Marin County Elections Department
Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC)
April 11, 2024, 2:30 PM
Virtual (Zoom) Meeting
Minutes
Attendees
Laney Davidson, Marin County Disability Access Program
Suzanne Levine, Marin County Information Services and Technology Digital Accessibility
Lee Cretin, Marin County Information Services and Technology
Fred Nisen, Disability Rights California
Ted Jackson, Marin Center for Independent Living
Lynda Roberts, Registrar of Voters
Danny Straub, Outreach Coordinator
Elizabeth Iwamiya, Outreach Coordinator
Colleen Ksanda, Sr. Program Coordinator (Vote Centers/Election Workers)
Welcome
Lynda Roberts opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.
March 2024 Primary Election Updates
Accessibility
Logistics had no issues to report other than two card readers (components of the ballot marking device) out of 63 units deployed were not working and had to be replaced.
The department had a new, more secure front lobby counter installed prior to the March election. Staff recognized the need to better assist with communications through the security glass and acted quickly to install microphone and speaker units.
Election Worker Training
Colleen Ksanda will work with Laney Davidson to revise two disability etiquette handouts into one. Ms. Davidson has also offered to assist with training the Vote Center Coordinators on best practices for assisting voters with a disability. Ted Jackson mentioned in chat that MCIL would be happy to recruit disabled voters to assist with the training if that would be helpful for Ms. Davidson.
In response to a question, Ms. Ksanda said that the Vote Center Coordinators (VCCs), who are the designated managers at vote centers, receive a full day of training plus in-office, on-the-job training. They also have opportunities for additional workshops to practice using the equipment. Stipend works, who assist the VCCs, have 3½ hours of training to review policies and procedures and learn how to operate the equipment. They start working three days before the election and have time with the VCCs for on-site training.
Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs)
Posting instructions on how to operate the BMDs was implemented in the March election. The instructions were available in each BMD booth.
Only one person voted on the BMD in the March election.
Outreach
The outreach team followed the same plan that was used for the November 2022 election. The team is planning to retool the approach and messaging for the November 2024 election and hoping to expand targeted digital outreach for language and accessibility communities.
Suzanne Levine said the IST Digital Accessibility team is available to assist as needed.
Field Support
Suzanne Levine introduced IST colleague Lee Cretin, who helped her with the field support for ballot marking devices and general accessibility. They presented the following information:
- The Elections Department gave IST volunteers hands-on training in advance
- Five IST volunteers each visited 3-4 vote centers on March 2
- One volunteer visited the location open only on Election Day, March 5
- Election workers were well informed, conscientious, and appreciated the field support
- IST volunteers helped resolve minor hardware issues, such as components not plugged in correctly, paper/printer issues, missing cables or cords
- Photos of different locations presented a view of ideal and less than ideal BMD booth set-up
- Having BMD instructions alongside the printer presented a problem since they would slip through the space between the table and wall of the booth.
- Committee member suggested fixing this problem by, 1) Having VCCs give voters the printed instructions when they start the voting session, or; 2) Partially sliding the instructions underneath the printer.
Question: Are all voters told they can use the BMD?
Answer: It is in the training manual and part of the protocol at vote centers is to ask a voter if they want a printed ballot or want to vote on the BMD. One election worker told Ms. Levine that she thought the BMD was only for those with a disability.
Suggestions:
Post a sign on the BMD booth that says “Anyone may vote on this machine”.
Let workers know in training that per the law all voters have the right to vote on the BMD.
Perhaps Marin CIL and the Elections Department could offer hands-on opportunities for people to engage with the BMD. For example, at meetings of Marin County Community on Aging or in the Elections Department. There is an opportunity at the County Fair since both the Elections Department and MCIL will be hosting a booth.
Ms. Roberts thanked Ms. Levine for continuing to provide this very important field support.
Next Meeting
The next quarterly meeting will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2:30-3:30 PM via Zoom.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 PM.