[00:00:03]
[I CALL TO ORDER ]
EVENING.I'M GONNA CALL THE MAY REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION ELECTIONS OF FAIRTON COUNTY TO ORDER.
I'M GOING TO MENTION WE HAVE NOTIFIED THE MEDIA A MAN AND TIMES THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING THE BULLETIN BOARD AT THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE, AND ALSO ON THE COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
YOU CAN DO IT BY THE VICE CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, VICE CHAIRMAN BRIAN AL HERE.
UM, MS. ANDREW CUMAN IS ABSENT.
MS. LYNETTE SIMMONS COOPER HERE PRESENT.
MR. CHAIRMAN OF SEVEN, INCLUDING MR. MARYJO ON THE PHONE.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL, OUR HEADS, PRAY PLEASE.
LORD JESUS, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND ALL YOU'VE HELPED US TO ACCOMPLISH AND TO GET DONE AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR OUR GRADUATES COMING UP HERE IN CLATON COUNTY.
THOSE WHO BE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, THOSE WHO MAY HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED COLLEGE.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
LORD, WE ASK YOU NOW TO HELP US HERE TONIGHT AS BOARD MEMBERS TO DO OUR PART, LORD, FOR THE VOTERS AND CITIZENS OF DECLARING AND FOR THE CANDIDATES, LORD, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE.
HELP US TO DO EVERYTHING DECENTLY IN ORDER.
MEET WITH US, LORD, WE ASK IN THE WORK THAT WE DO.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE PLEDGE, BELIEVE SO US WHO ARE ABLE TO STAND, STAND AND FACE THE FLAG BY MICHAEL STR, A BOARD MEMBER AND ALSO A UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN.
I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN COURT WITHIN
NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND IN THE BOARD MEMBERS PACKETS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THE, I'M SORRY,
[VI. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ]
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.UM, IS THERE A MOTION FOR, FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? I MAKE A MOTION.
WE APPROVE THE AGENDA MOTION FROM MR. STR.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.
UM, NEXT, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE THE
[VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 27TH, WHICH IS A REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.UM, THE MINUTES ARE IN YOUR PACKET, THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THE VERY FRONT WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CHANGES OR GO ON MOTION ON THE FOUR.
THEN MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, ACCEPT THE MINUTES.
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL.
ANY DISCUSSION? MR. CHAIRMAN? THERE ARE SOME CORRECTIONS THAT DID NOT, UH, MAKE IT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, I KNOW IN MY, UH, IN SEVERAL, UH, LOCATIONS, IF I NEED TO SAY THEM ALL, I WILL SAY THEM ALL, BUT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS ON THE AGENDA.
MY NAME IS MISSPELT, WHICH I JOKINGLY SAY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, THEY, THEY MISSPELLED MY NAME, MY FIRST NAME, SO, UM, AND THEN, UM, HONESTLY, CAN'T REMEMBER THE OTHER CORRECTIONS.
I DIDN'T BRING MY CORRECTED EDITION WITH ME.
SO IF WE WANNA GO LINE BY LINE OR WE CAN DISAPPROVE WHAT WE HAVE AND ALLOW THE PRC TO, UH, MAKE FURTHER CORRECTIONS AND BRING US BACK FOR, UH, ANOTHER VOTE AT ANOTHER TIME.
LET'S, UM, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES SO WE HAVE THAT MOTION IN A SECOND.
YOU WANNA MAKE IT WITH THE, TO MAKE THE SPELLING CORRECTIONS THE SPELLING CORRECTIONS.
DO YOU WANNA MAKE IT WITH JUST THE SPELLING CORRECTIONS AND LET THE PRC CHANGE THIS? YES, SIR.
OKAY, SO WE GOT A MOTION, A, A SECOND ON THE FLOOR TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN AND IF THERE ARE ANY INCORRECT SPELLINGS TO HAVE THOSE CORRECTED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY AB ANY I ABSTAIN THIS UNANIMOUS.
[VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
COMMENTS AND I HAVE, UM, MR. ROGER J IS UP FIRST.AND JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU'RE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER PLEASE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY FOR ME TO SAY PUBLICLY.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO CLATON COUNTY.
[00:05:01]
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO ENSURE FAIR AND UNBIASED IONS IN CLATON COUNTY.SINCE WE'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE MUCH OF YOUR STAFF AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN POLITE, COURTEOUS, AND PROFESSIONAL.
I HAVE SENIOR YOUR ADMINISTRATOR GIVE TRAINING THAT FAR EXCEEDED PREVIOUS TRAINING.
I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN POSITIVE CHANGES TO THIS OFFICE.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON, AND THAT IS TRUE, BUT I HAVE OBSERVED MANY THINGS PERSONALLY THAT MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE CLATON COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR THE CITIZENS WHO CALLED THIS HOME.
NEXT WE HAVE PATRICIA PRINGLE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOUR HAND IS THE AUDITORY OF THE CHAIR OR BOTH.
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU CHAIRMAN, AND ALSO TO BOARD MEMBERS.
WELL FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR THE ELECTIONS THAT WAS JUST DONE AND, UM, AND THE WAY THAT IT WAS CARRIED OUT.
UM, BUT I AM ASKING THAT IN THE FUTURE, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD THAT YOU CONSIDER ALLOWING A POLL WORKER TO WORK AT A PRECINCT THAT CLOSEST TO THEIR HOMES.
A LOT OF OUR POLL WORKERS ARE, ARE SENIORS AND RETIRED.
