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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard Meeting Agenda Packet 07-09-2024MEETING AGENDA Date: July 9, 2024 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Bd of Elections Office, Long Leaf Room Type: Regular Scheduled Attendees: Derrick R. Miller, Chair James Battle Morgan, Jr. Secretary Natalie Hinton-Stalling, Member Rae Hunter-Havens, Director Caroline Dawkins, Deputy Director Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Administrative Technician Bruce Kemp, Member Tom S. Morris, Member Visitor(s): Tufanna Bradley, Assistant County Manager; Kemp Burpeau, Deputy County Attorney AGENDA ITEMS 1.Meeting Opening a.Call to Order b.Pledge of Allegiance c.Approval of Agenda d.Approval of Minutes (06/11/2024) 2.Public Comment Period •2-minute limit •20-minute limit total 3.Director Update a.Financial Update b.List Maintenance c.NC State Board of Elections Summer 2024 Training Conference d.Voter Education and Outreach Initiatives 4.New Business •August Meeting – Appointment of Early Voting Officials and Election Day Assistants 5.Closed Session (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(6)) 6.General Discussion •Other Elections-Related Matters 7.Adjournment *Agenda packets are sent via email in advance of meetings. Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: Approval of Agenda Summary: N/A Board Action Required: Staff recommends approval Item # 1c Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: Approval of Minutes Applicable Statutes and/or Rules N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-31(e) and 143-318.10(e) Summary: This includes minutes from the June 6/11/2024 meeting. Board Action Required: Staff recommends approval Item # 1d Item # 1d Board Minutes – 06/11/2024 Page | 1 REGULAR MEETING New Hanover County Board of Elections June 11, 2024 5:30 P.M. ATTENDANCE Members: Derrick R. Miller, Chair James Battle Morgan, Jr., Secretary Natalie Hinton-Stalling, Member Bruce Kemp, Member Tom Morris, Member Staff: Rae Hunter-Havens, Executive Director Jenna Dahlgren, Elections Logistics Specialist Noelle Powers, Elections Systems Administrator Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Administrative Elections Technician Visitors: Tufanna Bradley, Assistant County Manager; Kemp Burpeau, Deputy County Attorney Public Attendees: Wendy Hunt, NHCDP; Sylvia Brock, NC Election Integrity Team; Cliff Brock Virtual Attendees: Ricky Meeks; RS; Jana Albritton, League of Women Voters LCF 1. MEETING OPENING a. Call to Order Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The New Hanover County Board of Elections meeting was held in the Board of Elections office, Long Leaf Room, 1241A Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC. All members were present. Chair Miller reminded the audience to silence their cell phones, that the meeting is being recorded and live streamed on the internet, and to avoid conversation and crosstalk during Board discussion. b. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Miller invited all in attendance to rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Board Minutes – 06/11/2024 Page | 2 d. Approval of Agenda Member Morris moved to approve the agenda as submitted, seconded by Secretary Morgan. Motion carried unanimously. e. Approval of Minutes (5/7/2024, 5/13/2024, 5/14/2024, 5/23/2024, 5/24/2024) Chair Miller called for any corrections to the submitted minutes. He noted a typo on page 2 of the 5/7/2024 minutes, section 3.a., the number 7 font color. Member Kemp noted a typo on page 2 of the 5/24/2024 minutes, section 3, 4th paragraph from the bottom, correct “Secretary Miller” to “Secretary Morgan”. Hearing no other corrections to the minutes, Chair Miller said the minutes are approved as corrected without objection. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Chair Miller called upon the public attendees for their comments or questions, limited to two minutes each, total of 20 minutes. Cliff Brock questioned why voter registration records are not updated with the voter’s driver’s license number when it is presented as the required photo ID when they vote. Chair Miller noted that the absence of a NC driver's license number in the voter’s registration is not necessarily a deficiency and called on Director Hunter-Havens for her comments. Following the Director’s explanation of the current voter registration requirements, Chair Miller said, in summary, the absence of a driver’s license number is not automatically a registration deficiency; the electronic pollbook used during Early Voting and on Election Day does not permit election officials to update this information for existing registered voters; and the proper way to challenge a voter’s registration is to file a timely and complete voter challenge. Seeing and hearing no other public attendees wishing to comment, Chair Miller closed the Public Comment period. 