Members and representatives from the Tri-Diversity Council listen to a Coconino County Election official discuss the multiple layers of security to ensure that every vote is counted during the upcoming Nov. 5, 2024 General Election. Photos by Frank X. Moraga ©2024
FLAGSTAFF — Members of the Tri-Diversity Councils, which included the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council, visited the Coconino County Election Center in Flagstaff to gain information on ballot security for the Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 General Election.
A team of election officials answered a wide variety of election-related questions during the nearly two-hour tour.
Participants were able test the system using KNOWiNK PollPadsfor registration validation and then submit via traditional ink-marked paper ballot or ExpressVote Marking Devices to submit sample votes. None of the electronic equipment is connected to the internet.
Members then visited a large warehouse storage room which contained all the sets of voting equipment that will be securely sent to 30 polling centers and 15 voting centers throughout the county. More than 400 poll workers have been hired by the county, with each center having between 5 and 15 workers depending on the size of the area served by the center.
Submitted votes are then escorted by county law enforcement officials from each voting location back to Flagstaff, where every vote is tabulated and counted used the Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) closed network system.
On election night, observers appointed by their political party can view from a corridor the tubulation of ballots from behind a large glass window. Early, Provisional and Conditional ballots are also counted on election night, with all signatures verified.
A Frequently Ask Question (FAQ) on the County’s election process can be found at https://www.coconino.az.gov/3098/Elections-FAQ
Coconino County has two separate departments that work together to administer elections. The County Recorder and the Elections Department are each responsible for overseeing specific areas of the election process. For more information, visit https://www.coconino.az.gov/195/Elections
Election workers tests ballots using the Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) DS950 Ballot Tabulator.
Election workers tests ballots using the Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) DS450 Ballot Tabulator.
Election officials describe the variety of equipment in the Elections Center Warehouse that will be sent out to 30 polling centers and 15 election centers throughout Coconino County.
Visitors to the Ballot counting observation corridor art first created with a large mural showing voting history in the United States, Arizona and Coconino County, above and below.
Elections workers are still being sought by Coconino County. Click here or on image above for more information.