AND WHEN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO BE AT A PRECINCT AROUND FIVE 30 IN THE MORNING AND THEY LIVE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES AWAY, THAT'S A LONG WAYS FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE TO DRIVE THAT TIME OF MORNING.
IT DISCOURAGES SOME OF YOUR MOST RELIABLE AND FATEFUL WORKERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH DRIVING ALMOST 30 MINUTES ON THOSE DARK BACK ROADS, WATCHING OUT FOR DEERS AS THEY'RE DRIVING, YOU KNOW, TO COME TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR PRECINCT.
AND TO ME THAT IS A BURDEN ON THEM TO HAVE TO DRIVE SO FAR TO WORK OR TO HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE THEM THERE AND THEN HAVE TO COME BACK AND PICK 'EM UP AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED.
IN ADDITION, IF A PERSON HAD BEEN WORKING AT A PRECINCT FOR YEARS AND IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE LAYOUT, UM, WHY MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER PRECINCT UNLESS THEY REQUESTED TO BE DONE OR THERE IS AN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT REQUIRES IT.
SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING THAT THEY'RE USED TO WORKING IN THE FIRE STATION OR, OR WHATEVER BUILDING ARE USUALLY VERY EFFICIENT IN MAKING SURE THAT IT IS SET UP AND READY TO GO AT 7:00 AM AND THE POLES ARE OPEN.
BUT IN A BUILDING THAT YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE, UM, YOU HAVE TO FIND OUTLETS, LIGHTS, AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE BEST SETUP AND THAT TAKES A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.
COULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE POLL WORKERS HAVE A KEY OR KNOW HOW TO CONTACT THE PERSON WITH THE KEY THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION? HAVING A VOTER NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE UNTIL 40 MINUTES AFTER THE POLLS OPEN IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND MY LAST, UM, ISSUE IS, UM, WHY WAS THE SLED REPORT AND THE FINDINGS FOR 20 24, 20 25 ELECTIONS, UM, THAT WAS IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND ON FACEBOOK NOT BEING DISCUSSED ON THIS AGENDA.
OR MAYBE IN THE FUTURE YOU WOULD BRING IT UP AND BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT ON THE FUTURE AGENDA.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS TONIGHT.
YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT SOMEBODY WAITS 40 MINUTES.
THE QUESTION THAT AS BOARD CHAIR IS WE HAVE PAPER BALLOTS IN HAND AND WE HAVE SEASONED POLL CLERKS OR POLL MANAGERS.
WHY WEREN'T PEOPLE OFFERED A A PAPER BALLOT TO VOTE? THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
AS AS AND THAT'S THE SAME QUESTION.
THE BOARD HAD THE SAME QUESTION THE DIRECTOR HAS AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME GRACE ABOUT IS THAT DI THE DIRECTOR IS NEW AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT FACES AND ROADS AND POLLING PLACES TOGETHER AND, AND NOT UPSET THE APPLE CART ANYMORE THAN WE HAVE.
UM, WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO PUT OUR, MAKE SURE WE HAVE SEASON POLL CLERKS WITH NEWER PEOPLE SO THEY CAN TRAIN AND BE TRAINED PROPERLY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY FROM THE LAST, UM, THE SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN YOU GOT PEOPLE AND ONE OF 'EM WAS 40 MINUTES AND ONE OF 'EM WAS A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
BOTH PLACES SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PAPER BALLOT AND HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT.
THE KEY IS A WHOLE NOTHER SUBJECT.
THE SAME PERSON HAD THE KEY TO ONE, HAD THE KEY TO BOTH OF THEM.
AND WHY THEY DIDN'T OPEN IT, WE DUNNO.
BUT THE DIRECTOR HAS ASSURED US THAT HE
[00:10:02]
IS WORKING ON THAT AND THAT HE'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.SO I APOLOGIZE TO THE VOTERS, TO THE COUPLE PEOPLE.
SO WHO, WHO WAITED, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO WAIT.
UM, THERE ALWAYS GONNA BE SOMEBODY THAT OVER SLEEPS.
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A LYING DOWN OR NO INTERNET OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL AS SUCH.
BUT, BUT THOSE TWO INSTANCES, UM, WERE INEXCUSABLE PERIOD.
SIR, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT.
[IX. DIRECTOR’S REMARKS ]
DIRECTOR'S REMARKS.I KNOW Y'ALL GETTING TIRED OF HEARING THAT I'M NEW.
WELL, UH, IT'S TIME FOR THAT TO STOP, I GUESS.
UH, THE CHOICES THAT WE MADE, I APOLOGIZE.
I'VE APOLOGIZED TO THE CLERK AND THE POLL WORKERS.
WE'RE GONNA TRY IN INSTALLING A RANK THREE.
SO THE POLL WORKERS AND CLERKS HAVE THEIR TOP THREE CHOICES.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET 'EM AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO HOME.
WE WERE ALREADY INSTALLING THAT FOR THIS GO AROUND FOR THE PRIMARY.
AND WE HAVE ASKED OUR CLERKS TO START CONTACTING THE POLL WORKERS AND THE LOCATIONS AHEAD OF TIME, JUST LIKE OUR DELIVERIES AND PLTS DO SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO BEING ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND, UH, AS ALWAYS, MY OFFICE IS OPEN.
PLEASE COME TALK TO ME OR ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START ON OUR JUNE PRIMARIES.
EARLY VOTING IS GONNA START NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY.
PLEASE ENJOY YOURSELVES THAT WEEKEND.
