 550,000 Registered Voters 365,994
Registered Voters 350,000
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 9

6. Johnson County Statistics
Registered Voters Total Voted Turnout %
Year JoCoPop Growth% November Growth% November Growth% November Trend
1960 143,792 77,420 65,033 84%
1964 177,137 23% 84,059 9% 72,483 11% 86% 2%
1968 212,245 20% 100,610 20% 88,314 22% 88% 2%
1972 231,933 9% 120,407 20% 104,136 18% 86% -1%
1976 243,953 5% 140,956 17% 117,040 12% 83% -3%
1980 266,489 9% 155,769 11% 125,637 7% 81% -2%
1984 283,666 6% 169,773 9% 141,715 13% 83% 3%
1988 328,537 16% 185,727 9% 155,267 10% 84% 1%
1992 374,801 14% 222,815 20% 197,265 27% 89% 5%
1996 411,635 10% 246,497 11% 192,202 -3% 78.0% -11%
2000 451,086 10% 312,788 27% 218,486 14% 70% -8%
2004 496,691 10% 348,552 11% 259,599 19% 75% 5%
2008 532,215 7% 364,441 5% 285,001 10% 78.2% 3%
2012 e 551,529 4% 390,000 7% 292,500 3% 75% -3%
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 10

7. Key Legislative Drivers:
• There will be no presidential preference primary in 2012.
Parties will conduct caucuses.
• Beginning in 2012, every voter must show photo
identification each time they vote.
• By-mail advance voters who ask other people to mail or
deliver their ballots must designate the delivery persons
in writing.
• Beginning in 2013, individuals must provide proof of
U.S. citizenship when they register to vote for the first
time in Kansas.
• The candidate filing deadline in even-year elections is
moved from noon on June 10 to noon on June 1.
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 7

8. Key Legislative Drivers (cont.):
• In the redistricting years of 2012, the candidate filing
deadline may be June 1, June 10 or, if there is litigation, a
date set by a court, but ONLY FOR STATE RACES.
• The voter registration deadline for all elections is moved
from the 15th day to the 21st day before the election.
• The county canvass is held either on Monday or the
second Thursday following the election, rather than
Friday or Monday.
• The deadline to request a single-district recount in a
specific county is 5:00 pm the day following the county
canvass. Once requested, recounts must be completed in
5 calendar days.
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 8

9. Even More Legislative Drivers:
• UOCAVA voters now vote a complete ballot, with all the
races and issues that regular ballots contain.
• UOCAVA voters must submit ballot applications annually.
• In local elections held in the spring of odd-numbered
years, a primary is held if more than 3 candidates file for
an office, and the two candidates receiving the most votes
in the primary move on to the general election.
• Candidates for state offices file their campaign finance
reports only with the Secretary of State, not with the
county election officer.
• Candidates may not appear in advertisements or public
service announcements within 60 days of a primary
election, extending until the general election is over.
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 9

10. What’s Changed
• Registration Form
• Close of Registration Date
• Elimination of First –Time Voter
• Photo ID Requirements
• Check-in Process
• Poll Book
• Provisional Envelope
• “Peach Sheet”

11. What Hasn’t Changed

12. What Hasn’t Changed
AT LEAST 95
PERCENT,
MAYBE MORE

13. 2012 Countdown
Pre-election
Registration Closes Advance Voting by
20 Days Before Mail Begins 20 Days
Election Before Election
Advance Voting in
Advance Ballots
Person Begins:
Must Be Returned
March 27
by 7 p.m. on
July 24
Election Day
October 23

14. No Requirement (36)
Non-Photo ID (10)
Photo ID (4)

15. No Requirement (23)
Non-Photo ID (19)
Photo ID (6)
Strict Photo ID (2)

16. *
No Law or Legislation (3)
Existing Law (22)
Enacted Legislation (8)
Failed/Vetoed Legislation (7)
Pending Legislation (10)

17. No Requirement (19)
Non-Photo ID (16)
Photo ID (7)
Strict Photo ID (8)

19. Election Worker Feedback

20. Election Worker Feedback

21. Election Worker Feedback
Neighbor-

22. Election Worker Feedback
Neighbor-

23. Election Worker Feedback
Neighbor-

24. Our 2012 Mission
Stay on Target!

25. Our 2012 Mission
1. Always check ID, no exceptions.

26. Our 2012 Mission
1. Always check ID, no exceptions.
2. Never deny someone the right to
vote.

27. Our 2012 Mission
1. Always check ID, no exceptions.
2. Never deny someone the right to
vote.
3. If in doubt, issue a provisional
ballot.

