PRE-ELECTION DAY PREPARATION § Inspecting Ballot Boxes and Supply Boxes

Prior to any election, GEC staff should verify the total number of official ballots issued to the various precincts and ensure that each ballot stock number corresponds to the correct precinct labeled on the ballot box. GEC staff should input all pertinent information on the EC- 16 form, the Ballot Box/Supply Box/Ballot Transfer Record form. The supplies should be crossed-checked using the Supply Inventory Sheet, Form EC-12.

§ Election Return Center Preparation

The Commission shall maintain within Guam an Election Return Center for the tabulation of votes and publication of returns. SOURCE: Law governing 3 GCA § 11108

Entrance/Exit

There should be a designated area for precinct officials to enter and exit the tabulation center. At the entrance, there should be a check-in station utilized by GEC staff to verify all officials entering.

Ballot reconciliation section

There should be ample space for precinct officials to review and account for all ballots and supplies issued to them in the morning. There should also be a designated area for GEC staff to assist any precinct officials in this process should they have any questions regarding the process.

Supply Return Section

There should be a designated area for the GEC staff to ensure that all supplies issued are returned to the GEC. This area should have sufficient space to store the supplies during the tabulation process.

Tabulation Section

The area designated for tabulation should have limited access to only the GEC Commissioners, staff, and deputized tabulation clerks. There should be a designated area within the tabulation section for precinct officials to surrender all cast ballots and for GEC officials to acknowledge receipt on the chain of custody form issued to the officials in the morning.

If it is determined that the GEC will use its mechanical tabulation equipment, there should be sufficient power sources to run the machines. These power sources should be on different power circuits to prevent overloading the circuit and compromising the tabulation process. There should also be a designated area for the GEC Board of Commissioners to convene a meeting to discuss Election Day matters and resolve ballots with any issues.

Ballot Replication Section

There should be a designated area for GEC Commissioners to meet to discuss what actions are to be taken regarding questionable and damaged ballots. The Ballot Replication Section

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PRE-ELECTION DAY PREPARATION shall be within the tabulation section in plain view. The following supplies and materials shall be provided in the ballot replication section:

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A ballot control log Unmarked ballots for each precinct Empty ballot box with lock and key Envelopes



Best Practice since 2000

Observation Section

There should be a restricted area for designated political party officials and media outlet members to observe the tabulation process.

Security of Election Return Center

The Executive Director shall solicit the assistance of the Guam Police Department for the security of the Election Return Center.

§ Test Election – Security and Testing of Ballot Counting Devices Notice of Test Election

The executive director shall inform the chairpersons of each political party of the GEC’s intent to conduct a test election

Before any election in which (machine) tabulators are to be used and before any ballots are to be cast, the Commission shall conduct a Test Election in which GEC officials, members of each political party, and media shall witness the test of the tabulation component by engaging the printing mechanism and securing a printed result showing a zero count for every candidate, initiative, and referendum.

GEC staff shall randomly mark at least five ballots from each precinct with over votes, under votes, and write in votes. The staff is to have a manual tabulation of the results to compare with the machine-tabulated results. If an error is detected during the test election, the executive director shall determine the cause and correct the error.

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