#176 06-24-58 Establish Rules Use of Voting Machines40 c4
Resolution No. 176 June 24, 1958
Member Flannagan introduced the following resolution and MOVED its adoption:
"RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CERTAIN RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
USE OF VOTING MACHINES"
BE IT RESOLVED by the Village Council of the Village of Golden Valley,
Minnesota as follows:
Section 1: That the Village does hereby adopt the following rules in
connection with the use of voting machines in the Village of Golden Valley,
Minnesota.
a. POSTING SAMPLE BALLOTS IN POLLING PLACE
The precinct election officials shall post at least two, and as many more
as convenient, SAMPLE BALLOTS within the polling place, on the walls of the
polling place, and shall also post SAMPLE BALLOTS in the hallways and approaches
to the polling place, for the purpose of enabling the voters to study such
sample ballots before proceeding to vote, so as to familiarize themselves with
the offices, candidates and parties, if any, as well as such referendum questions
as may appear on the ballot. Such SAMPLE BALLOTS shall be attached to the walls
by the use of Scotch Tape or similar adhesive material, so as not to damage the
walls.
b. INSPECTING THE BALLOT LABELS
The precinct election officials shall compare the ballot labels of each
voting machine with the return sheets or statements of canvas furnished, to
make certain that the names of the political parties, and the referendum ques—
tions all appear on the voting machines in their proper order, in exactly
the same manner as on the return sheets or statements of canvass furnished.
In case any discrepancy is found such machine or machines shall not be used
until the Village Clerk has been notified, and he has corrected it.
c. EXAMINING THE OPERATING LEVER SEAL
The precinct election officials shall examine the metal seal with which
the voting machine is sealed against operation to see thtt it is sealed and
shows no evidence of tampering, and they shall also compare the number on the
seal with the number of such seal as shown on the envelope containing the
keys for the voting machine, as furnished to them by the Village Clerk. In
case any discrepancy is found, such machine or machines shall not be used
until the Village Clerk has been notified and has examined such machine and
has sati$fied such election officials that such machine is in proper order and
ready for use. The number of such seal on each such voting machine shall be
recorded on the certificate furnished for that purpose.
d. EXAMINING THE PROTECTIVE COUNTER
The precinct election officials shall examine the protective counter on
each voting machine, and shall compare the number shown therein with the
number shown for such protective counter, on the envelope containing the
Resolution No. 176 (continued) June 24, 1958
keys for such voting machine, as furnished to them by the Village Clerk.
In case any discrepancy is found, such machine or machines shall not be
used until the Village Clerk has been notified and has examined such
machine and has satisfied such election officials that such machine is
in proper order and ready for use. The number of such protective counter
on each such voting machine shall be recorded on the certificate furnished
for that purpose.
e. INSPECTING THE REGISTERING COUNTERS
The precinct election officials shall jointly examine each and every
registering counter and the public counter in each voting machine and shall
see that each such registering and public counter is set at ZERO (000).
In case any discrepancy is found, such machine or machines shall not be
used until the Village Clerk has been notified and has corrected such dis—
crepancy and has reset such registering or public counter to ZERO (000)
and has satisfied the election officials that it has been done. The
precinct election officials shall sign a certificate furnished for that
purpose, certifying that it has been done.
f. INSTRUCTING THE VOTERS ON INSTRUCTION MODELS
Each voting machine is equipped with a mechanical instruction model
which is a replica of a portion of the face of the voting machine and
operated mechanically in the same manner as the voting machine. Such
instruction models shall be placed upon a table in the polling place and
at least one election judge shall remain in attendance at such instruction
models at all times during the voting and shall request each voter to
receive instruction thereon and shall instruct each voter who is willing
to receive such instruction. The election judge shall first operate the
instruction model himself in the presence of the voter and shall then
permit the voter to operate it himself. Voters may also be instructed
by use of the sample ballots furnished.
g. TIME OF ARRIVAL OF ELECTION JUDGES AT POLLING PLACE
All election judges shall meet at their polling place at least one
hour before the time for opening the poll, so as to allow ample time for
thorough inspection of the voting machines and getting everything in
readiness for the conduct of the election.
h. LEAVING DUTIES FOR MEALS DURING ELECTION
A majority of the election board shall always be in attendance at the
polling place. Election judges shall arrange the noonday absence for meals
accordingly. All election judges shall remain in attendance at the polling
place from 3 P.M. until the final canvass is completed and shall not absent
themselves for meals during such period.
i. INSTRUCTING VOTERS AFTER CURTAINS HAVE BEEN CLOSED
If any voter, after entering the voting machine booth, shall ask for
410
Resolution No. 176 (continued) June 24, 1958
additional instruction in operation of the voting machine, such instruction
shall be given him by two judges belonging to opposite political parties,
if such there be. After giving such instruction, such judges shall retire
from the voting machine booth and such voter shall thereafter proceed to
vote alone and in secrecy.
