Latest / 2MC / 2MC Podcast Eps 90 - Supervisor of Elections Tour!

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2MC Podcast Eps 90 - Supervisor of Elections Tour! · 2MC

• 00:00:00:07 - 00:00:18:15 Speaker 1 Hey everybody, it's MAK, and I'm Courtney. Welcome to 2MC. You're probably going. Where are they? Right here. Martin county supervisor of elections. All right, let's go see what's going on here. 00:00:18:18 - 00:00:26:15 Speaker 1 Hi. Welcome. Thank you guys for having us. Us to your homes. You're here? Absolutely. 00:00:26:16 - 00:00:33:11 Speaker 2 Welcome to the Martin County elections Office. We are so glad to have you here to go on a tour. We're so excited. 00:00:33:15 - 00:00:34:22 Speaker 1 Yes. Yes. 00:00:34:24 - 00:01:05:29 Speaker 2 Very exciting. So you're in the lobby, and, this is like. This is a point of contact. Especially our children that come in and your children in need that are here to vote or register to vote, update information. They like to find out what this is about. It's a replica of the, you know, the former, the first United States Senate building that was built by a former employee who was here for many years and retired. 00:01:06:07 - 00:01:07:05 Speaker 1 Incredible. 00:01:07:09 - 00:01:30:02 Speaker 2 And they donated it to the office. So, and you'll see as we go through the building to a lot of student artwork. Yes. As a former school board member, the school district always purchased a piece or two pieces of student artwork. And when I became supervisor of elections, I thought, I'm going to do that for the office. 00:01:30:03 - 00:01:30:18 Speaker 1 And you guys. 00:01:30:18 - 00:01:37:06 Speaker 2 Do you do projects with the school children, too? We do. And Kherri can really talk about the project. 00:01:37:07 - 00:01:38:24 Speaker 1 We love our school outreach. 00:01:38:25 - 00:01:55:27 Speaker 3 We're always on our school campuses because we want to encourage and plant that seed so that once they're 18, it becomes natural to go to the polls and vote. So we do our middle school chick fil A contest, high school art contest, and you'll see some of that artwork in the building. And then of course, our favorite pledge to vote. 00:01:55:28 - 00:01:56:27 Speaker 3 Voter registration. 00:01:56:28 - 00:01:57:16 Speaker 1 So yes. Yes. 00:01:57:17 - 00:01:58:11 Speaker 3 We love that. 00:01:58:12 - 00:01:59:05 Speaker 1 Yeah. Awesome. 00:01:59:06 - 00:02:28:20 Speaker 2 Well, this building was built in 1958, originally as the post office, when they moved out of the arcade building downtown Stuart. They moved here and the building was privately owned. Yeah. And they were only here for ten years and then moved literally across the pond to Johnson Avenue and have been there since. So once the post office moved out, the building was still utilized by government. 00:02:28:26 - 00:02:48:18 Speaker 2 The county utilized it as the the health department. Thank you, health Department, for 20 plus years. Okay. And when I came into office in 2005, we were on the fourth floor of the courthouse in only 3300ft² of space. 00:02:48:19 - 00:02:49:00 Speaker 1 You did. 00:02:49:00 - 00:02:50:14 Speaker 2 Everything in that small space? 00:02:50:15 - 00:02:51:23 Speaker 1 Yes. Wow. 00:02:51:25 - 00:03:23:10 Speaker 2 Our equipment was stored at a flea market. According to Florida law, we're required to train our poll workers prior to each and every election. We had to beg, borrow a library facility or a jury room. So my goal was to bring everything under one roof. And the board of County commissioners were very gracious. This building was available, and they leased it for a number of years and then purchased it probably 12, 15 years ago. 00:03:23:11 - 00:03:24:14 Speaker 1 So I love that you have. 00:03:24:16 - 00:03:25:06 Speaker 2 A permanent. 00:03:25:07 - 00:03:26:27 Speaker 1 Home here. Yeah. 00:03:26:29 - 00:03:29:17 Speaker 2 I do, and we love it. And we love the history behind it. 00:03:29:18 - 00:03:32:08 Speaker 1 Yeah. Thank you. You too. I didn't know that. 00:03:32:09 - 00:03:33:19 Speaker 2 You want to lead the way. 00:03:33:20 - 00:03:35:15 Speaker 1 Come on. Okay. Let's go. 00:03:35:16 - 00:03:36:00 Speaker 3 Let's start. 