GET YOU SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, LET'S HOPE WE HAVE A LOT LESS ROUGH STARTS THAN WE DID ON THE LAST GO AROUND AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR SOME POLL WORKERS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME TALK TO US.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING FROM THE BOARD FOR THE DIRECTOR? I DIDN'T HEAR THE PART ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEIR HOME, BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO DO THAT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GUARANTEE THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA BE NEAR THEIR HOUSE.
RIGHT? I CAN'T GUARANTEE IF SOMEONE SHOWS UP OR SOMEONE CAN'T MAKE IT.
SOMEONE HAS A FAMILY EMERGENCY.
OF COURSE WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO, INTO ACCOUNT.
WE TRY TO HAVE A FEW EXTRA PEOPLE ON STANDBY, BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, IF SOMEBODY IS OUT, I MAY HAVE TO PULL SOMEONE FROM ONE LOCATION.
I CAN JUST TRY TO KEEP 'EM CLOSE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO INSTALL A RANK THREE.
THAT MEANS YOU GET TO PICK TOP THREE THAT YOU WANNA WORK AT AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET YOU AT ONE OF THOSE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.
[X. NEW BUSINESS ]
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ELECT THE BOARD SECRETARY AND, UH, TAKE A MOTION FROM THE FLOOR.MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ELECT THE BOARD SECRETARY THAT WE ELECT MS. MARYJO ARTIS AS NEW BOARD SECRETARY MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO ELECT MS. ARTIS AS THE BOARD SECRETARY.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? THANK YOU MS. ARTIS.
NEXT, UM, ON THE AGENDA IS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF NEW OR PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED APPLICANTS FOR POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS FOR JUNE 9TH, 2026.
PRIMARY POSSIBLE PRIMARY RUNOFF IN ANY ASSOCIATED ELECTIONS.
AND I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE MOVE THAT TO, UH, AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANYBODY, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT? DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
IT'S GONNA NEED TO VOTE TO MOVE TO AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? MR. CHAIRMAN? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION FROM MR. MCGALL VICE CHAIRMAN MCGAW.
ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTAINING CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY COLUMN.
THE ITEM C ON THE AGENDA UNDER 10 IS A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE TO JUNE 11TH, 2026 SPECIAL CALL MEETING AND ANY ASSOCIATED SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS TO BE CONVENED AS THE BOARD OF CANVASERS RELATED TO THE JUNE 9TH, 2026 PRIMARY FROM CLARINET COUNTY COUNCIL
[00:15:01]
CHAMBERS TO THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLARINET COUNTY AT THREE SOUTH CHURCH STREET MANNING.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPECIAL CALL MEETING WILL BE TO CONVENE AS THE BOARD OF CANVASES FOR CERTIFICATION OF JUNE 9TH, 2026.
PRIMARY, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, ACCEPT THAT MOTION FROM MR. STR.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FOR MS. COOPER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINING? THANK YOU.
THE NEXT IS, NEXT IS A, UM, ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR IS A RECOMMENDATION AUTHORIZED THE DIRECTOR TO INITIATE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS WITH THE, WITHIN THE BUDGET THE CHAIRMAN AND IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN, THE VICE CHAIRMAN TO APPROVE DENIAL OR POSTPONE THE REQUEST IF APPROVED OR REQUEST WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE FOR APPROVAL, DENIAL, OR POSTPONEMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR TO INITIATE LINE ITEM TRANSFERS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
THE CHAIRMAN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN, THE VICE CHAIRMAN TO APPROVE, DENY OR POSTPONE THE REQUEST IF APPROVED OR REQUEST WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE FOR APPROVAL, DENIAL, OR POSTPONEMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THE FOUR? A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR A.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAIN? IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL REPORT, WHICH IS ALSO IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, TO ME THE EASIEST ONE TO READ IS THE EXPENDITURE REPORT.
UM, OVERALL WE, UM, LOOK LIKE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT YOU CAN SAY THEY'RE OVERDRAWN.
ONE OF 'EM IS THE POLL WORKER TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
UM, THAT IS A, ACTUALLY A NEW LINE ITEM THAT WAS CREATED AFTER THE BUDGET WAS UM, PASSED.
AND WE'VE TRANSFERRED MONIES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE WERE TRYING TO SEPARATE WHAT'S ACTUALLY POLL WORKER PAY OR POLL MANAGER POLL CLERK POLL TECH PAY FROM TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
AND SO, UM, WE'LL MOVE MONEY AND WE DO HAVE MONEY THAT WE CAN MOVE FROM ANOTHER LINE ITEM INTO THERE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL REPORT? WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT AS SUCH, I DON'T THINK.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL REPORT? OKAY.
AND THAT IS THROUGH, UM, TODAY.
SO WE GOT ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF LEFT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO, UM, NEXT HAS TO DO WITH SOME SECURITY ISSUES WITH, WITH BALLOTS AND VOTING.
AND THIS IS ONE ALL ONE MOTION.
A MOTION TO IMPLEMENT POLICY STATING THIS SHALL NEVER BE AN INSTANCE WHERE ONE PERSON IS ALONE IN THE PRESENCE OF UNCOUNTED BALLOTS.
THE SECURITY SEAL SHALL NOT BE REUSED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
SEALS SHOULD BE CLIPPED WITHIN ONE INCH OF THE SEAL TAB.
ANY VOIDED OR DAMAGED SEAL SHALL BE RECORDED BY THEIR NUMBER IN THE PERMANENT LOG IN.