j. AIDING VOTERS IN VOTING
When a voter states under oath that he cannot read the English language,'
or that he is physically unable to operate the voting machine, he may call
to his aid one or more of the election judges, who shall then prepare his ballot
on the voting machine as he may desire, and in as secret a manner as the
circumstances permit. When the voter also states that he cannot speak the
English language or understand it when spaken, the judges may select two per-
sons from different political parties to act as interpreters, who shall take
an oath similar to that taken by the judges, and then assist such person in
voting. When the voter shall prefer, he may call to his aid any voter residing
in the same election district, who unaccompanied by a judge, may retire with
him to the voting machine booth and prepare such voter's ballot on such voting
machine for him; but no such person shall prepare the ballot of more than three
such voters at any election. Before registering his vote, such voter shall
show his ballot as prepared for recording, privately to a judge to ascertain
that it is prepared as directed; but a physically disabled voter, who is
able to determine for himself, need not show his ballot as prepared for
recording. No'judge or other persons so assisting a voter shall in any
manner request, persuade, or induce, or attempt to persuade such voter to
vote for any particular political party of candidate, but shall prepare
the ballot as requested, and shall not reveal to any other person the name
of any candidate for whom the voter has voted, or anything that took place
while so assisting him.
k. TIME ALLOWED EACH VOTER IN MACHINE
The judges shall admit but one voter to the voting machine at one time and
only after it has been ascertained that he is entitled to vote. The voting on
the voting machine shall be secret except as provided by law for voters
needing assistance. No voter shallremain within the voting machine booth
longer than three minutes and if he shall refuse to leave it after the lapse
of three minutes, he shall be removed by the judges.
1. RETRACTING A WRITE-IN VOTE
Whenever a voter has cast a ballot on the irregular ballot device, generally
referred to as the "write-in device or write-in slides" and desires thereafter
to change his mind, and instead, to vote for a candidate whose name appears on the
ballot, he shall be instructed to return all voter pointers to the unvoted position
and cross out or erase any votes recorded on the irregular ballot device, and
the election judges shall witness that this has been done. Such election
judges shall then cause the voting machine to be returned to the original,
unvoted position and shall then permit the voter to begin from the beginning
once more. Such operation of the voting machine as in this case mentioned,
Resolution No. 176 (continued) June 24, 1958
shall be designated as a spoiled voting machine ballot, and the election
judges present shall make out and sign a certificate stating the facts for
each such case, which shall be returned to the Village Clerk with the
official returns of the election.
m. SEALING MACHINE AGAINST VOTING — CLOSING OF POLLS
As soon as the polls of the election are closed, the election judges
shall immediately turn down Lock No. 2, thus locking the voting machine against
further voting, and they shall then seal each voting machine against voting
by inserting the numbered metal seal furnished for that purpose into the
slots on the voting machine provided for that purpose. The election judges
shall then record the number of each such seal for each such voting machire,
by number, on the certificate furnished for that purpose.
n. RECORDING NUMBER ON PUBLIC COUNTER
The election judges shall. then record on the statement of canvass the
number shown on the Public Counter on each voting machine.
o. RECORDING NUMBER ON PROTECTIVE COUNTER
The election judges shall then record on the certificate furnished for
that purpose, the number shown on the Protective Counter on each voting machine.
p. CANVASSING THE VOTES
The election judges shall then unlock and open the doors of the counter
compartment, in the presence of the watchers and any other persons who may
lawfully be present in the polling place. One of the election judges shall,
under the scrutiny of another election judge of opposed political interest,
if such there be, in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on
the machine, read and announce in distinct voice the designating number and
letter belonging to each candidate, and the total number of votes shown on
such candidate*s registering counter. He shall then announce the votes
recorded on the "write—in" ballot (paper roll), and shall also announce the
votes recorded on each referendum question. As each vote is announced from
the registering counter of the voting machine, it shall immediately be entered
on the duplicate statements of canvass, in figures only, in ink, by two
election judges of different political interests, if such there be, and
after having recorded such vote for each candidate, each such election judge
who is recording the votes as announced, shall immediately, and loudly repeat
the number he has recorded, so the election judges at the voting machine
counters can check it with the candidates registering counter.
After the polls are closed and the votes have been counted on said
voting machine in the manner required by law, each judge shall then sign a
certificate which shall be a part of the Statement of Canvass stating that
the results as shown on the Statement of Canvass are true and correct results
of the election and that the canvass has been completed in accordance with
the law as provided by the Statutes of Minnesota
412 E
ct�- .
Resolution No. 176 (continued) June 24, 1958
q. VERIFICATION OF THE CANVASS RESULTS
The election judges who recorded the total shall then change
places with the election judges who announced the totals from the
voting machine counters, and the entire process of making the original
canvass shall be repeated for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of
the original canvass.
r. FAMILIARITY WITH MINNESOTA STATUTES CONCERNING VOTING MACHINES
Each election judge shall familiarize himself with all provisions
of Chapter 209, Minnesota Statutes, concerning the use of voting
machines, and each such election judge shall, at all times, act in
compliance with all of such provisions of the State Law.
s. ATTENDING ELECTION OFFICERS INSTRUCTION MEETINGS
Not more than 21 days before each election and primary there shall
be held under the direction of the proper authority having charge of the
conduct of the elections and the primaries, a meeting or meetings for
the purpose of instructing the judges about the operation of the voting
machine and the duties of election officials when voting machines are
used. Each election judge shall attend such instruction meeting or
meetings for which he shall receive the sum of one dollar, and no
election judge who fails to attend shall be eligible to serve on
election day.
Section 2: That the rules regulating the use of voting machines
as above set forth, be submitted to the Attorney General of the State
of Minnesota for his written approval.
Section 3: That copies of said rules as above set forth be
printed upon cardboard and posted in the polling places hereafter at
each time of election.
ATTEST:
Vill,ao Admini trator & Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded
by Member Bies and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted
in favor thereof: Bies, Flannagan, Nadasdy, Scherer and Teresi; and
the following voted against the same: None; whereupon said resolution
was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor and his
signature attested by the Clerk.