DEFEND THE VOTE: POLLWATCHER AUDIT SURVEY

Chicago and Cook County, Illinois

By documenting how elections are run in your precincts, you help to improve the system. Elections security should be transparent and open to the publics review. Dont be afraid to ask!
Empowering Citizens to Protect Elections

SURVEY FOR ELECTION DAY ONLY Pre-Polls Open to Closing Polls

Date: March 20th 2012 Time ____________ Precinct_________ Ward/Township ___________________ Chicago: Yes or No

Survey Questions to Ask:

Name: ______________________________________ Address: _____________________________________ City and Zip: __________________________________ REQUIRED: I am a Registered Voter Yes or No Survey Done with Poll Watching Credentials Yes or No

A. Pre-Open Questions: (Ask the Election Judges if you were not present to observe this yourself) (Approximate times are okay) 1. When was the Touch Screen machine set up? Date & time _____________ Notes ________________________ 2. When was the Card Activator set up? Date & time _______________ Notes ____________________________ 3. When was the Ballot Scanner set up? Date and time ______________ Notes _____________________________ 4. Chicago Only: Was the Big Blue Box (equipment carrier) sealed before initial setup? Yes or No Seal 1 ________ 5. Chicago Only: Was the Big Blue Box resealed after set-up? Yes or No Seal 1 ____________________________ Notes this Section ____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ B. Election Day Set up Questions: (Based on Election Judge responses and your observations) 1. Who set up in the morning? ____________________________________________________________________ 2. Was the equipment sealed? Yes or No Record seal number _________________________________________ 3. How is the equipment key stored?_______________________________________________________________ 4. How many Judges were present (Include all election judges and student judges) __________________________ 5. Did all Judges take their Oath? Yes or No What time? ________ Notes__________________________________ 6. Do all of the Judges have a badge on? Yes or No If not, why _________________________________________ 7. Chicago Only: Does the Polling Place Administrator have a badge on? Yes or No Notes_____________________ 8. Do all voting booths provide voter privacy? Yes or No Notes _________________________________________ 9. Was signage identifying the polling place visible outside? Yes or No Notes_______________________________ 10. Was a USA Flag posted identifying the Polling Place? Yes or No Notes__________________________________ 11. In Front of the Poll: Are there 2 blue cones marking 100ft? Yes or No Notes_____________________________ 12. Did you observe or hear of electioneering inside the blue cones? Yes or No Notes _______________________ 13. Did you observe or hear of electioneering inside the polling place? Yes or No Notes ______________________ 14. Early Voting, Absentee and Grace Period Voting: Visually (hands free) inspect ballot application books to check that these types of voters have been marked as unqualified to vote again. Were they marked? Yes or No 15. Notes this Section_____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ C. SEALS: : (Based on Election Judge responses and your observations) (Always note if the seal is damaged or incorrectly applied)
Cook County ballot boxes have 3 seals: regular ballot box, write-in blue ballot bag, and the alternate ballot box. Touch Screen Printer Scroll Back of Touch Screen 2 seals on Ballot Box (Chicago only) Cook County - 3 seals Ask to see them!

1. Touch Screen Printer: Is it sealed? Yes or No Seal 1 _____________ 2. Back of the Touch Screen Machine: Are seals present? Yes or No Seal 1 ____________ Seal 2 _____________ 3. Ballot Box Seals: The Ballot Scanner is secured to the ballot box with two seals in Chicago, 3 seals in Cook County. Are the seals present, locked and recorded?(If the Judges cant show you the seals, look at the Record of Seals and confirm there.) Yes or No Seal 1: _______________ Seal 2: ______________ Seal 3_______________ 4. Was any other ballot box used? Yes or No If used, is it sealed? Yes or No Seal: ________________________ 5. Was the ballot box checked and sealed as empty? Yes or No When, last night or this morning? _____________
Instructions: REQUIRED: (1) DO NOT OBSTRUCT VOTERS (2) Be objective like an auditor (3) Be observant and thoughtful of voters at ALL times. (4) Work cooperatively with election workers. Election Judges MUST take care of voters first. (5) If a seal is missing or damaged, note it here then tell the election judges and call the election authority. Chicagos Election Central (312) 269-7870; Cook Countys Call Center (773) 801-2050. (6) Call Defend the Vote 847-382-1100 if you need help. (7) Fill out as much of the audit survey form as possible. If parts are blank, we dont score that item. (8) NEVER photograph voters in the polling place without consent. (9) Get pollwatching credentials from local candidates or party leaders. If you need help, call Defend the Vote 847-382-1100 (10) MAIL TO US IMMEDIATELY You might want to keep a copy for yourself!

