Nevada County Grand Jury makes recommendations for improved Election Day

The Nevada County Civil Grand Jury released its first report of the 2014-15 session Wednesday afternoon, after conducting a review of the 2014 General Election in Nevada County.

Grand jurors found a need for additional training for poll workers and an update of the Poll Worker Training Manual as actions that could lead to an improved Election Day process.

According to the summary of the complete report, which can be read below, “During interviews conducted with poll workers, it was determined that some Inspectors and Judges did not receive adequate training. This resulted in some problems with check-in procedures and equipment. Overall, Election Day could be improved with additional training, updating the Poll Worker Training Manual to correct inconsistencies and providing additional directional signage to direct voters to the polling places.”

Those findings resulted in the grand jury recommending that the office Nevada County Recorder/Registrar of Voters:

— Provide additional and effective training for all poll workers to personally demonstrate their ability to perform their duties on Election Day.

— Review, edit and implement changes to the Poll Worker Training Manual to ensure consistency in instructions given to poll workers.

— Ensure the FEDs (field election deputies) make scheduled stops at precincts where cellular reception is poor.

— Provide additional directional signs at some polling places.

— Assign greeters to all polling places with multiple precincts to ensure that voters are directed to their correct precinct.

— Provide poll worker evaluation forms in the Election Day set-up kits and require that they be completed and turned in to the Elections Office on Election Day.

— Discontinue the purchase and display of voting materials from non-governmental organizations.

“The Nevada County Grand Jury received a complaint from a citizen subsequent to the General Election,” the report states. “The complaint alleged mismanagement of the election process in Nevada County, inadequate training for potential poll workers prior to the election, and a lack of consistency in the application of policies, processes, rules and laws by poll workers during the election.”

According to the report, members of the grand jury attended the poll worker training, provided by the Nevada County Elections Office, prior to the November 2014 General Election; and also reviewed training documents, including the Poll Worker Training Manual provided to poll workers, procedures and processes of the Nevada County Elections Office and the applicable sections of the California Elections Code.

Grand Jury members observed the Nevada County General Election on Nov. 4, 2014, by visiting most of the 52 county precincts, the report states, while also interviewing poll workers and staff of the Nevada County Elections Office.

Nevada County Assistant Clerk-Recorder Sandra Sjoberg said Wednesday the Elections Office has received a copy of the report, but she has not yet thoroughly read the document. She said the Elections Office will provide a response to the grand jury report as requested.

June 4, 2015

The Union of Grass Valley

By the Union Staff