Behind the Scenes of an Election- Karen Benewicz

Before I began working at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections, I never game elections more thought then then candidates I was voting.  I guess mainly because I have voted by absentee ballot, or not at all.  Now, I work for an election office I can appreciate what goes on behind the scenes.  On November 8, 2016 the registered voters of the United States will elect their 45^th President. 

 The candidates running on the Democratic ticket are Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders  and Martin O'Malley.  While the Republican field of candidates is much larger the front runners at this time appear to be Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. Most people think of an election as the candidates running for office, but an election is much more. Before heading to the polls, become an informed voter. Know the candidates and the issues they support.  Become and active contributor in the election process, not a passive participant.

While the politician are busy running their campaigns, local election offices are busy preparing fro the election.  Local election offices like Anne Arundel County's Board of Elections are:

• registering the candidates and voter;
• taking care of petitions;
•  arranging polling locations; 
• preparing the absentee ballot mailing, and
• hiring and training election judges. 

  One of the biggest jobs the Election Workers Department is tasked with is the of the hiring approximately 2,000 election judges (poll workers) to work the day of the election.  These election judges need to be recruited, hired and trained.  Being an election judge is a great way to serve your community and see the democratic process in action.  In Anne Arundel County our election judges must attend three hours of training, and work from 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM on Election Day.  Election judges are compensated for their time, they are paid a stipend of $175, $25 for training and $150 for working on the actual day of the election.

Election judge pay and requirements can vary from county to county and state to state.  To serve as an election judge in the state of Maryland you must be a registered Maryland Voter and at least 17 years old. Additionally,  you cannot be running or hold an elected office.   If you are interested in serving an election judge, contact your local board of elections. 

Maryland holds what is referred to as a closed primary. If you vote in the Maryland primary,  you must be registered as a Republican or Democrat no later than April 5, 2016.  April 5^th is the date registration closes and the electronic pollbooks begin to be updated for the election.  The Maryland State Board of Elections website is a great tool you can use to:

•  find your polling site;
• determine your representatives;
• register to vote; and/or
•  express interest in being an election judge. 

Photo from ES&S DS200 - Scanning Unit

 Maryland has made some changes to its voting system for the 2016 elections.  In 2007 the Maryland General Assembly voted to select a voter-verifiable method of voting.  It was not until November of 2014 the funds were made available and the new system was selected.   The new voting systems selected are produced by Election Systems and Software (ES&S).  The new voting equipment you will see at the polling sites on Election Day is the Express Vote (Ballot Marking Device) and the DS-200 (Scanning Unit).  

Photo from ES&S Express Vote - Ballot Marking Device (BMD)

Marylanders voting in the Primary election on April 26, 2016 will be using pre-printed paper ballots. The paper ballots will allow you to mark your selection.  Once your selections have been made your ballot will be inserted into the scanning unit to be scanned and tabulated.

For those of you who take advantage of the eight days of Early Voting,   April 14 -21, 2016, you will be voting on the Ballot Marking Device (BMD).  Instead of receiving a pre-printed ballot, you will receive a ballot activation card.  The ballot will be inserted into the BMD.   Similar to the previous system, the BMD is a touch screen.  The major difference is that once your selection have been made and verified on the summary screen, you will select print and your ballot will be returned to you with your selections printed on the ballot.  The printed ballots marked with the BMD will be taken to the scanning unit by the voter.  You have not cast your ballot until you have completed the scanning process.

You may think the election is over the same night as you watch the news reports.  We have three days after the election designated to count absentee and provisional ballots.  Approximately two weeks after Election Day, an election is certified and registration reopens.  Preparations begin for the next election.