00:03:36:00 - 00:03:42:01 Speaker 1 This tour. 00:03:42:03 - 00:03:55:25 Speaker 2 With this room in the post office. I remember when it was post office days. This was the gift shop. And I used to love to come into the post office. I don't know why, but I like to. The smell of the paper. 00:03:55:25 - 00:04:00:21 Speaker 1 And yes, and all I did. Everyone likes that. Yeah. 00:04:00:23 - 00:04:27:05 Speaker 2 I liked the post office, but this room is our training room for our poll workers currently and also our canvasing board room. There are cameras in the ceiling that feed back to the courthouse for viewing, but these doors go on lockdown whenever we go into canvasing mode, because we'll have ballots in here. So only myself. Keary as chief deputy. 00:04:27:08 - 00:04:37:01 Speaker 2 And Marcos warehouse. They have access to this building or this room, actually. Wow. So thanks for letting us in here. 00:04:37:03 - 00:04:42:29 Speaker 1 I know, of course. Well, there's no ballots in here right now, so that's why we're allowed. Exactly, exactly. 00:04:43:00 - 00:04:55:01 Speaker 2 In between the two elections. Yes, yes, yes. But, we utilize this room for a lot of different activities here in the office, so. Yeah. 00:04:55:08 - 00:04:56:06 Speaker 1 It's a nice. 00:04:56:08 - 00:05:22:17 Speaker 2 Yes. And then the room right over here. Well, before we walk over there, you'll see the glass windows all throughout the building. I was able to lay the, design for the building out for transparency purposes. So when we're in canvasing, the public has the opportunity to be over here to watch what we're doing. Watch. 00:05:22:19 - 00:05:24:04 Speaker 1 Yes, yes. 00:05:24:11 - 00:05:27:17 Speaker 2 Watch all the ballots being tabulated through the high speed. 00:05:27:18 - 00:05:31:13 Speaker 1 What a fantastic opportunity. Just like. 00:05:31:15 - 00:05:31:25 Speaker 2 Not. 00:05:31:26 - 00:05:32:29 Speaker 1 Involved in the process. 00:05:32:29 - 00:05:33:26 Speaker 2 But to witness it. 00:05:33:28 - 00:05:35:12 Speaker 1 Yes, yes. 00:05:35:14 - 00:05:48:15 Speaker 2 And they can hear what we're saying. We make up as a board. Canvasing board is made up of three individuals by statute, a county judge. My judge is Judge Kathleen Roberts. She's been with me for 20 plus years. 00:05:48:16 - 00:05:49:02 Speaker 1 I love. 00:05:49:02 - 00:06:08:07 Speaker 2 That and and myself as supervisor of elections and then a county commissioner statute says the chair. But the chairs was on the ballot. This this election cycle. So Commissioner Ciampi is our. Is that something that the board is that something that's just unique to Florida. 00:06:08:08 - 00:06:09:00 Speaker 1 Or is. 00:06:09:00 - 00:06:37:15 Speaker 2 That like all. All states or. I mean, I know you're Florida. Yeah. There are there are other states to. Yes. That would have canvasing boards. It might be named differently, structured differently. But in the state of Florida, I just love the transparency in this text and balances all throughout the process. Yes, absolutely. And we really try to talk about the canvasing board out in the public, because they're the ones that certify the election. 00:06:37:15 - 00:07:04:17 Speaker 2 It's not just up to yes, the oversight isn't just me and my staff. Right. There is a board. We're under sunshine law, just like any other board in the state of Florida. And minutes are taken. So it's it's a whole process. Let's do that. Yeah, we should definitely be other side of the window. Yes, absolutely. Do you end up having a lot of people come in? 00:07:04:21 - 00:07:34:21 Speaker 2 Just traditionally not I would say people. I mean probably just don't think about it. And it's a busy time anyway. So if they're voting they may not think to come in. Right, right. And they trust us to you know, we have built up a real high level within the community. We work hard to maintain that trust in and to, build that trust with our voters because, like you said, it's so important, the transparency, the trust. 