3. DIRECTOR’S UPDATE Chair Miller called on Director Hunter-Havens for her updates. a. Financial Update Director Hunter-Havens said expenses are on schedule with a few outstanding invoices, reflecting some unanticipated expenses due to the unscheduled second primary election. Member Kemp asked about the process for budget adjustments. Director Hunter-Havens said those are brought to the attention of the budget office representative and Assistant Board Minutes – 06/11/2024 Page | 3 County Manager Bradley for handling. Member Kemp said he is impressed with the budget accuracy in the face of the unscheduled second primary. b. List Maintenance Director Hunter-Havens reported that list maintenance between March 1 and May 31, 2024, resulted in removal of 961 voter registrations, 2,397 new registrations, 2,133 registrations without changes, and 3,303 voter registration updates. The backlog of over 5,000 voter registrations reflects the three-month period when some voter registration activities were on hold due to the March and May primaries. In July we will be sending out about 3,000 cards for the National Correction of Address (NCOA), the twice-yearly process to update voter registrations based on US Postal Service changes of address. The agenda packet includes additional information about the sources of registrations, snapshots of administrative processes, and a breakdown of county voter registrations. c. 2024 NC State Board of Elections Summer Conference Director Hunter-Havens said the NC State Board of Elections Summer Conference will be held at Koury Convention Center, Greensboro, August 4 and 5. Board members whose terms began in July 2023 are required to attend a second conference within 2 years of their initial appointment. 4. CLOSED SESSION Chair Miller said there is no business requiring a closed session. 5. GENERAL DISCUSSION Chair Miller called for any Board discussion of election-related matters. Member Morris called for discussion of the questions in his June 9 email to the Board forwarding the survey he received from Sylvia Brock of the NC GOP Elections Integrity Team. Director Hunter-Havens asked about the appropriateness of responding to a partisan survey. After brief discussion, Chair Miller said the survey spotlights cynical concerns which are better addressed to the NCSBE and the NC General Assembly. Member Kemp asked for an update on the new Board of Elections building. Director Hunter-Havens said there is now a paved and lined parking lot. Work is on schedule to receive a Certificate of Occupancy in August which will allow use of the designated space for early voting as planned. Due to preparations for the 2024 Presidential Election, staff will move into the new space in January 2025. Member Morris asked if the office has a mobile voter registration unit. Director Hunter- Havens said the office supports outside groups that sponsor voter registration drives. The Director outlined summer voter outreach events with the mobile photo ID printer to provide free photo IDs to registered voters. A representative from NCSBE will attend a Board Minutes – 06/11/2024 Page | 4 seminar scheduled for August 20 in the Paynter Room on photo ID requirements with extended office hours to 7:30 p.m. to provide free photo IDs. Member Kemp asked the Director to outline what differences the new Board members can expect with the 2024 Presidential Election. Director Hunter-Havens noted the impacts on staffing and resources of the anticipated volume of absentee ballots and early voting, voter registration, and public inquiries and comments. Member Kemp asked when sample ballots will become available. Director Hunter- Havens said that will be in mid-August, after completion of the steps associated with generating and proofread7ing ballot styles. That process will begin after candidate filing for Soil and Water Conservation Board concludes on July 5. Mailing of absentee ballots will begin on September 6 as required by statute. Member Kemp asked about the status of the proposed budget enhancement for precinct official management software. Director Hunter-Havens said the two proposed budget enhancements for FY24/24 were not approved and are not included in the current recommended county budget. Across the county few enhancements were approved for next fiscal year. She said she is planning to re-submit the enhancement requests with the FY25/26 continuation budget. Hearing no additional matters for Board discussion, Chair Miller called for a motion to adjourn. 