Election task force asks for changes
Monday, September 20, 2004

By JAY GOETTING
Napa Valley Register Staff Writer

Members of a task force put in place to review changes at the Napa County elections office and make recommendations for further modifications like what Registrar of Voters John Tuteur has done so far.

But in several instances, the five-member group would have Tuteur take the changes a step further.

Karen Schoenfeld, a retired management analyst who at one time had oversight over the elections department, called Tuteur "a very competent and energized department head."

In a report set to go to the board of supervisors Tuesday, the elections staff is also praised as being made up of "dedicated, hard working individuals."

Tuteur likes what he's seen so far. "I think it's an excellent report," he said. "They've recognized what we've done so far."

Tuteur was quick to point out that the meaty issues still lie ahead. The organization of the office, whether there should be a separate and appointed registrar and consolidation issues will be the topics of another report expected before the Nov. 2 general election.

Tuteur was named as a defendant and the staff taken to task in this summer's week-long trial pitting incumbent Supervisor Mike Rippey against challenger and now Supervisor-elect Harold Moskowite.

Rippey charged ballots were tampered with, skewing the outcome of the District 5 supervisor's race. Although the court sided with Moskowite, the series of events led to an on-going criminal investigation by the Secretary of State's office and changes in security and procedures in Tuteur's office.

Since the task force had limited time to complete its charge, Schoenfeld said the current report should be viewed as preliminary in nature with specific items still subject to scrutiny by the county CEO's staff. The task force plans a final report as well.

The task force notes the Sequoia Voting Systems' electronic touchscreen machines used in Napa County functioned very well and were secure during the primary election. Sequoia's system was the first to be certified by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who has been an advocate for tight security surrounding the electronic process including requiring a paper trail for ballots cast.

The local task force said it "appears to be a very secure system."

The rub comes with the paper ballots, whose number is ever-increasing as more and more voters cast absentee ballots. At least 20 percent of Napa voters, or about 13,000 people, cast paper ballots in March, and the task force sees three major problems in that area:

* Logic and accuracy testing. The task force agrees with action taken so far requiring more stringent testing and calibration of ballot reading equipment. Sequoia Systems will look more closely at different types of ink, some of which could not be read by machines in March. There is a Logic and Accuracy Board made up of county employees that assists in this area.

* Mail-out of absentee ballots. Nearly 100 voters received incorrect ballot types for the primary election. This was partially attributed to a variety of ballot types and with temporary employees involved in their mailing. Not only will this be tightened up and streamlined, but the task force recommends written procedures be put in place.

* Over-marking of ballots. This process, which is allowed by law, occurs when elections workers hand mark ballots that could not be read electronically. There were 500 of these done in March. Once they are over-marked, the original markings are no longer visible.

Tuteur has proposed that six teams of two people, each located in a secure area and monitored by video surveillance cameras, perform this task and initial any changes made. He has asked the Secretary of State for guidance in this area, but so far there has been no response.

The task force would take this another step and require unreadable absentee ballots be duplicated and not over-marked until there is a written procedure in place.

The task force said there had been some significant physical changes already made as well. Cameras have been installed, a partition has been converted to a full floor-to-ceiling wall, additional door locks are in place, access is restricted in sensitive areas and custodial service will be restricted at election time.

Tuteur said, "I have full confidence that the task force will point the county and the CEO's office in the right direction," as subsequent reports are issued.

Along with Schoenfeld, the task force is made up of Deputy County Counsel Silva Darbinian; Elly Goleno, a human resources analyst; Craig Goodman, the assistant auditor-controller; and Cheri Huber, the county's privacy officer.