00:07:34:24 - 00:07:34:28 Speaker 2 And. 00:07:34:28 - 00:07:36:24 Speaker 4 You guys do a really good job at it. 00:07:36:26 - 00:07:59:16 Speaker 2 Well, you vote, you always vote early. You vote here, right? And I always vote in my precinct. But I just think the staff is always knowledgeable, friendly, welcoming. They explain the process to you as you're going through it. So because, you know, it's like you don't do it very often. It's like, wait, how do I the ballot comes in that folder and you know what I mean? 00:07:59:16 - 00:08:04:18 Speaker 2 So I just feel like your stuff is always just amazing music to our ears to. 00:08:04:18 - 00:08:05:18 Speaker 3 Hear that. 00:08:05:20 - 00:08:06:04 Speaker 2 Yep. 00:08:06:08 - 00:08:08:25 Speaker 3 Our poll workers are well trained. We want to hear that. 00:08:08:26 - 00:08:10:07 Speaker 2 It's working. And so. 00:08:10:09 - 00:08:11:17 Speaker 4 Like, they're always so kind. 00:08:11:23 - 00:08:25:12 Speaker 2 Yeah. And you know, they only deal with elections every other year. Whereas we deal with elections on a daily basis, daily basis. So they really do. They're remarkable out in the field. Yes, yes. 00:08:25:12 - 00:08:26:13 Speaker 4 Yeah. They're doing a great job. 00:08:26:14 - 00:08:29:17 Speaker 2 Yes. All right. Let's continue on. 00:08:29:20 - 00:08:31:18 Speaker 3 Come on. You guys are the guest. You know. 00:08:31:18 - 00:08:59:28 Speaker 2 I guess this training. Yeah. This room is, is just another, open room that we use for different activities. It started out as a phone banking room. But we really don't need that much space for our phone bankers and, and the artwork again, and the love the kids artwork and people really love this is interesting. 00:09:00:01 - 00:09:01:09 Speaker 4 I was like, yeah, this is really. 00:09:01:10 - 00:09:27:12 Speaker 2 Yeah. People always stop and look at this because of the intricacy, you know, the precision that the student went to. Yes. Really? And National Geographic's, he doesn't love it. I mean, that's been around, well, longer than all of us. Yes, yes, yes. Well, we're going to enter the warehouse office, and we have staff in here for you to meet. 00:09:27:14 - 00:09:30:26 Speaker 4 Hi. How are you? High three. 00:09:30:29 - 00:09:31:20 Speaker 2 Martha Ann. 00:09:31:25 - 00:09:32:13 Speaker 4 Hi. 00:09:32:15 - 00:09:38:28 Speaker 2 This is Marcos Salazar. Marcos. And you have the third key to the room out there. Or the first key, maybe. 00:09:39:00 - 00:09:44:20 Speaker 5 No. Maybe third. 00:09:44:22 - 00:09:54:28 Speaker 2 Well, Marcos, warehouse manager, operator, and Bree has been with us through this election cycle. She's a student at Indian River State College. Oh, my gosh, that's. 00:09:54:28 - 00:09:56:16 Speaker 4 So fascinating. 00:09:56:17 - 00:09:58:29 Speaker 2 Yeah. In your major. 00:09:59:01 - 00:10:08:15 Speaker 4 June, my major is, my bachelor's in criminal justice. I'm actually finishing it this upcoming March April time. So yeah, I'm super excited. 00:10:08:18 - 00:10:15:21 Speaker 2 How interesting to learn all or see this process firsthand while going through your degree. 00:10:15:22 - 00:10:32:21 Speaker 4 For sure. It's definitely given me more of an appreciation for the integrity of all of the democratic processes here in the United States. Really how transparent it is. Like you guys were saying, all the checks and balances. Yeah, it's definitely a lot to take in, especially being this intimate and close with it. Yeah. 00:10:32:22 - 00:10:49:12 Speaker 2 Well, when we first started talking to carry about it and she was like, oh, you guys could come to a tour and we're like, that's great. Thank you. We'd love that. You know? And I kind of thought we would just be in that outer area. And she said, no, you can the inner sanctum. Yes, yes. We were like, we beyond. 