THE VOIDED OR DAMAGED SEAL SHALL BE PLACED IN A SECURE STORAGE CONTAINER AND HELD FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE IT IS LOGGED.
AND THIS POLICY SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE INCORPORATED INTO ALL POLL MANAGER, POLL CLERK AND POLL TECHNICIAN TRAININGS.
UM, LET'S GET A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FIRST AND THEN WE CAN TALK IF WE NEED.
I, SO I THINK IN FULL DISCLOSURE THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW, BUT IT WAS BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD'S ATTENTION THAT UM, WE ARE IN WHAT WE WERE TOLD IN ATTEMPT TO SAVE MONEY, REUSING SEALS, CUTTING THEM AND RECORDING THEM AND USING THEM AGAIN.
AND, UM, WE ARE NOT DOING THAT AS OF THIS VOTE IS THE PLAN FOR THIS BOARD.
UM, AND THE SAME WITNESS SHOULD NEVER BE ANYBODY ALONE WITH BALLOTS.
UM, SO GOING FORWARD, THAT'S GONNA BE A POLICY OF THAT IS A POLICY OF THE BOARD.
IF IT PASSES ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE GOT A MOTION A SECOND ON THE FOUR.
ALL IN FAVOR? MR. CHAIRMAN? I'M SORRY IF I MAY MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, ASSUMING THIS MOTION PASSES, THIS IS TO TAKE PLACE OR TO, UH, BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY ON UH, WELL AS OF TODAY.
[00:20:01]
OF TONIGHT, BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE EARLY VOTING STARTING TUESDAY.AND THIS IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED BEGINNING TUESDAY MORNING.
OPEN UP, OPEN TO THE POLLS, CORRECT? THAT'S THE WAY I READ IT.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINING? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS G IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE POLICY REGARDING PUBLIC PRECIPITATE PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS AS WRITTEN IN 10 G.
OKAY, SO THIS IS A BIT LENGTHY, BUT IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
BUT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MR. STR TO ADOPT POLICY REGARDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS.
THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION ELECTIONS OF CLANTON COUNTY ENCOURAGES PUBLIC INPUT.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS OR MATTERS OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS DIRECT AUTHORITY TO ENSURE AN EFFICIENT AND ORDERLY MEETING.
THE FOLLOWING, FOLLOWING POLICY WILL APPLY.
PROCEDURE FOR SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS MUST SIGN UP PRIOR TO THE MEETING PROVIDING THEIR NAME AND A SPECIFIC AGENDA TOPIC THEY WISH TO ADDRESS.
EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND IT SHALL BE NO MORE THAN FIVE SPEAKERS PER MEETING.
SPEAKERS MAY NOT C THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON.
NUMBER TWO, COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED ONLY TO ITEMS LISTED ON THE CURRENT MEETING AGENDA OR BOARD POLICY TO PROVIDING PRESIDING OFFICER WILL REQUEST THAT THE SPEAKER STAY ON THE TOPIC FOR WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
IF A SPEAKER DIGRESSES TO UNRELATED TOPICS TO PRESIDING OFFICER WILL INSTRUCT THEM TO RETURN TO THE RELEVANT AGENDA ITEM OR BOARD POLICY.
IF A SPEAKER REFUSES TO RETURN TO RELEVANT TOPIC AFTER BEING CAUTIONED TO PRESIDING OFFICER MAY RULE THE SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER AND END THEIR SPEAKING TIME.
NUMBER THREE, ALL COMMENTS MUST BE DIRECTED TO PROVIDE PRESIDING OFFICER NOT INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF OR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MUST BE COURTEOUS AND AVOID PERSONAL IMPERTINENT OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS.
PROFANITY OR SHOUTING PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT THE FORUM FOR COMPLAINTS AGAINST INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS OR INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT DISCUSSION OF REPETITIVE TOPICS TO ALLOW FOR A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL DETERMINE IF A SPEAKER IS VIOLATING THIS POLICY AND MAY AFTER ONE WARNING TERMINATE THE SPEAKER'S PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK AND REQUEST THAT THEY LEAVE THE PODIUM.
IF A SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE, IF A SPEAKER IN THE OPINION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER REQUIRES SPECIAL ASSISTANCE IN SPEAKING, THEY MAY BE GRANTED UP TO DOUBLE THE TIME ALLOWED TO OTHER SPEAKERS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS.
IS THERE A SECOND MR. CHAIRMAN? I SECOND THIS MOTION.
NOW ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? MOTION CARRIED.
[XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE HAVE PERSONNEL MATTERS, OTHER MATTERS, CONTRACTUAL MATTERS AND SECURITY MATTERS THAT ARE LISTED.UM, ON THE AGENDA, IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE MATTER STATED? I, I MAKE MAKE A MOTION WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I SECOND MR. STR, I SECOND FROM MS. COOPER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A AYE.
AND UNDER THE LAW WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS DEMOTION, DE, OR DISCIPLINED DEMOTION OR AT LEAST FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM THE VR AND ECC BOARD ATTORNEY REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM THE BUDGET VR AND ECC BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AND TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS SECURITY MATTERS RELATED TO THE ELECTION PROCESS.
AND AT SOME POINT THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE REQUEST THAT THE DIRECTOR COME IN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE TIME.
[XII. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION]
THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION.I MAKE A MOTION THAT BECOME OUT EXECUTIVE SESSION A MOTION A SECOND, MS. COOPER TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? THANK YOU.
