Board of Elections hosts Election Expo open house

Board of Elections member Robyn Beliveau and Board of Elections Director Sara LaVere noted that there are important steps every voter should go through before voting day, one of those steps is checking their voter registration online.

LaVere explained that folks are able to find out their voting sites and see their sample ballots online. She said people go to the wrong voting sites all the time and it can be avoided by checking online before they go to vote.

She noted that not everyone lives in a municipality, so some people don’t have a vote during municipal elections. She said that a lot of people don’t know that and see a voting site, walk in and realize they don’t have anything on their ballot.

Beliveau added that every voter should check their voter registration online prior to voting to ensure their information, like name and address, are correct as well.

“Most people are always ready to vote,” Primary Election Precinct Chief Judge Deborah Morrow-Ryan said.

Morrow-Ryan noted that when voters check in to their voting site, it can be challenging for poll workers to hear the voters say their name and address. Speaking up and being clear is important.

Expo participants were also able to hear about alternate ways to vote like curbside voting, absentee ballots and using a touch screen device to vote at the voting site.

Elections Logistics Specialist Ryan Childress said that curbside voting is something that many people know about, but not many use.

He explained that the action of going inside to vote can be difficult for some and that curbside voting is a great way to participate because it keeps the voters choice private and helps individuals who have health risks.

“Curbside’s a great way for folks to not risk themselves to vote,” he said. “They can still do it, they can still go out there on election day, if they want, but it’s just a way to help.”

He noted that people do get their “I voted” stickers if they choose to do curbside voting.

“That’s an important one, people love their stickers,” he added.

Assistant Deputy Director Adrianne Rushton reminded participants that absentee voting, or voting by mail, start to go out on Oct. 6. She said that people can go ahead and request an absentee ballot now if they want.

“We encourage them to request as early as they think it might be a consideration,” she said. “And they can request all the way through 5:00 p.m. on October 31.”

Bipartisan Duplication Team member Christy Souter said that people can change their minds if they decide to vote in person instead of through mail. She said the voter just has to rip up or shred the mail ballot.

Another alternate way to vote is through using the accessible voting device.

“We do have an accessible device that can mark a ballot for you,” LaVere said.

Election Computer Technician Butch Johnson said a touch screen device, a Verity Touch Writer, is available at every voting site in the county and isn’t only for those with visual or hearing impairments.

He explained that the touch screen device can be used by anyone and everyone and should be used more frequent. He said it can be very helpful for voters who have a tremor.

Johnson noted that the device also has headphones attached and buttons with braille. When the voter makes their vote, the machine requires the voter to review their answers before it prints out their filled-in ballot.

“It forces you to review,” he said.

He said he wanted the community to be aware of options the voters have, especially if they have difficulty with holding a pen or filling-in their ballot by hand.

Johnson explained that each and every machine used in voting is tested and verified by a bipartisan team before going out to voting sites.

Participants went through a mock poll that guided them through each step of the voting process. They were also able to learn about other aspects of voting, like buffer zones and the proper way to fill in their ballot.

Election Official Lloyd Young emphasized the importance of correctly coloring in the box when voting and that it is “you only.”

“That is your choice, your selection,” he said. “… Actually, it’s your responsibility to color in the box,” he said.

Young noted that they also have envelopes for people to cover their ballots as well if they want. If voters have a question, he said poll workers are there help.

He said poll workers are only there to guide people throughout the process. He noted that they often look up or away when people are voting to secure their privacy.

Beliveau said that they are always looking for poll workers, however, there are roles, requirements and responsibilities of a poll worker that may not be right for everyone.

She noted that they start poll worker training in September, so if individuals want to work the polls, they should start reaching out to the Board of Elections for more information.

More information, voter look up and important dates can be found on the Board of Elections website at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/elections/

Savanna Tenenoff is the staff writer at the Brunswick Beacon. Feel free to reach out with comments, questions and tips at stenenoff@brunswickbeacon.com.