Election Day has come and gone. Believe it or not, it’s a lot of work. Training started in the summer with a session to understand the law changes and what we’ll be looking forward to. In August we had training for election judges. That means we contact election judges and others who may be interested in being a judge. Keep in mind we need to have a head judge who runs the day and is in charge. We then have 6-7 others working during the day. With two shifts that we had 12 judges, some working a double shift. They need to attend training and be certified as a judge.
There is the Primary Election which narrows down the candidates. This election is generally smaller in terms of turnout and the number of judges is typically less as well. Prior to this election there is public election machine testing that occurs at the courthouse. Here a testing procedure is used to make sure the voting equipment is operating properly. It also sets the equipment at zero so it is ready for the election. Following the testing the equipment is taken to city hall for storage until Election Day. Just prior to the Election Day another trip is made to pick up election materials and supplies.
The day begins at about 5 am but really starts the preceding day with setup of the room. In the morning the room is finished off with equipment setup, arranging of signs and posters and the sorting of materials. Ballots are setup for use having 2 judges initialing each. The ballot receiptss are also initialed by 2 judges. The registration books are readied for those who have preregistered and other materials are set up for those who wish to register on election day. Each judge has a part in the election fulfilling that function to provide for a smooth and orderly process.
For the General Election the process is the same but your judges have already been trained. Other than that, the procedure for the General Election involves the same amount of work but we see more voters. The day moves along rapidly with a somewhat constant stream of voters. This year we made some improvements in the process and room with added voter stations and better flow of voters through the building. We had very few issues during the day. Additional voting stations will be added for the next election, in 2012.
Turnout at the polls was 907 voters and another 90 absentee ballots were cast making the total 997. Turnout was less than expected with only 65.7% of registered voters making the election, but similar to the county average. In 2008 we had a turn out of 79.5%. 91 people registered at the polls on Election Day. Total registered voters now stand at 1517.
I have to give thanks for all of this to the great work accomplished by our election judges. A huge thanks goes to Clarice Blaeser as the head election judge. The election went well thanks to their efforts.