6. ADJOURNMENT Member Morris moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Member Hinton-Stalling. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m. The next Board meeting is scheduled to be held on July 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., at the Board of Elections office, Long Leaf Room, 1241A Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC. APPROVED BY: RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: _______________________________ _____________________________ JAMES BATTLE MORGAN, JR. RAE HUNTER-HAVENS SECRETARY ELECTIONS DIRECTOR Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: Public Comment Period Summary: This is an opportunity for members of the public to provide comments on elections-related matters. Each commenter will be limited to two minutes. There is a limit of 20 minutes total for the public comment period. Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary Item # 2 Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: Director’s Report Summary: a. Financial Update The attached reports provide the Board with a budget update, including the following: • Salaries and Benefits expended through FY23-24 12th Period (June) • Operating Expenses expended through FY23-24 12th Period (June) • Grand Total expended through FY23-24 12th Period (June) The current overage in cellular expense is the result of a known billing issue with the vendor. Per the vendor, we should receive credit for this billing error in August. The small overage in lease expense is the result of the annual rate increase for the warehouse lease that begins prior to the end of the fiscal year. I have incorporated this rate increase into the FY24/25 allocation for this expense. b. List Maintenance Update Per data provided from the Statewide Elections Information Management System (SEIMS), the New Hanover County Board of Elections completed the following in June 2024: • Removed 1,239 voters from the voter registration rolls consistent with NC Gen. Stat. §163-82.14. • Processed 2,239 new registrations, 593 duplicate registrations, and 1,359 registration updates. c. NC State Board of Elections Summer 2024 Training Conference The Summer Elections Training Conference is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, August 5th, and 6th with check-in on Sunday, August 4th. The conference will be held at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC. Hotel reservations for board members and staff who are attending the conference have been made at the Sheraton Greensboro, located at 3121 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27407. Per updated guidance received from the State Board, board members who have not attended two conferences within the first two years of their initial appointment to the board are required to attend either the 2024 August Conference or the 2025 July Conference to be in compliance with the mandatory training requirement. Please let me know if you will not be attending the August conference this week so I can cancel your hotel reservation without incurring any charges and submit registrations to the training conference for all attendees. The tentative agenda for the August conference has been included in the agenda packet for your review. Item # 2 Item # 3 d. Voter Education and Outreach Initiatives During July and August, we are participating in a series of outreach events to educate voters about their voting options and the photo ID requirement for voting. A copy of the outreach flyer has been included in the agenda packet. In addition, working closely with the New Hanover County Communications and Outreach Department, a press release is slated to go out the week of July 8, 2024, highlighting the opportunities available for volunteers interested in serving as election officials during the upcoming 2024 General Election. This press release is being sent out as a series of public notices that will go out ahead of the election highlighting important elections events, deadlines, and voting opportunities going into this busy election season. The public notice series will cover the following topics: • Voter Photo ID Outreach Event Series- June • Election Official Recruitment – July • Voter Photo ID Seminar and Requirements- August • Voter Registration Deadline/Voting Options Overview- September • Early Voting Information/Wait Time Tracker/Election Day Polling Places- October Document/s Included: Financial Year-To-Date Budget Report 12th Period (June); NVRA Report (June 2024); NC State Board of Elections Summer 2024 Elections Training Conference Tentative Agenda; 2024 Summer Photo ID and Outreach Series Flyer Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary NEW HANOVER COUNTY - LIVE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT Report generated: 07/05/2024 13:05User: rhavensProgram ID: glytdbud Page 1 FOR 2024 12 ACCOUNTS FOR: ORIGINAL TRANFRS/ REVISED AVAILABLE PCT110 GENERAL FUND APPROP ADJSTMTS BUDGET YTD EXPENDED ENCUMBRANCES BUDGET USED 16 BOARD OF ELECTIONS 60 SALARIES & BENEFITS 11016100 610000 SALARIES AND WA 524,570 0 524,570 515,302.68 .00 9,267.32 98.2% 11016100 611500 CASUAL PART TIM 290,930 70,000 360,930 437,171.27 .00 -76,241.27 121.1% 11016100 611600 OVERTIME PAY (O 7,860 0 7,860 8,898.96 .00 -1,038.96 113.2% 11016100 621000 SOCIAL SECURITY 39,835 0 39,835 43,352.89 .00 -3,517.89 108.8% 11016100 622000 RETIREMENT-LOCA 67,617 0 67,617 67,569.54 .00 47.46 99.9% 11016100 623500 GENERAL 401-K M 13,114 0 13,114 13,105.30 .00 8.70 99.9% 11016100 625000 MEDICAL INSURAN 77,192 0 77,192 72,170.44 .00 5,021.56 93.5% 11016100 626000 LONG TERM DISAB 890 0 890 891.44 .00 -1.44 100.2% TOTAL SALARIES & BENEFITS 1,022,008 70,000 1,092,008 1,158,462.52 .00 -66,454.52 106.1% 70 OPERATING EXPENSES 11016100 700000 CONTR SERVS 196,112 37,425 233,537 181,938.55 18,737.54 32,860.91 85.9% 11016100 700328 LEASE EXPENSE 45,559 2,500 48,059 48,134.63 309.50 -385.13 100.8% 11016100 700329 SUBSCRIPTION SO 15,792 0 15,792 10,214.47 .00 5,577.53 64.7% 11016100 700330 RENT 76,952 29,624 106,576 57,771.50 27,110.00 21,694.50 79.6% 11016100 700350 ADVERTISING COS 3,751 1,300 5,051 4,902.86 .00 148.14 97.1% 11016100 700365 CELLULAR EXPENS 11,400 0 11,400 17,003.54 .00 -5,603.54 149.2% 11016100 700370 POSTAGE EXPENSE 56,294 -2,323 53,971 47,267.49 .00 6,703.51 87.6% 11016100 700430 M&R-EQUIPMENT 65,461 0 65,461 65,460.94 .00 .06 100.0% 11016100 700500 PRINTING 84,715 28,932 113,647 86,599.79 .00 27,047.21 76.2% 11016100 700512 PRINTER-COPIER 6,750 0 6,750 5,930.89 .00 819.11 87.9% 11016100 700520 SUPPLIES 68,648 392 69,040 35,813.97 .00 33,226.03 51.9% 11016100 700542 SUPPLIES-COMPUT 1,600 0 1,600 71.04 .00 1,528.96 4.4% 11016100 700700 DUES & SUBSCRIP 150 0 150 .00 .00 150.00 .0% 11016100 700825 EMPLOYEE REIMBU 2,125 2,000 4,125 3,153.54 .00 971.46 76.4% 11016100 700905 TRAINING & TRAV 5,160 1,455 6,615 5,842.92 .00 772.08 88.3% 11016100 701050 INSURANCE&BONDS 40,638 0 40,638 28,503.54 .00 12,134.46 70.1% TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 681,107 101,305 782,412 598,609.67 46,157.04 137,645.29 82.4% 75 DEBT SERVICE 11016100 701130 PRINCIPAL ON LE 0 3,948 3,948 3,947.59 .00 .41 100.0% NEW HANOVER COUNTY - LIVE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT Report generated: 07/05/2024 13:05User: rhavensProgram ID: glytdbud Page 2 FOR 2024 12 ACCOUNTS FOR: ORIGINAL TRANFRS/ REVISED AVAILABLE PCT110 GENERAL FUND APPROP ADJSTMTS BUDGET YTD EXPENDED ENCUMBRANCES BUDGET USED 11016100 701135 INTEREST ON LEA 0 87 87 87.29 .00 -.29 100.3% TOTAL DEBT SERVICE 0 4,035 4,035 4,034.88 .00 .12 100.0% TOTAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS 1,703,115 175,340 1,878,455 1,761,107.07 46,157.04 71,190.89 96.2% TOTAL GENERAL FUND 1,703,115 175,340 1,878,455 1,761,107.07 46,157.04 71,190.89 96.2% TOTAL EXPENSES 1,703,115 175,340 1,878,455 1,761,107.07 46,157.04 71,190.89 NEW HANOVER COUNTY - LIVE YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET REPORT Report generated: 07/05/2024 13:05User: rhavensProgram ID: glytdbud Page 3 FOR 2024 12 ORIGINAL TRANFRS/ REVISED AVAILABLE PCT APPROP ADJSTMTS BUDGET YTD EXPENDED ENCUMBRANCES BUDGET USED GRAND TOTAL 1,703,115 175,340 1,878,455 1,761,107.07 46,157.04 71,190.89 96.2% ** END OF REPORT - Generated by RAE HUNTER-HAVENS ** NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS NVRA REPORT Reporting Period:-6/1/2024 6/30/2024 Totals Active 155,730 Inactive 27,628 Total Registration 183,358 REPORTING PERIOD Registrations Approved 3,426 Total Registrations Removed 1,239 Inactive Registrations Removed 342 New Registrations 00 - No Application Source 6 01 - Public Assistance 23 02 - Disability 1 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 1,631 06 - Mail-in 40 07 - In-person 20 