[XIII. ACTION(S) TO BE TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION]
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION?[00:25:02]
YES, SIR.MR. PIERCE? UM, ON UM, B IT SAYS THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF NEW AND PREVIOUS DEFERRED APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS, THE JUNE 9TH, 2026, PRIMARY POSSIBLE PRIMARY RUNOFF AND ANY ASSOCIATED ELECTIONS.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT UPON COMPLETION OF THE PREVIOUS DEFERRED APPLICANTS 1, 7 8, 12, 18, 24, 25 AND 27, THE BOARD OFFICERS SHALL APPROVE THE DEFERRED APPLICANTS.
THEY WERE BASICALLY APPLICANTS THAT WERE INCOMPLETE.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE APPLICANT'S ONE THROUGH 19 AND DEFER 1 7, 8, 12 AND 18.
THERE'S A MOTION BY MR. PEARSON.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FROM MS. COOPER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION IS THAT THERE'S A MOTION FROM MR. PEARSON FOR, TO APPROVE APPLICANT'S NUMBER 21 THROUGH 30 AND DEFERRING APPLICANT'S 24, 25 AND 27.
IS THAT CORRECT MR. PEARSON? THAT'S CORRECT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND IT.
MR. CHAIRMAN SECOND FROM THE VICE CHAIR.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? MOTION CARRIES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ON NUMBER 20 THAT WE ACCEPT NUMBER 20, THAT WE APPROVE NUMBER 20 AS A POLL MANAGER SLASH POLL CLERK.
AND I'M GONNA RECUSE MYSELF FROM NUMBER 20 AND IF, UM, YOU WOULD CARRY IT UP.
SO WE NEED, I'VE MADE A MOTION THAT WE WILL ACCEPT OR APPROVE NUMBER 20, UH, THE NUMBER 20 APPLICATION APPLICANT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND MR. STREET.
ANY DISCUSSION ON NUMBER 20? ALRIGHT.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINED? AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M GONNA RECUSE MYSELF, MR. CHAIRMAN RECUSES HISSELF, WE ACCEPT THAT AS AN ABSTAIN.
SO WE HAVE SIX TO 1 6 6 TO ZERO TO ONE ONE ABSTAINED.
ANY OTHER ACTIONS AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE ANOTHER MOTION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.
THIS INVOLVES THE BLUE BALLOT BINS.
THE BLUE BALLOT BINS ARE FOR SINGLE USE.
THIS IS THE MOTION AND RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BLUE BALLOT BINS ARE FOR SINGLE USE ONLY, INCLUDING EARLY VOTING.
EACH BLUE BALLOT BIN WILL BE PROPERLY LOCKED AND SEALED WITH NUMBERED SECURITY SEALS AS SOON AS THE BLUE BALLOT BIN IS REMOVED FROM THE DS 300 TABULATOR.
ONCE LOCKED IN SEALED, THE BLUE BALLOT BINS SHALL NOT BE REOPENED UNTIL COUNTING OF THE BALLOTS BEGINS AS ALLOWED BY LAW.
WE, ALONG WITH THIS MOTION, AND WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO TRANSFER UP TO $8,500.
THAT IS $8,500 FROM SALARIES LINE 0 5 0 0 1 TO EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS LINE 0 5 0 2 7 TO PURCHASE 18 BLUE BALLOT TO PURCHASE 18 MORE BLUE BALLOT BINS.
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MR. MCGALL TO, UM, THE, THE BLUE BALLOT.
THE POLICIES THAT BLUE BALLOT BINS ARE FOR SINGLE USE ONLY INCLUDING EARLY VOTING.
EACH BLUE BALLOT BIN WILL BE PROPERLY LOCKED IN, SEALED WITH A NUMBERED SECURITY SEALS AS SOON AS THE BALLOT BIN IS REMOVED FROM THE DS 300 TABULATOR ONCE LOCKED IN SEALED, THE BLUE BALLOT BIN SHALL NOT BE REOPENED UNTIL COUNTING THE BALLOTS BEGAN AS ALLOWED BY LAW.
AND IN THE SAME MOTION THAT WE, UM, AUTHORIZED THE CHAIRMAN TO MOVE $8,500 FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO $8,500 FOR THE PURCHASE OF 18 ADDITIONAL BLUE BINS FROM THE LINE ITEM ENDING IN 0 5 0 0 1 TO LINE ITEM 0 5 0 2 7 EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINS? THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[00:30:05]
OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.[XIV. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS ]
NEXT WE HAVE CHAIRMAN REMARKS AND I THINK, UH, UM, MS. PRINGLE IS STILL HERE.SHE'D ASK ABOUT THE AUDIT REPORT AND I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AUDITED THE OFFICE, THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLARENDON COUNTY, AND IT ENDED ON THE PERIOD THAT COVID WAS THROUGH LAST YEAR THROUGH 24 25.
UM, IT, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE SITTING BOARD, UM, THE BOARD OBVIOUSLY HAD SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE, UM, THAT WERE RECOMMENDED FOR US TO DO.
IF YOU, I CAN GIVE ANYBODY THE WEBSITE, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION'S WEBSITE, IT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED PAGES LONG.
THE AUDIT IS, THE LAST THREE PAGES ARE, UM, OUR ANSWER FROM THIS BOARD, UM, AS A WHOLE OR AS A GROUP AND ON AS A BOARD.
AND, UM, WHEN MOST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT WE HAD EITHER ALREADY IMPLEMENTED CHANGES BEFORE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT AN AUDIT, UM, OR WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED 'EM SINCE THEN.
