Slides Summary

001. INTRODUCTION: Introduction

Hello and welcome to the online training session for the Fairfax County Page Program. My name is Beth Dixon Methfessel, the coordinator of the Page Program in Fairfax County. This service-learning project is designed for the motivated high school student (at least 16 years old) who wants to learn more about the electoral process.

In order to participate, you must receive permission from your parent/guardian to serve as an election page. You will be assigned to a Fairfax County polling place and as such, you will be required to wear a mask at all times when you are in the voting room. You will also follow all current health protocols while serving as a student page.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. There will be no school on Election Day. 7

002. INTRODUCTION: Training

The training will be divided into three sessions and you should allow about an hour to complete it. You will be taking a quiz prior to filling out your application to ensure that you understand all the material that has been discussed. Only after you have completed training and passed the quiz will your application be considered. If you do not achieve 80%, we will contact you.

The link to the quiz will be provided at the end of training.

003. INTRODUCTION: Age for Voting

Most people when asked how old someone needs to be to vote would answer, “18.” This is correct, however the law allows you to register to vote if you are a U.S. citizen and you will be 18 on or before Election Day. So if you are 17 now but will be 18 on or before November 2, 2021, you can register. Use the link www.vote.virginia.gov and have your Virginia driver’s license or identification card handy. You will need to provide the ID number on it to register.

Did you know that if you are 18 and registered to vote, you can serve as an election officer and earn $175? If you would like to be an election officer, please visit https://www.vote4fairfax.com/ to apply.

004. INTRODUCTION: Code of Conduct

Because you have taken this training and will also take on oath on Election Day, you are considered part of the official election team. As such, you will follow the same code of conduct as the election officers. You will treat voters with respect including seniors and those with disabilities. This is not a partisan activity so everything you do must be impartial and nonpolitical. You will not engage in discussions about candidates or other political issues.

Although the act of voting is public, how an individual votes must be private. You, along with the rest of your election team, will work to ensure voter privacy thus safeguarding the security and integrity of the election.

005. INTRODUCTION: Election Page Program

To further illustrate your importance on Election Day, in 2000, the Virginia General Assembly made the Election Day Page Program part of Virginia election law. The Page Program in Fairfax County is considered one of the finest in Virginia, and even in the nation, and we have been instrumental in expanding the responsibilities of student pages over the past 20 years.

006. SESSION ONE: Voting and Page Participation

And so we begin Session One, the classroom portion of the training.

007. SESSION ONE: Questions to Answer

After this session, you will know the answers to the following questions…How long do I work? What should I wear? What should I bring? And what will I be doing?

Let’s answer the first question now…When you fill out your application, you will choose between two 8-hr shifts: 5 a.m. – 1 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Your Election Day assignment will include the shift you have chosen plus give you the name and address of your polling place.

008. SESSION ONE: Morning Shift

Those who choose the 5 a.m. – 1 p.m. (morning) shift will help open the polls. Please make sure that you have checked the directions to your polling place. It will be dark at 5 a.m. so things will look different, and we do not want you to get lost. If that happens or you are running late, you need to contact your Chief Election Officer. We will discuss who the Chief is a bit later in the training.

009. SESSION ONE: Afternoon Shift

Some of you will choose the 12:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (or afternoon) shift. Your responsibilities will include helping the election team close the polls after voting ends. Even though it will be light outside when you head to your polling place, you should still take the time to review the directions, and again, call your Chief Election Officer if for any reason you are running late.

010. SESSION ONE: Dress Code

On Election Day, dress is business casual. Please do not wear shorts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, or T-shirts. You may wear patriotic attire, but remember, do not wear anything with a candidate or political party’s name, statement or slogan. This includes buttons and hats.

011. SESSION ONE: Voter Clothing

Although the election team is not permitted to wear political attire, a voter is allowed to do so. However, voters may not campaign inside a polling place. The lady in the picture would be allowed inside to vote except for one thing. Do you know what it is? If you said, the sign, you are right!

012. SESSION ONE: What to Bring

Please bring everything you will need for your shift. Unless emergency circumstances require it, you may not leave the polling place during your shift. Bring food, snacks, homework (you can bring your laptop). Remember, only if the Chief gives you permission during a slow period with low voter turnout, can you read or do your schoolwork.

013. SESSION ONE: Beginning Your Shift

Once you arrive at your assigned polling place, both morning and afternoon pages will check-in with the Chief Election Officer. Who is this person?

The Chief Election Officer, or Chief, is the person in charge of the polling place on Election Day. The Chief is an experienced officer of election and oversees the election team and polling place operations. The Chief is responsible for making sure the polls open and close on time and accounts for all ballots, supplies, and forms.

Prior to Election Day, the Chief will be given a roster that includes the names and contact information for his or her election team. This list will include the student pages. The Chiefs will contact their teams within the week or two before the election to verify attendance and answer any questions. When your Chief calls you, they should give you their cell phone number in case you need to reach them for any reason.