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 0 10 - Online Registration 169 17 - Registration Drives 345 21 - Medicaid Renewal 3 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 1 2,239 Duplicates 00 - No Application Source 23 01 - Public Assistance 12 02 - Disability 0 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 299 06 - Mail-in 64 07 - In-person 29 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 0 10 - Online Registration 46 17 - Registration Drives 108 21 - Medicaid Renewal 3 95 - Voter Return of NCOA 4 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 2 98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 3 vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 1 of 5Jul 05, 2024 12:32 pm NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 99 - Voter Change On Verification 0 593 vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 2 of 5Jul 05, 2024 12:32 pm NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS Changes of Information 00 - No Application Source 60 01 - Public Assistance 29 02 - Disability 1 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 835 06 - Mail-in 58 07 - In-person 41 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 0 10 - Online Registration 145 17 - Registration Drives 163 21 - Medicaid Renewal 1 95 - Voter Return of NCOA 0 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 26 98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 0 99 - Voter Change On Verification 0 1,359 Verifications # of 1st & 2nd verification mailings sent 6,405 # of 1st NCOA mailings sent 0 # of 1st verification returned undeliverable 260 # of verification returned by voter 0 Confirmations # of confirmations returned by voter 3 # of confirmations sent 144 # of confirmations returned undeliverable 12 # of confirmations not returned at all 40 COUNTY STATISTICAL Constitution 0 Democratic 50,403 Green 71 Libertarian 1,466 No Labels 306 Republican 54,349 Unaffiliated 76,763 American Indian 406 Asian 1,515 Black 19,216 Multi-Racial 834 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 15 White 140,601 Other 4,638 Undesignated 16,133 Hispanic 4,380 Not Hispanic 116,775 vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 3 of 5Jul 05, 2024 12:32 pm NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS Undesignated 62,203 Female 89,466 Male 75,979 Undesignated 17,913 Unprocessed Registrations - Incomplete Queue 00 - No Application Source 2 01 - Public Assistance 9 02 - Disability 2 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 146 06 - Mail-in 9 07 - In-person 7 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 2 10 - Online Registration 6 17 - Registration Drives 49 21 - Medicaid Renewal 0 95 - Voter Return of NCOA 1 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 4 98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 0 99 - Voter Change On Verification 0 Unprocessed Registrations - Archive Queue 00 - No Application Source 1 01 - Public Assistance 0 02 - Disability 0 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 0 06 - Mail-in 0 07 - In-person 0 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 0 10 - Online Registration 0 17 - Registration Drives 0 21 - Medicaid Renewal 0 95 - Voter Return of NCOA 0 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 0 98 - Voter Change On Confirmation 0 99 - Voter Change On Verification 0 Unprocessed Registrations - Review Queue 00 - No Application Source 0 01 - Public Assistance 0 02 - Disability 0 03 - Other (ESC) 0 04 - Armed Forces 0 05 - DMV 54 vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 4 of 5Jul 05, 2024 12:32 pm NVRA REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 06 - Mail-in 0 07 - In-person 0 08 - Library & High School 0 09 - Spanish Language Application 0 10 - Online Registration 14 17 - Registration Drives 0 21 - Medicaid Renewal 0 96 - Temporary FWAB Registrant 0 97 - Temporary FPCA Registrant 3 vtr_nvra_stat.rpt Page 5 of 5Jul 05, 2024 12:32 pm North Carolina State Board of Elections Summer 2024 Elections Training Conference “Bring It!” August 4-6, 2024 Koury Convention Center Greensboro, NC Sunday, August 4 Time Location 3:30 – 6:00 Early Conference Check-in 5:00 NCADE Executive Committee Meeting Biltmore Monday, August 5 Time Location 7:30 – 8:30 CONFERENCE CHECK-IN AND BREAKFAST Guilford ABC PLENARY SESSION 8:30-8:35 Conference Opening Jessica Buie, Learning and Operations Manager, NCSBE Guilford ABC 8:35-8:40 Secretary’s Remarks Jeff Carmon, Secretary, NCSBE Guilford ABC 8:40-8:45 Executive Director’s Remarks Karen Brinson