UM, WHEN I LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE WERE AS A BOARD, UM, A YEAR AGO, WE ARE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
UM, WE SPEND, UM, MORE TIME IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, THAN I LIKE TO AND THEN, AND THAT THE BOARD LIKES TO, BUT WE, UM, WHEN WE COME OUT, WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF STUFF DONE JUST LIKE WE DID TONIGHT.
WHEN THINGS COME TO OUR ATTENTION, WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF 'EM AND VOTE FOR 'EM PUBLIC AND MAKE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE THAT I COULD SAY ABOUT THE AUDIT REPORT.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT, UM, THAT DIDN'T SURPRISE THE BOARD.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT DID SURPRISE THE BOARD WHEN I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, UNDER NEW BUSINESS ABOUT THE SEALS AND ALL THE BOARD DID NOT KNOW THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE DOING, THE BOARD WAS DOING.
AND AGAIN, WE JUST VOTED TO, UM, BUY ADDITIONAL BLUE BINS.
WE DON'T THINK IN A, IN A NUTSHELL THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE ALONG WITH BALLOTS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, UM, THAT WE SHOULD EVER CUT A SEAL ON A BLUE BIN AFTER ABOUT AFTER ELECTIONS HAVE STARTED UNTIL IT IS TIME TO OPEN THE BINS.
UM, AND SO THAT'S THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING AND WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND WE'LL TAKE YOUR HITS IF YOU HAVE TO HIT US ONCE IN A WHILE.
AGAIN, APOLOGIZE ABOUT THE, UM, THE NOT GETTING THE POLLS OPEN, UM, IN A TIMELY FASHION ON, UH, LAST TUESDAY.
THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE AND THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT, AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO, UM, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT I'LL TAKE THE LIBERTY TO OPEN THE FLOOR IF SOMEBODY'S GOT SOMETHING THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS, I'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR IT.
UM, IF YOU GOT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO, UM, REACH OUT TO THE DIRECTOR.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO ME AS CHAIR.
UM, I THINK ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL CALL YOU BACK.
I WILL TAKE YOUR CALLS OR YOUR EMAILS, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A SUGGESTION OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR GOOD SOLID POLL MANAGERS, POLL CLERKS, POLL TEXTS.
UM, ALL WE CAN DO IS ASK, AND IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT THAT APPLY THIS, THE APPLICATION IS ONE PAGE.
DO YOU WANNA COME TO THE, IF YOU COME TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IT'LL GIVE EVERYBODY BE ABLE TO HEAR THE AUDIENCE, THE PUBLIC
UM, MY QUESTION IS, WITH THE BALANCE NOT BEING IN POSSESSION OF JUST ONE PERSON, YOU SAY AT, UM, AT ALL TIMES, WHAT ABOUT THE PERSON WHO'S BRINGING THE BALLOTS BACK FROM A PRECINCT AND THEY'RE RIDING IN THEIR CAR WITH THE BALLOT BOX AND IT'S ONLY ONE PERSON THERE? SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT WHEN WE TAKE THE, THE BLUE BINS OUT OF THE TABULATORS, THAT THE BOXES BY POLICY NOW ARE THAT WE WILL SEAL THOSE, THAT THE SEALS WILL BE, THE BINS WILL BE LOCKED AND THE SEALS WILL BE PUT ON 'EM AND THEY WILL NOT BE OPENED.
[00:35:01]
NOT TAKING THOSE BALLOTS OUT AND CONSERVING PUTTING 'EM IN ANOTHER BIN OR KEEPING THE 10 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING BALLOTS IN ONE BIN.WE'RE GONNA HAVE EACH A BIN FOR EACH DAY AND WE'RE NOT OPENING THOSE AGAIN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT WE DON'T WANT, WHEN YOU PULL THE BIN OUT, WE WANT SOMEBODY ELSE THERE WITH YOU WHEN YOU, UH, POLL MANAGER OR, UM, THE DIRECTOR OR SOMEBODY THERE, IF IT'S EARLY VOTING, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE THERE WHERE THERE'S TWO, AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE, WHEN THAT BIN, WHEN THOSE DOORS OPEN, THE BIN IS PULLED OUT SO THAT WE SECURE IT AND IT'S SEALED AND IT'S NOT OPENED AGAIN UNTIL THE LAW SAYS WE CAN OPEN ELECTION DAY OR WHENEVER IT'S, SO THIS IS FOR MOSTLY EARLY VOTING.
YOU, YOU ARE REFERRING TO EARLY VOTING, BUT EVEN ELECTION DAY, EVEN IF WE'RE THE, IF WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE PRECINCT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT THAT BIN, WHEN THE BIN COMES OUT OF THE TABULATOR, IT IS LOCKED IN SEALED THEN.
SO ONE PERSON CAN TRANSPORT IT BACK TO THE YES MA'AM.
AS LONG AS IT'S LOCKED AND SEALED.
BUT YOU SHOULD, THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ONE PERSON ALONE WITH ANY BALANCE, WHETHER IT'S YOU OR ME OR ANYBODY ELSE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE LIKE, LIKE WHERE YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS ON A BALLOT.
LIKE IF IT'S SEALED, YOU'RE GOOD.
LONG AS SEAL, WHEN YOU GET GET THE OFFICE WITH THE BIN, THE SEAL SHOULD MATCH WHAT WE GOT ON THE RECORD.
BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE BEEN TO PRECINCTS BEFORE WHERE THEY MAY HAVE JUST ONE PERSON WORKING, UM, IN THE PAST, NOT IN THE PAST.