So, once you arrive at your assigned polling place, you will check-in with the Chief. You will take an oath and sign the oath form. The Chief will give you a badge to wear for the duration of your shift.

014. SESSION ONE: Parts of Election Day

There are three parts to Election Day, opening the polls from 5 a.m. until 6 a.m., voting from 6 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., and closing the polls, beginning at 7:00 p.m. and will take approximately two hours.

015. SESSION ONE: Opening the Polls

So let’s start with opening the polls for those of you who will choose the early bird shift from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

016. SESSION ONE: Get Enough Sleep

It looks like this team did not get to sleep early enough the night before the election. Please be well rested for Election Day!

017. SESSION ONE: Morning Page Tasks

Under the direction of the Chief, the morning pages will help with the following tasks: Posting signs, arranging furniture, and other election materials. This may include personal protective equipment (PPE). The Chief may also ask you to help mark social distancing spots to help voters maintain social distance while they wait in line to vote.

You may be asked to help arrange the placement of the voting machines and privacy booths that are used to mark the ballots.

Additionally, you may be tasked with making sure that the path that voters will follow from the parking lot into the building and to the voting room is clear from any obstruction or hazard that may cause problems for people with wheelchairs, canes, or walkers. Fairfax County polling places must be accessible to ALL voters.

018. SESSION ONE: Indoor Signs

These are some of the signs that will be posted inside the polling place. They include directional arrows, voting instructions, sample ballots, and a poster that will explain the referendum on the ballot. This year there will be one County bond question on the ballot, and it will be for school improvements.

A bond is like asking the voters if they want to take out a loan to finance projects like building schools, or renovating libraries, or maybe improving park facilities.

019. SESSION ONE: Additional Signs

These are some additional signs that morning pages will help put up to guide voters. What do you notice about these signs other than providing instructions?

Fairfax County provides assistance in three languages other than English. Those languages are Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

020. SESSION ONE: Curbside Voting Sign

This is the curbside voting sign and notice placed outside the polling place near the curb so people can see it from their car. The phone number on the yellow sandwich board is usually the number of the Chief Election Officer. It allows voters to call into the polling place and inform the election team that they would like to vote in their vehicle.

021. SESSION ONE: Prohibited Area Sign

This is the prohibited area sign that will also be posted outside. According to law, no activity such as loitering, attempting to influence a voter in any way, or hindering a voter or an election officer, is permitted within 40-ft of the entrance to the polling place. This not only includes campaigning but non-political activity like bake sales, or spirit-wear sales, even a band playing to raise money for their school.

Certain activity is also not permitted beyond the 40-ft prohibited area, such as using loud speakers within 300 yards; hindering or intimidating voters; or insulting or abusing an election officer.

Part of the election materials is a yellow plastic rope that measures 40 feet. The morning pages may be asked to help mark the prohibited area before the polls open. The Chief may ask pages to check the prohibited area throughout the day to make sure that nothing is violating the 40-ft requirement.

022. SESSION ONE: Open the Polls

Wow, a lot needs to be done between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.! But with your help, the election team will be ready for the first voter at 6 a.m. sharp.

023. SESSION ONE: During the Day

Now, for the next 13 hours, the job of the election team is to run an efficient and safe election for voters.

025. SESSION ONE: Sample Ballot

This is an example of the paper ballot that is marked by the voter. The ballot will include English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish. If a voter messes up or wants to change how they voted in a contest, their ballot must be marked “Spoiled” and returned to the ballot table before the voter can be issued a new one.

026. SESSION ONE: Who's Who

During the day, in addition to seeing a lot of voters, let’s talk about other people you will encounter. We discussed the Chief Election Officer. The Chief is supported by an Assistant Chief. The Assistant Chief is usually an experienced election officer that helps the Chief carry out his or her responsibilities. Assistant Chiefs should be able to assume the role as Chief if for any reason the Chief cannot fulfill his or her assignment.

Virginia officially recognizes two political parties: the Democratic Party and Republican Party. According to Virginia law, if possible, the Chief shall not represent the same political party as the Assistant Chief.

The number of election officers assigned to a precinct depends on the size. In Fairfax County, we have precincts with over 5,000 voters and precincts with less than 1,000 voters.

Of course, our energetic and enthusiastic student pages are part of Who’s Who on Election Day!

You will also see Rovers. These people are technical experts that can help the election team trouble shoot issues with the voting equipment. They also carry replacement equipment, and extra election materials.

A member of the Fairfax County Electoral Board may visit your precinct. In Virginia, all elections in each of the 133 localities are overseen by a 3-member board. These individuals are politically appointed. Two of the members represent the Democratic Party and the remaining member represents the Republican Party. Why do the Democrats get two Board members? Virginia law says the majority on the Electoral Board represent the party of the Governor, and Ralph Northam, Virginia’s governor, is a Democrat.