Bell, Executive Director, NCSBE Guilford ABC 8:45-9:45 Legal Updates Paul Cox, General Counsel, NCSBE Guilford ABC 9:45-10:00 Vendor Introductions Vendors Guilford ABC 10:00 – 10:30 MORNING BREAK PLENARY SESSION 10:30 – 11:30 Gauging Voters’ Trust in Elections Charles Stewart, III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science, MIT Guilford ABC 11:30-12:00 Connecting and De-Escalating with Voters: Introducing the ARTT-LEO Curriculum Jordan Castelloe, Community Coordinator at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Ross Weistroffer, Researcher at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Guilford ABC 12:00-12:30 Awards NCSBE, NCADE Guilford ABC 12:30 – 1:30 LUNCH - GUILFORD ABC BREAKOUT – DIRECTORS AND STAFF 1:30 – 2:30 Board Duties and Certifying Elections* Paul Cox, General Counsel, NCSBE Guilford ABC Constructing the Successful Canvass Week: Tips and Tweaks from Previous Canvass Experiences Tiffany Holden, Candidacy and Canvass Specialist, NCSBE Auditorium 1 Combating Myths while Connecting with Voters: Strategies from the ARTT-LEO Curriculum Jordan Castelloe, Community Coordinator at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Ross Weistroffer, Researcher at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Auditorium 2 Tuesday, August 6 Time Location Designing Materials to Help Voters Succeed Tasmin Swanson, Program and Communications Lead, Center for Civic Design Allyson Gill, Information Designer, Center for Civic Design Colony A Framing and Communicating Your Message, Part 1 Valonda Calloway: The TV Lady Colony B BREAKOUT – DIRECTORS AND STAFF 2:45 – 3:45 What to Expect if the Polls Don’t Open on Time* Allison Blackman, In Person Voting Specialist, NCSBE Adam Steele Guilford ABC Constructing the Successful Canvass Week: Tips and Tweaks from Previous Canvass Experiences Tiffany Holden, Candidacy and Canvass Specialist, NCSBE Auditorium 1 Combating Myths while Connecting with Voters: Strategies from the ARTT-LEO Curriculum Jordan Castelloe, Community Coordinator at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Ross Weistroffer, Researcher at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Auditorium 2 Designing Materials to Help Voters Succeed Tasmin Swanson, Program and Communications Lead, Center for Civic Design Allyson Gill, Information Designer, Center for Civic Design Colony A Framing and Communicating Your Message, Part 2 Valonda Calloway: The TV Lady Colony B 3:45 – 4:00 AFTERNOON BEVERAGE BREAK – 3rd Level BREAKOUT – DIRECTORS AND STAFF 4:00 – 5:00 Constructing the Successful Canvass Week: Tips and Tweaks from Previous Canvass Experiences Tiffany Holden, Candidacy and Canvass Specialist, NCSBE Auditorium 1 Combating Myths while Connecting with Voters: Strategies from the ARTT-LEO Curriculum Jordan Castelloe, Community Coordinator at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Ross Weistroffer, Researcher at the ARTT Project, Hacks/Hackers Auditorium 2 Designing Materials to Help Voters Succeed Tasmin Swanson, Program and Communications Lead, Center for Civic Design Allyson Gill, Information Designer, Center for Civic Design Colony A EVENING ACTIVITES 5:30-6:30 Voting Systems Demonstration - needed? Guilford D 5:30-6:30 NCADE Full Body Meeting Guilford F 5:30-6:30 EBANC Full Body Meeting Guilford ABC 7:30 – 8:30 BREAKFAST Guilford ABC BREAKOUT 1 8:30 – 9:30 Communications for Election Officials: Effectively Communicating When Mistakes Are Made TJ Pyche, The Elections Group Auditorium 1 Campaign Finance Reporting Software Training Jason Schrader, Lead Training Specialist, NCSBE Auditorium 2 Public Records Request Management Pat Gannon, Public Information Officer, NCSBE Colin Loftin, Data Analyst, NCSBE Guilford D Handling Hazardous Materials JR Griffin and Rachel McGrath, NC Emergency Management Guilford F BREAKOUT 2 9:45 – 10: 45 Communications for Election Officials: Effectively Communicating When Mistakes Are Made TJ Pyche, The Elections Group Auditorium 1 Examining e-Filing Committees Greg Larimore, Campaign Finance Manager, NCSBE Angelique Lanier, Campaign Finance Program Analyst, NCSBE Auditorium 2 Public Records Request Management Pat Gannon, Public Information Officer, NCSBE Colin Loftin, Data Analyst, NCSBE Guilford D Handling Hazardous Materials JR Griffin and Rachel McGrath, NC Emergency Management Guilford F 11:00-11:30 Vendor Meeting Karen Brinson Bell, Vendors Guilford ABC *This topic is geared towards Board Members. Connecting and De-Escalating with Voters: Introducing the ARTT-LEO Curriculum In an increasingly polarized electoral landscape, local election officials are engaging with the public in increasingly contentious conditions. How can election officials diffuse difficult conversations while keeping the lines of communication open? To address these challenges, the ARTT-LEO curriculum draws on research from psychology, media literacy, and conflict resolution to provide LEOs with proven communication strategies that focus on connection and de- escalation to continue the long-term process of building trust with voters. 