NOW, AND I, I GUESS I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOU.
WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE POLICY? YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE WERE THE BLUE BINS, SO IN THE, THE PAST WERE NOT BEING LOCKED.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT AT THE END, LET'S JUST SAY WE HAD EARLY VOTING FOR 10 DAYS.
AND SO MONDAY THEY GOT BALLOTS, AND THEN TUESDAY AT THE END OF THE VOTING, THE BLUEBEAM WAS OPEN, THE BALLOTS WERE TAKEN OUT, BANDED TOGETHER WITH THE TALLIES, EVERYTHING, THE RECONCILIATION SHEET, AND THEY WERE PUT INTO THE BIN WITH THE OTHER BALLOTS MONDAY BALLOTS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT SONG APPARENTLY NOT A, WELL, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THIS BOARD IS AWARE OF IT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION NOW.
WELL, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH IS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HIDE SOMETHING THAT WE, EVEN THOUGH IT, WE'RE NOT ACCUSING ANYBODY.
IT STILL DOESN'T GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF UM, BEING RIGHT.
SO, WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ACCUSING ANYBODY, WE'RE NOT SAYING ANYBODY'S DONE ANYTHING.
WE JUST, WE WANTED TO, AS THEY SAY, NOT ONLY HAS IT GOTTA BE RIGHT, IT'S GOTTA LOOK RIGHT AND IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL.
THE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, NORMALLY ERS COME DOWN AND THEY WILL OPEN THE, UM, THE BOXERS UP, BUT TAKE THE LOCK OFF.
WE WILL SITTING THERE LOOKING AT THEM, DO IT AND THEY WOULD TELL OUT HOW MUCH THEY GOT.
THEN IT WAS TAKEN OVER TO THE NEXT OFFICE AND THEY WOULD LISTEN AGAIN AND READ OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WASN'T OVER THERE, UM, HOW MUCH EACH PRECINCT HAD AS VOTERS.
BUT THE LAST TIME OVER HERE, Y'ALL TOOK ALL THE BALLOT IN THE BACK AND THE PUBLIC COULD NOT SEE WHAT Y'ALL WAS DOING.
SO WHY DO Y'ALL TAKE IT IN THE BACK OUTTA OUR VIEW? I'M GONNA LET THE DIRECTOR ANSWER THAT, BUT I CAN GO AHEAD.
SO, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BY THE OFFICE, THE BALLOTS, THE BALLOT BINS ARE STILL LOCKED UP, STILL GOT SEALS ON THEM.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO THEM.
THAT THAT'S ALL WHAT I'M SAYING.
PATRICIA, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THIS BETTER? YEAH, I THINK, I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND.
IT'S JUST THAT NOBODY DON'T WANT ANSWER THE COUNTING OF THE BALANCE YOU'RE TALKING.
WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? 'CAUSE WHEN YOU ASKED CLOSE, HE OPENED AND HE ASKED THE QUESTION OPENLY.
IT SHOULDN'T BE VERY COMPLICATED AS TO SAY, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT YOU BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR? YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT AS WE SIT HERE TONIGHT.
SO HOW DO WE PICK WHO'S COMING BACK THERE? BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN ALLOW THAT.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED BEFORE, IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC AREA.
OKAY, BUT THE, THE THE BALLOT BOX THAT Y'ALL BRINGING, YES, IT HAS THE SEAL ON IT, BUT I'M SAYING BEFORE WHAT THEY WERE DID, THEY WERE BRING IT IN THE ROOM, WHETHER IT BE TWO PEOPLE OR 20 PEOPLE SITTING IN THE ROOM, THEY WOULD CUT THE, THE DETECTIVE LOCK OFF IN FROM THOSE PUBLIC WHO WAS
[00:40:01]
SITTING THERE AND THEY WOULD COUNT THE VOICE RIGHT THERE, THERE AFTER THEY TALLY OUT IN THIS ROOM, THEN THEY WAS SENT OVER TO THE NEXT ROOM.WAIT, THE CANDIDATE NUMBER BE? OH, IT'S HAND COUNTS.
THAT'S WHEN MR. BRIGG, I THINK THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE HAND COUNTING.
ALL OF 'EM ANNOUNCED ELECTRONIC.
IS THAT NOT DIRECTLY? YES, SIR.
SO THE, THEY BALANCE THE CHECK IN WITH THE TABULATOR MM-HMM
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND THAT NUMBER.
AND SO IF THERE'S A RECOUNT, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE SEALS ARE ACTUALLY BROKEN.
SO THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON BEHIND.
IF WE PULL, LET'S JUST SAY THE ONE THAT WAS HERE, IF WE PULLED, IF YOU PULL THIS BIN, IT STILL HAS THE SEALS ON IT FROM THE ELECTION LAST TUESDAY.
BUT THE, THE VOTE, THE THE VOTES, THE, THE WAY THE VOTES ARE COUNTED YEAH.
IS THERE'S A THUMB DRIVE IN EVERY DS 300 THAT IS TAKEN OUT WHEN, WHEN THE POLLS ARE CLOSED AND IT'S BROUGHT TO THE OFFICE AND IT'S PUT INTO A COMPUTER AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE READOUT.
THE VOTES ARE NOT COUNTED PERSONALLY.
SO THERE'S NOT ANYBODY BACK THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THOSE BINS OPEN.
WHAT WE DID TONIGHT ADDRESSES THAT AGAIN, IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THOSE BINS OPEN IN PRIVATE.
