At today’s County Commissioners’ Work Session, Mary Stehman, Chief Clerk/Registrar of the Lancaster County Election Office met with Commissioners Stuckey and Martin to discuss the “Adoption of Election Night Policy and Procedures.” The procedures are largely the same as those currently in place, but are being mildly adjusted for the upcoming elections in 2010.
The procedures, as usual, will involve the delivery of all general returns (including “blue supply bags, electronic data cards, keys to optical scanner tubs, and any other items returned by the local election board”) to County employees at the Lancaster County Board of Elections:
“The employees shall ensure that all items are recieved. The electronic data cards will be transferred to the first floor office, or designated space, and members of Board by ‘runners’ who are also employees of the County.” Then “the officials necessary for conducting the tabulation shall receive the electronic data cards for each local election district. They shall insert the electronic data cards into the tabulation computer, and shall produce consolidated returns for the County of Lancaster.”
Periodically, consolidated returns will be posted on the County Website. The media will not have access to the floor or designated space where returns are counted, but will be provided a designated area to cover the event.
The only altered element in the Election Night Policy is that the Election Office will no longer provide computer hardware to the visiting media. Press and media representatives will, however, be allowed to use their own PC with a wireless internet connection.
