Purpose
Verify the accuracy of the automated count.
The manual tally will be conducted as follows:
- At least 1% of ballot batches are randomly selected, including vote center ballots and mail ballots
- Reports are printed showing how many votes were cast for each contest
- Ballots for the selected vote center and vote-by-mail batches are retrieved from secure storage
- Teams of four people perform the manual audit: Each team has one vote caller, two-stroke counters, and one observer
- Ballots are sorted by contest and candidate name
- The caller names the vote, observer watches for accuracy, and stroke counters mark the tally sheet and confirm the number of ballots in groups of ten
- When the count is complete for a contest, the caller gives the result to the supervisor who compares it to the published results report
- If there is a discrepancy, ballots are recounted
- For propositions and measures, ballots are sorted by YES, NO, Blank, and Overvote and counting follows the same procedure outlined above
- The ballots, reports, and results of the manual tally are saved for the period designated by the Elections Code: 6 months for local elections and 22 months for federal elections
Ballots are secured as follows:
- Ballots are placed in a secure metal cart with a numbered seal placed around the lock
- The cart is stored each night in a locked, alarmed room
- Two people log in and out when opening and closing the alarmed room
- Each morning, the secure cart is moved by two people from the secured, alarmed room to the counting room and the seal is noted on a log sheet and removed
- Each day after counting ends, the secure cart is moved by two people from the counting room to the secured, alarmed room and a new seal is placed around the lock and noted on a log sheet
Random Selection of Ballots to Count
Monday, November 18, 10 AM
Ballots are randomly selected using an on-line random number generator. A 10-sided dice is rolled to determine how many times the random list will be generated before final numbers are selected to determine which ballot batches will be included. Additional ballots will be selected by the elections official for each race not included in the initial 1% manual tally of randomly-selected ballots.
Manual Counting Begins
Tuesday, November 19, 8 AM
The tally will continue weekdays between 8 AM and 5 PM until the process is finished.
Location
Marin County Elections Department
Suite 121, Marin Civic Center
3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael
The public manual tally of ballots is conducted pursuant to California Elections Code §15360.
Questions? Call 415-473-6456.