027. SESSION ONE: Who's Who (Continued)

Other people you might see on Election Day are candidates (campaigning outside the 40-ft prohibited area);

Authorized poll watchers – these are individuals who have permission from their political party or independent candidate to be inside the polling place to observe;

Poll workers – this is anyone working outside the 40-ft prohibited area…passing out sample ballots, candidate information, collecting signatures for petitions, even exit polling.

Press – news media are allowed to come inside and film or photograph for a limited amount of time. They cannot interview anyone inside the polling place. They cannot film or photograph in any way that shows how a person votes their ballot. Remember, the voter must be able to vote privately and cast a secret ballot.

And finally, authorized visitors. These are usually delegation from other countries that want to observe the process and have received permission from the Electoral Board.

028. SESSION ONE: Line Length Survey

This is a data collection activity especially suited for student pages. It’s the Line Length Survey. Every hour you will count how many people are waiting in line to check in. Morning pages will do 6 a.m. until noon and afternoon pages will do 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pretty simple and straightforward, but a very important task because the results will be provided to CalTech/MIT’s ongoing voting technology project “Polling Processes of the Future.” The recommendations from the project are used to refine and develop new, practical tools to help us better allocate resources dedicated to voting. Fairfax County continues to provide annual comprehensive line length data for this project. This distinction would not be possible without the participation of our high school election pages.

029. SESSION ONE: Page Responsibilities

So here is a list of many of the tasks assigned by the Chief to both morning and afternoon pages. Helping keep the voting room clean while assisting with social distancing measures; greeting voters and asking them to have their ID ready. Note: Virginia law changed on July 1, 2020, and a photo ID is no longer required. You may be asked to show voters the list of what is now acceptable identification.

Keep lines orderly and if you are assigned to co-located precincts (two polling places in one building), you will make sure voters go to the correct voting room; you can show voters the instructional and informational posters and brochures; assisting seniors and voters with disabilities (more on this in Session Three!); Complete the Line Length Survey; Throughout the day, you may be asked to check on the inside and outside signs to make sure they are still up; and very important, if you are bilingual, you may have been assigned to a precinct with a higher concentration of voters who speak a language in which you also have fluency. I encourage you to offer your assistance in these circumstances.

030. SESSION ONE: Page Rules

There are a few things that you cannot do, primarily because student pages are not election officers. This includes opening and closing the Poll Pads; checking voters in on Poll Pads; supervising the use of the voting machines. You cannot leave the polling place without permission. This is a service-learning project, it is a volunteer activity and you will not be compensated for your service.

031. SESSION ONE: Closing Announcement

Ok, now we come to the close of voting at 7:00 p.m. An election officer will go outside at 6:45 p.m. and announce that the polls will close in 15 minutes. At 7:00 p.m. sharp, the polls close. Anyone standing in line at 7:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote.

032. SESSION ONE: Closing the Polls

Now is the time for the afternoon pages to help the election team wrap things up.

033. SESSION ONE: Afternoon Page Responsibilities

Afternoon pages, along with your election team, will basically break down everything that was put up in the morning. This includes taking down the signs and carefully removing the tape; restoring and cleaning up the voting room; helping pack up voting equipment; organizing and packing up the election materials and supplies, including the personal protective equipment. Some of the supplies will be placed back into the machine cart which will be picked up by county personnel within a few days after the election. You will help load the items that need to be returned to the Government Center in the Chief’s car. Now you afternoon pages can head home to get some rest!

034. SESSION ONE: Evaluation and Recognition

After your shift, your Chief will complete an evaluation that will confirm how many hours you served. If you complete your shift, you will receive a Certificate of Recognition from the Office of Elections, as well as credit for 9 hours of service learning, 1 hour for training and 8 hours at your polling place. You may also submit a service hour confirmation through x2vol either to your Chief or to my attention, beth.methfessel@fairfaxcounty.gov

035. SESSION ONE: Personal Evaluation

Once the election is over, you will send an email to you with a link to a survey. Please take a few moments to complete the evaluation. Your response will give us an idea of how well prepared you were for Election Day, if you would recommend the page program, and if participating in the program would make you more likely to register to vote when you are eligible.

036. SESSION TWO: Voting Systems

Now we begin Session 2: Voting Systems.

038. SESSION TWO: Privacy Booths

These are the privacy booths to ensure that voters can mark their ballots secretly. You may be asked to help set these up and take them down.

039. SESSION TWO: DS200 Scanner

Here is the digital scanning machine referred to as the DS200. After voters mark their paper ballot, they place it in the scanner. The scanner captures an image of the ballot, records the votes, and informs the voter that their ballot has been cast. The machine lets the voter know immediately if the ballot is blank or over-voted (more selections made than the contest allows). All voters use paper ballots providing a paper trail for every vote in case of a recount.