28. Our 2012 Mission
1. Always check ID, no exceptions.
2. Never deny someone the right to
vote.
3. If in doubt, issue a provisional
ballot.
4. That said, learn the process to
reduce the number of provisional
ballots.

29. Our 2012 Mission
ID is Checked to
Verify Name and
Picture, Not Address.

30. Valid forms of photographic ID:
 Driver’s license or nondriver’s ID card issued by Kansas or by another state or
district of the U.S.
 U.S. passport
 U.S. military ID document
 Concealed carry of handgun license issued by Kansas or by another state or
district of the U.S.
 Employee badge or ID document issued by a municipal, county, state, or federal
government office
 Student ID card issued by an accredited postsecondary institution of education in
Kansas
 Public assistance ID card issued by a municipal, county, state, or federal
government office

31. Guidelines for Assessing Photo ID Documents
Remember, the ID document is used only to verify the
voter’s name and image.
First, verify that the name on the ID is consistent with
the poll book. If consistent, issue a regular ballot. If it is
not consistent, issue a provisional ballot.
Second, compare the photograph on the ID to the voter.
If you are satisfied that the voter is the person depicted
in the photo on the ID document, issue a regular ballot.

32.  If you are unable to make a determination because the
document is degraded or the photo is poor quality, issue
a regular ballot if one of the following conditions is met:
 (1) the date of birth on the ID document matches the
poll book, or
 (2) the voter submits a second ID document with a
photo that appears to be the voter, or (3) one of the
other poll workers has personal knowledge that the
voter is the person in the photo.
 Issue a provisional ballot if none of these conditions is
met or if you are not satisfied that the voter is the person
depicted in the photo.

33. If there is disagreement among poll workers as to whether a
voter’s ID document is valid, the supervising judge shall
decide whether to issue a regular ballot or a provisional
ballot. This procedure does not exempt the voter from
providing an ID document. The only voters exempt from the
ID requirement are those who sign a Declaration of
Religious Objection (Form DRO).
The address on the ID document does not have to match the
poll book. Use the poll book to verify the voter’s address,
not the ID document.
Persons age 65 or older may use expired ID documents.

34. Exemption from the ID requirement
 Any person whose religious beliefs prohibit
photographic identification may be exempted from the
photo ID requirement.
 Any such person may complete and sign a declaration
and file it with the Secretary of State or the county
election officer before the election.
 Some voters may sign them at the polling place.
 Form DRO is used for this purpose. (Declaration of
Religious Objection)

35. Exemption from the ID requirement
 Any person whose religious beliefs prohibit
photographic identification may be exempted from the
photo ID requirement.
 Any such person may complete and sign a declaration
and file it with the Secretary of State or the county
election officer before the election.
 Some voters may sign them at the polling place.
 Form DRO is used for this purpose. (Declaration of
Religious Objection)

37. got photo ID campaign

38. Outreach Vehicles

39. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.

40. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.

41. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.
Key Connector Strategy

42. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.
Key Connector Strategy

43. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.
Key Connector Strategy

44. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.
Key Connector Strategy

45. Outreach Approach
Take advantage of the inertia of a
presidential election.
Key Connector Strategy

46. Outreach Approach
ElectionDiary.com
Text “Follow ElectionDiary” to 40404

47. Outreach Approach
ElectionDiary.com
Text “Follow ElectionDiary” to 40404

48. Jo-Co Po-Lo
www.jocopolo.com
Johnson County Election Office

49. Jo-Co Po-Lo
www.jocopolo.com
Johnson County Election Office

50. Jo-Co Po-Lo
www.jocopolo.com
Johnson County Election Office

54. Websites
Facebook:
Johnson County Election Office
Twitter:
Jocoelection
ElectionDiary
Podcast:
Election Updates on iTunes
Brian D. Newby, March 1, 2012 54