The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is offering candidates, campaign treasurers and others who are interested in the election process an opportunity to learn about campaign finance during a series of free workshops.
Whether you are a veteran elected official, treasurer or a first-time candidate, this workshop will help you understand how to properly complete and file all campaign finance paperwork.
“The Board is responding to the many people who tell us they would like to learn more about how to file campaign finance reports and other forms involved with running for office,” said Pat McDonald the Director of the Board of Elections. “The workshops will be very helpful to new candidates and for those with experience who wish to refresh their knowledge of the complex campaign finance process.”
The two hour sessions will include instructions related to all aspects of campaign finance requirements including filing deadlines, the designation of a treasurer and rules on how campaign contributions can be collected and spent in accordance to the law.
Workshop Dates and Times
Saturday, July 22 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Wednesday, July 26 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 16 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Wednesday, September 20 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location
All workshops will be held at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections located at 2925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (Map).
The e-poll books were the star of the show during the May Primary Election. We are happy to report the transition from paper poll books to e-poll books was seamless.
Voter records are quickly found by scanning a driver’s license. This simulation was done during a demonstration.
“The e-poll books performed so well that I am very confident in the devices as we plan for their use in the larger September Primary and November General Election,” said Pat McDonald, Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Excellent Feedback from Voters and Election Officials
Our research shows that the poll workers were comfortable with the new system and they received very positive comments from voters. A survey of election officials was conducted as part of our election administration. According to the results, 95% said e-poll books were easy to use and 98% said they are an improvement over paper poll books.
The voters had good things to report as well, with 92% saying they had a positive or very positive experience when using them to check in.
Voters will now sign electronically rather than on paper.
Additional Benefits
E-poll books provided the advantage of having access to real-time information concerning set-up and voting during the election. Back at the Board of Elections, our computers were able to communicate with all of the e-poll books. Staff was able to confirm that all of the machines were powered up and ready for voters by 6:30 a.m. If there was a problem, calls to the locations could be made or rovers could be quickly dispatched to the locations that needed help.
The need to call polling locations to try to get an idea of voter turnout during the election has also been eliminated. We were able to see exactly how many people had cast ballots at any time. For the first time we were able to have exact turnout reports instead of relying on estimates.
Post-election duties are now more efficient. The new poll books save time when performing voter history. Instead of weeks of scanning the paper poll books, the units can provide that information electronically.
We salute everyone on staff who had a role in this transition that has taken two years to complete. A big thanks to Shantiel Soeder and Jason Culik on staff who worked under tight deadlines to make sure the machines and the election officials were ready to go on the big day.
Still haven’t seen the new technology?
We will be demonstrating the new technology throughout the summer months at various libraries throughout the City of Cleveland. View the schedule below. Additional dates and times may be added.
Did you know that we hire about 6,000 people to help us conduct general elections? Six thousand! That’s what it takes to ensure our polls are fully staffed, equipment can be transported from location to location, and all behind-the-scenes logistics are under control.
Recruiting 6,000 people to work one to two days is no walk in the park. While we do have a solid base of returning workers each year, we still face challenges when it comes to recruiting a few special types of workers. Please consider serving your community if you can help with the following positions!
Republican Election Officials Needed
It’s no secret that there are far more registered Democrats than Republicans in Cuyahoga County. This simply makes it a bit more challenging to recruit equal numbers of both Democrat and Republican workers. All polling locations must be staffed with representation from both parties to ensure political balance and maintain security.
Bilingual Election Officials Needed
Many communities throughout Cuyahoga County have a large population of Spanish-speaking citizens. Our bilingual election officials ensure all voters have a seamless voting experience.
Special Election Officials Needed
While we always need people to staff the polls on Election Day, we also have an entire fleet of workers responsible for behind-the-scenes logistics. This includes our rovers and ride alongs who travel from various polling locations troubleshooting any issues that may arise throughout the day. They also safeguard sensitive documents and supplies, including ballots.
Note: You have a much greater chance of working in one or both elections if you are willing to work in the City of Cleveland. Whether you live in the city or not – we need your help to make this election a success!
Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, said it himself – we all need to declare a day for democracy and do our part to help with Ohio elections. What better way to do your part while earning some extra spending money in the process? We hope to see you on Election Day!
