Virginia for Election Transparency

Free and Fair Elections are crucial for a Republic to survive.

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Locality: Richmond City

File Name: Richmond City Survey 20210816




ObserversKelly Edwards, Amy Hunter, Bobbie Crowell
Date of interview08/16/2021
Time and date of initial call and email:08/02/2021
Time and date of response:08/02/2021
Did the registrar refuse to meet you:No
If yes, please provide the reason given for not meeting:
Survey Answers
1. What is your biggest concern about the upcoming election?First big election, conduct in a way that is. June election results were late from precincts, focusing on timely reporting
2. Any other major concerns?
3. Do you feel like you have the resources, equipment, personnel, and training needed to run an effective election in November?Yes
3a. Any additional information?
4. If no, what is missing?
5. The county election board is supposed to consist of 2 Democrats and a Republican under a Democrat governor, but in some areas, boards have had trouble finding willing Republicans and have appointed an Independent instead, or another Democrat. What is the situation in this county?2D+R
6. What about precinct staff? Are you able to have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans?Refused
6a. Provide DetailsLaw says Dem/Rep election officers have to come from party, Hundreds of election officers, historically the parties are not sending the list of names over, if they don't get that then they appoint as independents
7. Is the county Board of Elections engaged in your work year-round, or mostly near elections?Mostly
7a. Any additional information?6 month break on non-presidential years. Mostly near elections when responsibiity kicks in
8. When was the last audit of the voter file in your county?
8a. No. of days since last audit:
8b. Any additional information?Done at state level, done monthly + sends out communication
9a. Does the Health Department send a list of deceased people to your office every month so they can be removed from the voter roll?Refused
9b. If no, how often do they send a list?
10. When was the last time the Clerk of Courts submitted a list of individuals who declined to serve on jury duty on the basis of being a non-citizen?
10a. Any additional information?Need to check on this / sending as follow up
Record date and other list(s), if relevantNeed to check on this / sending as follow up
11. When was the last time you had access to the National Change of Address List or any other change of address list?2021-06-30 00:00:00
Other list(s):Updated each summer
12a. Are you confident that the voter file is accurate and up to date?Yes
12b. If no, what is/are your main concern(s) about the list?
13. How many households in your locality have more than 7 individuals registered at the same address? Number:Has no idea how to find this out. Will follow up
14. During registration, how do you verify that voters are citizens?Check box / signature on document
15. There are three types of voting machines used in Virginia. Can you tell me which machines you use?ES+S DS200 Ballot Scanning
16. Who calibrates the voting machines, and can you please explain the process?Mock election, logic + accuracy test each machine then report at end - vendor is Print Elect - vendor is only one who can get into machine
17. Do you invite party representatives to witness the calibration?Yes
17a. Any additional information?In previous years they have not attended
18a. Are voting machines ever connected to the internet?No
18b. If they are not connected to the internet, how and when are they updated?Updated with new software before election / certified by state
19. As an election professional, do you think the changes made in the election process in Virginia in response to COVID have weakened election integrity, strengthened election integrity, or made no change in election integrity?Unknown
19a. Any additional information?All the changes last year caused confusion for the voters
20a. Did you receive any funding or in-kind contributions for training, staff, voter education or equipment, or any other purpose from outside the state of Virginia?No
20b. If yes, what was the funding or contribution used for?
21. Effective Jul 1, 2021, Senate Bill 1097, eliminated requirements for voters to have a witness signature on absentee ballots for any election during a declared state of emergency. The Governor has now rescinded the state of emergency. How are you training your staff to ensure that there is a signature match for the upcoming elections?Training for individuals who work on absentee ballots, they are having training to go over new process to start looking for signature
22. There is a lot of concern in Virginia and across the country about the security and integrity of the ballot drop boxes. What are the chain of custody procedures for ballot drop boxes?Staff picks up and they log it in system. Only opening of outer envelope to prepare ballot for pre-processing checking for signature + if ballot needs to be cured, Preprocessing can have observers
23. Was there any time during the last election cycle when your drop boxes did not have video monitoring?No
23a. Any additional information?Would also like to follow up on this question. They do have video at this location
24. Who is responsible for reviewing the video?Does not observe videos unless there is a reason to
24b. Were party observers present during the review?Yes
25. Would you provide training and support, or designate us to provide training and support, for an election day page program as described in 24.2-604.3?Unknown
25a. Any additional information?Thought about it so maybe
26. Would you authorize non-partisan election observers with the same rights as party representatives; as described in 24.2-604.5 A?Unknown
26a. Any additional information?If it is described in that code section then he would
27. Would you authorize international non-partisan observers from recognized election monitoring organizations?Unknown
27a. Any additional information?If allowed by law then yes
28. Have your local party chairs been notified that they are entitled to send observers to your office each day it is open and receiving in-person absentee ballots?Unknown
28a. Any additional information?Are they legally required, not sure they are required to do that - follow back up
29a. Do you have a publication that you provide to your election officials regarding rights and responsibilities of observers?Yes
29b. If no, would you be willing to distribute such a publication that we would prepare based on Virginia law?Yes
30. Question – Please characterize your interaction with the Registrar asHelpful Polite




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