AutoMARK Presentations:  We are pleased to announce that Mr. Gary Olivi, Director of Operations, with AutoMARK Technical Systems has agreed to conduct three separate workshops on a variety of technical issues related to the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminals.   The workshop is approximately 2 hours in length.   Mr. Olivi offered the same presentation at the Michigan Association of County Clerk’s Conference held in Escanaba on August 23, 2006.  Comments received from conference participants have been very favorable.

The date and location for each workshop are provided below.  Please feel free to attend at the location most convenient to your schedule.  An RSVP is not required. 

September 14, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Delta Township Community Center

7550 W. Willow Hwy.

Lansing, Mi.  48917

September 14, 2006 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

City of East Grand Rapids

2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. SE

East Grand Rapids, Mi.  49506

September 15, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. – 12 Noon

City of Southfield, Parks and Recreation Building, Room 115

26000 Evergreen Rd.

Southfield, Mi.  48076

Attention “Dual Seal” Ballot Container Users: If you have purchased a type of ballot container that requires the use of two seals (commonly referred to as “back door” and “front door” seals) it is imperative that you carefully review and comply with this communication.  The “back door” or slot opening of the container, which is designed for use at elections at which punch card or paper ballots are used, must be permanently sealed prior to being used at any future elections.

It is the responsibility of the city or township clerk to ensure that the “back door” is permanently sealed prior to the upcoming November 7, 2006 general election.  Dual seal ballot containers with “back doors” that are not sealed according to the following instructions may not be used.

The proper procedures for sealing ballot containers will vary depending upon the type of seal being used.  The following provides an overview of the various procedures which may be employed.  Please note that regardless of the type of seal used, a certificate containing 1) the number on the seal used to seal the container 2) the signatures of the two election officials that sealed the container and witnessed the sealing (preferably with different political party preferences) and 3) the date upon which the seal was affixed to the container must be inserted into a plastic sleeve and affixed to the container using an official seal. 

Sealing Procedures:

Flat Metal Seal – Close the container and insert a horseshoe seal adaptor through the metal grommet.  Insert the tip of the metal seal through both sides of the horseshoe adaptor.  Next, insert the tip of the seal through the grommet on the plastic sleeve.  Insert the tip of the seal into the metal ball applying force until the seal is fully seated.

Pull-Tite Seal – Close the container and insert the pull-tite seal through the metal grommet on the container.  The use of a horseshoe adaptor is not required.  Insert the tip of the seal through the grommet on the plastic sleeve.  Insert the tip of the seal into the opening at the opposite end.  Continue pulling the tip of the seal through the opening to ensure a snug fit.

Pad Lock Seal (wire and plastic seal) – Close and lock the container.  Insert the tip of the seal through the grommet on the container.  Insert the tip of the seal into the opening at the top of the plastic applying force until the seal is fully seated.   

Sealing the “back door” in accordance with these procedures will help to ensure that your precincts will be recountable in the event of an election recount.  Following these procedures will also eliminate the need for your election inspectors to record the “back door” seal number in the Poll Book and Statement of Votes at the close of the polls and allow them to give their full attention to sealing and documenting the “front door” seal as required by law.  While some election officials tell us that they maintain a record of the seals used to seal the “back door,” producing such records at recounts can be problematic as these records are often times lost as administrations change.  In addition, unless the office record is attested to by two election officials and dated prior to the election in question, the record itself can be challenged.

Please do not hesitate to contact this office if you have any questions regarding the above requirement.

Using the AutoMARK with “Short” Ballots:  We have discovered an issue which may cause confusion when using shorter ballots with the AutoMARK (10 inch ballots) for smaller elections.  The AutoMARK unit is shipped with the tray’s “Reversible Roller Guide” in the up position so the second set of rollers is unusable.  This is designed for use with a long ballot.  The AutoMARK unit will accept the ballot, however it will return to the ‘Please Insert a Ballot’ screen with no error message displayed.  The ballot would then need to be manually removed from the unit.  To prevent this, the Bureau of Elections has created a document which provides step by step instructions to flip the roller guide and eliminate the problem.  The document can be viewed by clicking on the link below.  If you have any questions regarding this procedure please contact ES&S.

Corey Skradski

Election Systems & Software

Account Representative

877-377-8683 x 1335

fax: 402-970-1285

cmskradski@essvote.com

Click on the link below to view the “Flipping the Reversible Roller Guide on the AutoMARK” document:

http://mi.gov/documents/Flipping_the_Reversible_Roller_Guide_171415_7.pdf