040. SESSION TWO: DS200 Ballot Bin

The DS200 sits on top of a ballot bin. The bin has wheels to make it easy to move. After the ballots are scanned, they drop down into this secured bin. Once voting ends, the bin is opened. The ballots are retrieved and placed into boxes that are then labeled and sealed with security tape. After the election, all ballots, voted or unused, will be taken to the Fairfax County Courthouse and stored for two years.

041. SESSION TWO: ExpressVote Machine

Here is the ExpressVote, or EV machine. It uses technology similar to touch screen equipment to generate a marked paper ballot. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that provides protections to people with disabilities to ensure that they are treated equally in all aspects of life. Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to ensure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The ADA’s provisions apply to all aspects of voting.

042. SESSION THREE: Disabilities Etiquette and Awareness

And with that explanation of ADA, welcome to Session 3, Disabilities Etiquette and Awareness. In this session, we will learn how to be sensitive to the needs of voters with disabilities.

043. SESSION THREE: Relax and Don't Assume

Relax when talking with someone with a disability. Just treat the person the same as you would anyone else, and don’t be embarrassed if someone with a disability corrects your etiquette.

Don’t make assumptions or decisions on what a person with a disability can or cannot do. If the person needs assistance, they will ask.

044. SESSION THREE: Ask Before You Help

Ask before you help. Don’t assume the person needs help. Some senior citizens and persons with disabilities can vote without assistance. If a person does need assistance, allow the person to indicate how best to assist them before taking action.

045. SESSION THREE: Be Sensitive and Identify Yourself

Be sensitive about contact with assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and guide dogs. These aids are part of an individual’s personal space. Always identify yourself and others with you when meeting someone with a visual impairment.

046. SESSION THREE: Be Sensitive About Personal Contact

Be sensitive about personal contact. Grabbing someone, even if you intend to give assistance, could knock the person off balance. Don’t pat anyone on the head, shoulders, or back. It can be demeaning and throw the person off balance. Lightly tap the person’s shoulder if you need to get their attention.

047. SESSION THREE: Speak Directly

Speak directly to a person with a disability, not to his companion or sign-language interpreter. When speaking with someone who has a hearing impairment, speak directly, clearly, slowly, and expressively. If you need to get someone’s attention, lightly tap his or her shoulder or wave your hand.

048. CONCLUSION: Quiz and Application

Now that you have completed training, please use the link below to take the quiz. Your application will be submitted along with your test score. If you achieved 80%, your application will be considered. If you do not receive at least 80%, we will contact you.

When you complete your application, please carefully enter all the required information, including the Acknowledgement of Participation from your parent or guardian. Only after all requirements are fulfilled can your application be accepted. You will receive your Election Day assignment electronically.

QUIZ AND APPLICATION FORM: https://form.jotform.com/fairfaxelections/pages2021

049. CONCLUSION: Contact Information

If you have any questions or need help, here is my contact information. You can call, email, or text. Good luck and thank you for your interest in the Page Program!

024. Page 024

Poll Pad— section: “SESSION ONE” title: “Slide 24” title: “Path Through the Voting Room” layout: slide —

This diagram illustrates the path of the voters through the voting room. Keeping in mind social distancing, once voters reach the check-in tables, they will provide their name and address to the election officer. The election officer will look them up on an electronic device. In Fairfax County, this is called the Poll Pad. It contains all of the voters registered in every precinct in Fairfax County. The law requires that on Election Day, voters must cast their ballot in the precinct to which they are registered. The law also requires that every voter present one form of required identification.

Once a voter is checked-in, they are given a paper ballot. Some voters may choose to vote on the ExpressVote, or EV machine. The EV allows voters to use a touch screen to generate a marked ballot. This is especially important for voters with limited mobility, eyesight, or even limited English because it allows them to vote independently and privately.

Although this diagram does not show it, in some polling places, a voter may be directed to a separate ballot table after he or she has been checked in on the Poll Pad.

Once the voters have either marked their paper ballot or generated their ballot in the EV, it is then taken to the scanner. The scanner accepts both types of ballots. Once the ballot is successfully cast, the voter then leaves and picks up an “I Voted” sticker. You may be asked to hand these out.

037. Page 037

Poll Pad— section: “SESSION TWO” title: “Slide 37” title: “Poll Pad” layout: slide —

This is what the Poll Pad looks like. It is a state-of-the art, electronic pollbook. It is easy to set up with no peripherals. It looks up voters electronically when they check in to their precinct. Because it processes voters in seconds, it reduces wait time. It also provides precinct statistics for accurate reporting.

While you cannot operate the Poll Pad and check-in voters, you make be asked to help set it up in the morning or pack it up after the polls close.