County Commissioner Jim Martin

(5/2022) May 17, Primary Election Day will be upon us in several weeks. The Adams County Voter Registration and Elections Office has been carefully preparing and will continue preparing for that important day.

All Pennsylvania legal citizens who cherish their constitutional right to vote need the assurance that they will be voting in a trusted, accurate and secure process. Following the November 2021 General Election, Lawrence Tabas the Chairman of the PA State Republican Committee went out of his way (unsolicited) to comment on how well Adams County conducts elections. By the way Mr. Tabas regularly reviews all PA counties election details. He personally thanked me for the excellent work of the Adams County Election Office and support staff. In his opinion Adams County has the best performance of any office in the state for accuracy, maintenance of records and adhering to the highest standards of integrity.

Mr. Tabas’s independent analysis speaks volumes to those seeking confidence that their vote is properly received and securely managed. Months before election day I regularly review our Elections Office as they prepare to conduct the coming election. I always come away assured that Adams County will be initiating an election of integrity. For the 2022 Primary our Elections Office is preparing to strengthen the chain of custody from the precinct poll to the courthouse. Every exchange of ballot boxes and poll accounting records will be an unbroken chain of custody, accompanied by a signed receipt. This eliminates the caddy of a poll’s election material from being the sole handler from drop-off (courthouse sidewalk) to the election office. Before the ballot boxes leave the polls with the judge of elections, they are locked, and seals affixed to secure all ballots. Additionally, security officers will be overseeing this exchange until all polls have reported.

As most voters are aware, a ballot scanner is used to electronically count ballots. This scanner is a standalone device having NO wireless or internet connection. To detect any tampering of the scanner, seals are placed at all possible access points. Broken seals indicate possible tampering and will initiate being replaced. To ensure that no votes were downloaded, a test count printed tape is run from the scanner before the polls open. All candidate positions on the tape will be checked for a zero reading. All zeros verify no downloading has occurred.

Voters will find there is an alternative means to vote at the polls, the Express Vote machine. The Express Vote machine will be available primarily for vision impaired and blind voters. It too is furnished with seals to detect tampering. It may be used by other voters if not being used by impaired voters. By using this machine voters may not have to wait for an open voting station. The Express Vote machine prints its own ballot after the voter’s choices are made on the touch screen. The ballot that is produced (printed) is then run through the scanner the same as the pre-printed ballot, even though it is much narrower. This machine is mandated to be furnished at each poll per a special congressional act. Some precincts pass through an entire election without anyone using the Express Vote, so please feel free to vote by this process. Before printing the ballot, a review of all choices can be made; when satisfied then press "print".

Detailed training sessions will be conducted for all poll workers so they are knowledgeable of various situations that arise during the voting process. When someone over votes (too many votes for a particular office), too many stray markings on the ballot, or the voter damages the ballot, it can be declared a spoiled ballot. In this situation a new ballot is issued. The spoiled ballot is then retained in a designated envelope to account for all ballots used. There is also a provision for a voter to surrender a mail-in ballot (along with its envelopes) should the voter decide to vote at his precinct. Some less common situations may necessitate the use of a Provisional Ballot. The above situations are covered in training to ensure all eligible votes are counted.

Returning to our discussion about the over voted ballot. If the mail-in ballot is over voted it cannot be returned to the voter as it can be when casting the ballot at the poll. The over voted mail-in is not discoverable until after the ballots are counted. Once the ballot has been counted it cannot be changed and the over-voted office receives no votes. That is a situation mail-in voters must overcome by carefully reviewing the ballots before mailing.

An important help to the crew counting mail-in or absentee ballots is to minimize folding actions of the ballots. Excessive folding creates wear marks that make processing the ballots much more difficult. Also, keeping the ballot clean can aid machine processing. If you are concerned about the effect of any stains, markings or damage to the ballot, call the elections office for advice.

As we approach election day I am often asked, does the County website have information about the candidates running for office? The answer is no; we cannot post information about the candidates because it would be considered promoting the candidate. By law, counties must remain neutral and must avoid posting anything regarding a candidate.

Something that may be helpful to voters is a sample ballot. As we get closer to election day, sample ballots for each precinct will be posted on the county website. Since the coming election is a Primary Election, ballots will be printed by party. Review the sample ballot for the party you are registered under. You may even print it and carry it to the poll when you go to vote. I challenge all voters to be prepared and adequately informed before casting their vote. Finally, be sure you know which poll is your voting location.