Page 2 Pollwatcher Audit Survey - In 2011 we audited 239 precincts in Chicago. What were the results? Real change! Chicago added new seal security, and substantially changed early voting practices! We have more work to do! Security begins at your precinct. Join us in a survey of how Illinois votes. Help spread the audit!

Cook County does not have a seal on the Ballot Scanners Memory Pack. The back of the Ballot Scanner should be locked.
Card Activator Printer is sealed Back of the Ballot Scanner Chicago Only: Seal on Memory Pack

6. The Card Activator Machine: Consolidates the vote and activates the Touch Screen. It has a printer with a scroll. Chicago Only: Is there a seal on the Card Activator printer? Yes or No Seal Number_____________ Cook County Only: Is the printer door locked? Yes or No 7. Ballot Scanner: The memory pack is in the back. Cook County locks the back. Chicago seals and locks the back. Chicago Only: Ask to see the seal. Is there a seal on the back? Yes or No Seal 1 __________________ 8. Cook County Only: Ask to see the back of the Ballot Scanner tucked into the Big Blue Box. Locked? Yes or No? 9. Inquire about current or past issues related to machines or seals ______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ D. Closing the Polls: (ONLY Fill in if you observed the closing) 1. Memory Packs: After removal, who kept control over the memory packs from the Ballot Scanner and the Touch Screen? Describe _______________________________________________________________________ 2. Consolidation of Voting Machines: Did the vote consolidate? Yes or No How many attempts? _____________ 3. Transmitting the Results: Were the results successfully transmitted? Yes or No How many attempts? _______ Tapes: After transmitting poll tapes are printed. Request 1 copy of poll tapes. Did you receive a copy? Yes or No E. IMPORTANT: Record notes you have: OBSERVATIONS MATTER: Observe the operation of the poll. Observe and comment on poll operations such as: the voters experience, poll security, accessibility for voters, privacy, and ease of communicating with Election Day poll workers or election officials. Be objective and inquisitive. Record impressions and observations with positive and negative feedback. As needed, type or continue on a separate sheet! Your observations are the heart of this survey! __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ I certify these are my observations Email: (If you want feedback or results, please provide your email Email addresses will not be shared)

________________________________________________ Name (please sign and print) Date and Time Signed______________________________ CRUCIAL - MAIL SURVEY BY THURSDAY MARCH 22th TO
Defend the Vote: 1 West Surrey Lane, Barrington Hills, IL 60010 IMPORTANT: Pollwatchers can view and visually examine all aspects of voting, but cannot touch any election supplies. Election judges should answer questions from pollwatchers that are on this form, unless they are busy. If you are a voter and at your precinct to vote, you can ask the election judges to help you answer the questions in this form, too. It is up to their discretion to answer your questions, but most will gladly help if not too busy. Feel free to share this form.
Pollwatching credentials are available from local candidates or call Defend the Vote

Email Address: _____________________________ Phone: Optional: ____________________________ Circle One: You can publish my name: Yes or No
Audit results will be posted in a report. Unless you circle yes, your name will not be released and your results will be published without your name or personal information. This is designed to be a snapshot of elections in Chicago and Cook County. Each procedure scored in this survey has a reason that impacts security or the voter experience. Ask election judges to participate in the voter survey and ask them for feedback for better and more secure elections. Send this survey to us by Thursday March 22nd. DONT BE LATE! Missed the deadline? Send it anyways! You conduct this survey at your own risk. Defend the Vote assumes no liability for your actions. Please be careful and lawful!

Supplies to Bring: The Pollwatcher Audit Survey sheet, pollwatching credentials,(ask a party official or call Defend the Vote, if you need credentials) Voter Audit Survey sheets, a pen, a tablet to take additional notes on. As available, a camera and cell phone.