WE WANT AT LEAST SOMEBODY ELSE WITH A PERSON WHEN THOSE SEALS ARE CUT.
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE THEIR HANDS ON A BOW LIFT IF THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY ELSE THERE.
SO WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY, I MEAN, MEAN I REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS IN THE COURTHOUSE WHEN USED TO COUNT 'EM OUT AND YES, YES.
DOWNSTAIRS AND EVERYWHERE WHEN THEY'VE DONE IT BEFORE.
BUT WE DON'T, IT'S NOT, IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC NOW.
SO Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE THE THUMB DRIVE, BUT ON THESE WILL BE IN THE BACK MEAN Y'ALL PUT THE THUMB DRIVE BACK IN TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTE AT THE PRECINCT.
Y'ALL THE ONLY PERSON TO SEE THAT AND, AND BRING THE PRINT OUT THE RECEIPT, THEN BRING IT ON THE OUTSIDE.
SO IT, WHEN, WHEN THEY PUT THE THUMB DRIVE IN, THE BOARD'S NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANY OF THAT.
SO THE DIRECTOR DOES THAT AND THE POLL CLERKS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER STAFF.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
SO THEY PUT, SO THE THUMB DRIVE IN POST CLERK WILL BE WITH YOU AT THE TIME THAT YOU TAKE THE THUMB DRIVE AND STICK IT INTO THE, RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL COLUMBIA SITTING IN MY COPILOT CHAIR, BUT YEAH, EVEN I'M NOT LEFT ALONE WITH THE THUMB DRIVES.
I'M ASKING, THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING LIKE I'M LOST.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, LIKE THE BOARD'S BEEN TIPPED, SAVED, UHHUH,
SAME SEALS THAT WERE ON TUESDAY NIGHT, STILL ON 'EM.
RIGHT NOW, IF WE'RE ASKED BY COLUMBIA, LIKE FOR THE FIRST NIGHT OF EARLY, UH, FOR THE PRIMARY FIRST NIGHT OF EARLY VOTING MM-HMM
WE ACTUALLY ARE REQUIRED TO DO A HANDLE COUNT FOR THAT DAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS A HAND COUNT WHERE WE ONE AT A TIME.
ALSO THE RECONCILIATION WORKSHEET TAKES CARE OF HOW MANY BALLOTS WE'VE USED DURING THE DAY.
SO WE ARE GETTING ACCOUNT FROM THE PAPER THAT'S GOING OUT AND ACCOUNT FROM THE MACHINE.
THAT'S COUNT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME IN AND USED A PIECE OF PAPER.
SO WE'RE GETTING A, A DOUBLE COUNT ON EVERYTHING BEFORE THE END OF THE NIGHT ANYWAY.
ONCE YOU GET AN ELECTION DAY, IT'S THE SAME THING.
A COUNT OF THE PAPER AND COUNT OF THE PEOPLE.
IF THOSE DON'T START MATCHING UP, WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU NUMBERS OFF ON THE RECONCILIATION SHEET.
IF THE NUMBER ON THE SHEET IS NOT LINING UP WITH WHAT'S ON THE MACHINE, YOU KNOW, YOU AUTOMATICALLY GOT A PROBLEM.
YOU START LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU GOTTA DO TO FIX IT IF THERE'S A WAY TO FIX IT OR WHO'S I'M NOT DOING THEIR PAPERWORK.
MR. BRIGGS, WHY DON'T YOU, ROBBIE, HAVE YOU SET THE TIME WHEN YOU GO TEST YET? IS IT TOO EARLY FOR THE JAN? NO, NO.
I CAN DO A PUBLIC, UH, STILL HAVE TO DO THE PUBLIC TEST.
YEAH, BUT WHEN WILL YOU I GOT YOUR NUMBER.
I'M GONNA GIVE ROBBIE YOUR NUMBER.
AND WHEN THEY DO PUBLIC TESTING, YOU'LL SEE I'M CONFUSED WHEN I GET ANOTHER QUESTION, I'LL COME BACK.
YOU HAVE A, YOU'LL HAVE FIRSTHAND VIEWS.
HE'LL, HE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT WE DO AT PUBLIC TESTING.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU MR. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND AGAIN, APOLOGIZE ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HANGING WITH US.
HOW ABOUT A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THAT'LL BE QUICK.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE ONE MORE ORDER, SORRY.
BUSINESS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.
UM, AND THIS FALLS BACK UNDER, UNDER BACK, COMING BACK FROM PUBLIC, UH, BACK TO PUBLIC SESSION.
SO, UM, I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, THAT UPON COMPLETION OF THEIR APPLICATIONS, ANY OR ALL OF THE EIGHT DEFERRED APPLICANTS THAT COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATIONS, THEY CAN BE APPROVED.
THIS IS THE MOTION THAT ANYONE WHO COMPLETES THEIR APPLICATIONS, WHO'S BEEN DEFERRED
[00:45:01]
TONIGHT, THAT THEY CAN BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OFFICERS WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK TO A FULL BOARD MEETING.THAT IS THE MOTION, A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL THAT THE, UM, IF THE APPLICATIONS FOR ONE, THE ONES PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED TONIGHT, 1 7, 8, 12, 18, 24, 25, AND 27, UM, CAN BE APPROVED BY THE CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTAINED? HE CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN ANY OTHER BUSINESS FIRST FROM THE BOARD.
I MAKE A MOTION TO BE ADJOURNED.
I SECOND MOTION MR. STR TO ADJOURN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINING? WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.