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<br /> <br /> <br />Reporting of Election Night Results <br /> <br />The Chair initiated a discussion on this topic covering not only dissemination of election <br />results to candidates and the public but also reporting of results in VERIS. This <br />discussion was prompted by some negative feedback on the scope and timeliness of <br />reporting of unofficial results to candidates and the public on November 7 and by Board <br />member concerns about the accuracy of data reported in VERIS. The Chair had <br />consulted with the Albemarle County Registrar on this and learned that they report <br />phoned-in results from the precincts to the public. However, for VERIS, they wait until <br />the data contained in the digital storage media from the voting machines has been <br />downloaded and compiled. The phoned-in vote tallies are entered into a spreadsheet, <br />which is then printed out and posted for public viewing. The spreadsheets are set up to <br />automatically add the tallies from multiple scanners at each precinct. <br /> <br />After a brief discussion the Board decided we should adopt a similar system. The <br />change to a much simpler Statement of Results (SOR) form in the most recent election <br />proved effective in reducing the time delay in delivery of election materials to the office <br />by the precinct teams. Spreadsheets will be created for each precinct. The data read <br />by the precinct closers from the tally tapes will be entered directly into the spreadsheets <br />by registrar’s office staff members taking the calls. The spreadsheets will then be <br />printed out and immediately posted for public viewing. The posting will occur after each <br />call is received from a precinct and delays should be minimal except in the rare event of <br />hand-counting some ballots at a precinct. <br /> <br />No data will be entered into VERIS from the phoned-in reports. As each precinct chief <br />arrives at the office the V-drives containing the recorded election results will be <br />downloaded into the stand-alone Verity work station and immediately printed out. <br />Copies will be provided at once to the Registrar or Deputy Registrar for entry into <br />VERIS. At the same time the SORs and Provisional Ballot Logs will be examined by the <br />Board and the additional data required on election night in VERIS (the number of voters <br />who voted, the number of outside-the-polls voters and the number of provisional ballots <br />categorized by reason per the state’s instructions) will be provided to the Registrar. <br />This will greatly reduce the possibility of errors in election night reporting to the state <br />and eliminate the requirement to check tally results during the canvass. The net result <br />of these two changes will be to increase the accuracy of VERIS election night reporting, <br />while delaying it slightly, and to provide timely and orderly public reporting of unofficial <br />election results after the polls are closed. <br /> <br />Lessons Learned from the November 7 Election <br /> <br />A number of issues were discussed and several decisions were made to correct <br />shortcomings. The role of the research specialists continues to evolve and the Chair