9:30 – 9:45 MORNING BEVERAGE BREAK -3rd Level Constructing the Successful Canvass Week: Tips and Tweaks from Previous Canvass Experiences A successful canvass is constructed well before 11:00 am on Canvass Day. The audience will hear from the EA team the required foundations and the legal changes necessary for a successful Canvass. A panel of experienced directors and staff will share their best practices in constructing the successful Canvass week. Designing Materials to Help Voters Succeed Information design is the process of making content clear, engaging, accessible, and usable using visual design techniques. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn 8 principles of information design, with time to practice applying new skills in a design review activity. At the end of the session, you'll walk away with practical knowledge and tools to create communication materials that help voters succeed, and increased confidence talking with others about design decisions. Framing and Communicating your Message It’s not only what you say that matters. How you say it matters too. Valonda Calloway, also known as The TV Lady®, will conduct media training for elections officials that will show attendees how to get their message across in a concise way and with confidence. Participants in these sessions will learn about what the media wants, crafting sound bites, body language, vocal delivery, and being comfortable in front of the camera. Some participants will be recorded, watch the playback, and receive real time constructive feedback. Combating Myths while Connecting with Voters: Strategies from the ARTT-LEO Curriculum Communicating trustworthy voting information in the face of contentious conversations about elections is a critical issue for local elections officials. Drawing from the ARTT-LEO curriculum, this session will explore communication and engagement strategies that can help LEOs build trust with the public. Participants in this session will learn research- backed strategies for better connecting with mistrustful voters and combating myths about the election system. Communications for Election Officials: Effectively Communicating When Mistakes Are Made Election administration is under more scrutiny than ever before and expectations are high, but despite all the care and contingency planning, sometimes mistakes happen. In this session, we will equip election officials with a playbook for crisis management and dispel the notion that mistakes are not permissible. Mistakes happen. It’s how we manage them that can make the difference between a drizzle and a storm. July 1, 2024 July 11, 2024 July 18, 2024 NHC SeniorResource Center-Castle Hayne NHC SeniorResource Center-Main Location YWCALower Cape Fear 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 4544 Parmele Rd. Castle Hayne, 28429 2222 S. College Rd.Wilmington, 28403 2815 College Rd.Wilmington, 28412 July 25, 2024 August 7, 2024 August 20, 2024 NHC SeniorResource Center-Carolina Beach NHC Main Library NCSBEVoter Photo IDSeminar 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 308 Cape Fear Blvd.Carolina Beach, 28428 201 Chestnut St. Wilmington, 28401 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 1241 A Military Cutoff RdWilmington, 28401 2024 Summer Photo ID & Outreach Series Join us this summer to learn more about voting options, registration, absentee voting, and the NC Photo ID Requirement! Need an ID for voting this fall? At each event, Board of Elections staff will be available to issue NC Voter Photo IDs to eligible voters! To obtain a NC voter photo ID at one of these events, individuals must be registered voters and residents of New Hanover County and must complete a request form. Many voters will request and receive their NC Voter Photo ID same-day! To learn more about upcoming elections or to schedule an outreach event for your facility visit: WWW.NHCVOTE.COM Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: August Meeting – Appointment of Early Voting Officials and Election Day