Press Release
Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
Contact:
Warren Slocum
Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Phone: (650) 363-4988 Fax: (650) 363-1903 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org
Aternate:
David Tom
Phone: (650) 312.5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org
More than 600 San Mateo County Poll Workers to Graduate Thursday from California’s first electronic voting Poll Worker Academy
Elected officials among guests at ceremony to be held at Little Theater at College of San Mateo
Redwood City, CA – More than 600 San Mateo County poll workers will graduate Thursday from San Mateo County’s Poll Worker Academy II, a summer session of intense instruction held in partnership with the San Mateo County Community College District that was the first of its kind in California.
The graduation ceremonies will be held Thursday, Sept. 27 from 1 pm to 3:30 pm at the Little Theater at the College of San Mateo, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. Graduates will hear congratulatory speeches from San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum; San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Rose Jacobs Gibson; State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo; and San Mateo County Community College District Chancellor Ron Galatolo.
To ensure the continued legacy of quality of elections in San Mateo County, each of the 603 graduates in the inaugural class of 2007 completed eight hours of instruction that focused on developing a technical mastery of Hart InterCivic’s eSlates, the electronic voting machines that will be fully implemented beginning with the November 6 election. The machines will also be used in the Presidential Primary, Direct Primary and Presidential Election in 2008.
“The skills, knowledge and confidence of our poll workers are critical keys to the success of these next four countywide elections,” San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum said. “Through the Poll Worker Academy, our 603 graduates have achieved an unprecedented level of expertise in the eSlates that will give voters at the polls on Election Day confidence that their vote will be counted.”
November will mark the first countywide election where staff, poll workers and precinct voters will use the eSlate electronic voting system. A smaller Poll Worker Academy I focused on diversity and language access was held in 2004, but this marks the first time that any academy has focused exclusively on processes related to electronic voting and partnered with a community college district.Four courses were offered during the academy:
6, 7, and 8: Focused on ensuring that polling places open and close on time. Poll workers worked in teams to master set up and take down of the eSlates.
Anatomy of an Election: Explored the components of an election related to the accuracy and integrity of the vote. Poll workers participated in Logic and Accuracy testing.
21st Century Precincts: Focused on the accessibility features of the eSlate, which allows voters with special needs to cast a secret, independent vote.
eSlate Diagnosis and Triage: Allowed poll workers to develop hands-on expertise in troubleshooting the eSlate voting system on various operational issues that can occur.
In a unique partnership with the San Mateo County Community College District, a total of 193 classes were offered at the College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College from July 9 through August 18. Graduates earned a half-unit of college credit.
“By offering credit, we have helped enhance the value and credibility of this vital training,” said Sandra Mellor, Dean of Corporate and Continuing Education for the San Mateo Community College District. “Holding the Poll Worker Academy on the campuses of our district has reintroduced a whole segment of San Mateo County to the colleges in their community as well.”
A reception for poll workers will follow the ceremony. A few poll workers will be available for media interviews following the ceremony at the foot of the stage in the Little Theater.