Virginia for Election Transparency

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Locality: Franklin County

File Name: Franklin Survey 20210901




ObserversPam Sinex, Rose Quinnan, Steve Quinnan
Date of interview09/01/2021
Time and date of initial call and email:08/26/2021
Time and date of response:08/29/2021
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?Biggest Problem: Getting staff trained for the new poll books, tablets, Election process more computerized.
2. Any other major concerns?No
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?Yes
6a. Provide Detailstry for equal democrat and republican, sometimes use independents to balance.
7. Is the county Board of Elections engaged in your work year-round, or mostly near elections?Yearly
7a. Any additional information?
8. When was the last audit of the voter file in your county?2021-03-29 00:00:00
8a. No. of days since last audit:
8b. Any additional information?
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?Yes
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?Never
Record date and other list(s), if relevantNever
11. When was the last time you had access to the National Change of Address List or any other change of address list?2021-07-02 00:00:00
Other list(s):
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:Don’t know how to pull this number from the system.
14. During registration, how do you verify that voters are citizens?Given vital records, applicant answer citizenship record. If non-citizen, it is denied.
15. There are three types of voting machines used in Virginia. Can you tell me which machines you use?ES&S optical scan DS 200 scanner. DS-200 holds all ballots, tested before election. (36 DS scanners).
16. Who calibrates the voting machines, and can you please explain the process?23 day process by registrar, assistant and board members. 36 scanners to calibrate.
17. Do you invite party representatives to witness the calibration?Yes
17a. Any additional information?Send them date and time.
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?No USB port open to anyone on election day. Use port on machine to put in new upgrades.
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?Strengthened
19a. Any additional information?Tested and verified options. Checks and balances in place. Can stand on what they did to ensure safe voting with integrity.
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?
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?Early voting in Registrar’s office, which is locked at end of business day. Election day drop boxes inside each precinct are under watch by at least two people.
23. Was there any time during the last election cycle when your drop boxes did not have video monitoring?No
23a. Any additional information?Monitored by election officials.
24. Who is responsible for reviewing the video?N/A
24b. Were party observers present during the review?Refused
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?Yes
25a. Any additional information?Possibly. Have done so in the past with HS students
26. Would you authorize non-partisan election observers with the same rights as party representatives; as described in 24.2-604.5 A?Yes
26a. Any additional information?
27. Would you authorize international non-partisan observers from recognized election monitoring organizations?No
27a. Any additional information?
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?No
28a. Any additional information?Don’t think that is required.
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 as




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