Assistants Applicable Statutes and/or Rules: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.12(a) and 163-42; Session Law 2023-140 Summary: In accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.12(a), the Board has adopted a schedule of regular business meetings on the Tuesday following the second Monday of each month at 5:30 PM. The August meeting is current scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 2024. In accordance with Session Law 2023-140, the NC State Board of Elections on November 28, 2023, adopted a resolution regarding the appointment of early voting election officials. The resolution established that at least 21 days prior to the appointment date, the county board shall send an email or letter via U.S. mail to the chair of each political party organized in the county, notifying the chair of (1) the county board’s appointment date and (2) the party’s deadline to provide recommendations for qualified early voting officials, which shall be the fifth business day before the appointment date. In addition, NC Gen. Stat. § 163-42 permits a county board of elections, at its discretion, to appoint two or more Election Day assistants for each precinct to assist the chief judge and judges. Ahead of each election, Board of Elections staff reach out to begin assessing the willingness to work, and availability of all the Election Officials. Based on previous experience, staff have determined that the best time to begin this outreach to election officials is in mid-August. In previous elections, it was assessed that reaching out to officials any earlier than mid-August results in a great deal of availability changes between the initial response, and when the schedules are finalized, which creates real disruptions to the drafting and distribution of schedules for the staff who oversee this process. If the availability emails are sent too early, we have also found that those election officials who leverage the summer to travel miss the email more frequently, which further limits our pool of available officials. Given the sensitivity of this timeline, it is important to keep in mind that recruitment and onboarding election officials must come to an end once schedules are being drafted. This ensures that staff has a full picture of who their available pool of officials are, so that they can build out well balanced, skilled teams for each shift at each early voting site and build strong Election Day precincts to support and assist voters who choose that option. As a result, we believe the August 13, 2024, Regular Meeting would be too early to hold discussions around the appointment of Early Voting and Election Day assistants, and the September 10, 2024, Regular Meeting would be too late to ensure that all these appointees are onboarded, included in the schedule, and signed up for the required training ahead of the election. Therefore, we request that the Board cancel the August 13th Regular Meeting and schedule a Special Meeting on August 28th, 29th, or 30th to act on the appointment of Early Voting and Election Day assistants, including Item # 2 Item # 4 those submitted by the parties. This would allow staff to collect information about who in the existing pool is available to serve and would give adequate time to ensure that any new names presented to the Board can be onboarded in a timely manner. At the proposed special meeting, I can provide an update on list maintenance activities and budget expenditures through July 2024. Board Action Required: Discuss as Necessary and Action Recommended Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: Closed Session Chairman Statement Prior to Closed Session: I move that the Board enter into closed session, under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(6) to discuss personnel matters. Applicable Statutes and/or Rules: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(6) Summary: Closed session is required to discuss personnel matters under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(6). Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary Returning to Open Session: I move that the Board return to open session, under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(6), to conduct business remaining before the Board. Item # 2 Item # 5 Regular Meeting New Hanover County Board of Elections July 9, 2024 Subject: General Discussion Summary: This is an opportunity for discussion on other elections-related matters not included in the meeting agenda. Board Action Required: Discuss as necessary Item # 6