00:10:49:12 - 00:10:53:08 Speaker 3 The lobby. That's what I like to say on the lobby. Come beyond the lobby and see. 00:10:53:10 - 00:10:55:01 Speaker 2 We we are. It's exciting. 00:10:55:02 - 00:10:56:08 Speaker 4 Yeah. 00:10:56:10 - 00:11:25:17 Speaker 2 Well, Marcos you want to lead them into the warehouse? This is so cool. And you do tours like we do. You do tours. We do. We public. We want the public to come in and see, it's their equipment, you know? Yeah, it's their supplies. And you recently upgraded your equipment, right? And that's what you see right here on the right is, is the new DS 300, DS 300, 300. 00:11:25:18 - 00:11:26:24 Speaker 3 I like saying. 00:11:26:24 - 00:11:30:07 Speaker 4 That. 00:11:30:09 - 00:12:00:18 Speaker 2 The company, the vendor that we have used since 2002, in Martin County is Election Systems and Software out of Omaha, Nebraska. There are only three companies that the state of Florida has certified that we can purchase from. We've been very happy with ES&S, and we had no issues whatsoever through the primary election. And don't expect any Marcos in the general elections. 00:12:00:20 - 00:12:11:11 Speaker 2 Let's move down here to the 850, which is the high speed tabulator that tabulate all of the vote by mail ballots. So they just fly right through there. 00:12:11:13 - 00:12:20:08 Speaker 5 And the same, same vendor, just like a 300. But this is a high speed scanner. So this is DS850. It scans about 300 ballots per minute. 00:12:20:14 - 00:12:21:10 Speaker 4 Wow. 00:12:21:13 - 00:12:23:07 Speaker 5 We you know all about by mail ballots. 00:12:23:08 - 00:12:25:23 Speaker 2 If they're if they're really glad if they're flat. 00:12:25:25 - 00:12:27:02 Speaker 3 Yeah. 00:12:27:04 - 00:12:32:14 Speaker 2 If we don't have coffee stains. Any type of stain on that ballot. Yeah. 00:12:32:21 - 00:12:35:00 Speaker 5 That's a beautiful machine I love it so yeah. 00:12:35:01 - 00:12:36:12 Speaker 4 Yeah, yeah. 00:12:36:13 - 00:13:01:13 Speaker 2 So we have two of these okay. In house we usually use one per election cycle. But we do have that back up. And and also in the event of a recount, because in 2018, for the very first time in the state of Florida, we didn't just have one statewide recount, we had three. And they were very high profile races. 00:13:01:14 - 00:13:23:13 Speaker 2 I remember those, yes, it was US Senate. Yes, it was the governor's race and the commissioner of Agriculture. So, yeah. And you only have a certain window of time in which to conduct these recounts. Marcos came to us from Broward County, but I know Broward and Miami-Dade worked around the clock. 00:13:23:17 - 00:13:24:16 Speaker 4 Yes. 00:13:24:18 - 00:13:47:24 Speaker 2 Yeah. 2/47 to get to get all of the ballots counted for those recounts. Yeah. A lot of work goes into elections, right? Well, you guys do this all year round like we think about it around election time or primary and then the general. But you guys really are working on this every day. We we go from one election into the next election. 00:13:47:27 - 00:13:55:19 Speaker 2 Someone said to me just last week, well, I guess you get some downtime now since the primaries over. No, because. 00:13:55:24 - 00:13:56:09 Speaker 4 We're getting. 00:13:56:09 - 00:13:56:17 Speaker 3 Ready. 00:13:56:18 - 00:13:56:27 Speaker 4 For that. 00:13:56:28 - 00:13:57:19 Speaker 3 Next. 00:13:57:22 - 00:14:04:20 Speaker 2 Next week. We were laying the ballot out. I'm sure you're on lockdown like there's no holidays. Nobody gets to get married between primary. 00:14:04:20 - 00:14:05:12 Speaker 4 And general. 00:14:05:13 - 00:14:06:14 Speaker 2 You're exactly right. 00:14:06:16 - 00:14:08:12 Speaker 4 No babies. 00:14:08:14 - 00:14:09:03 Speaker 2 That's right. 00:14:09:07 - 00:14:12:25 Speaker 5 I went to 12 months. 00:14:12:27 - 00:14:22:13 Speaker 2 Yes, we do have a blackout window. Yes. I mean, it makes sense. Yeah. Your stuff is small. Small? Yeah. I make number 12. Yeah. Really? Yeah. 00:14:22:14 - 00:14:22:26 Speaker 4 Wow. 00:14:23:01 - 00:14:24:04 Speaker 2 That's amazing. 00:14:24:06 - 00:14:24:18 Speaker 4 And you. 00:14:24:23 - 00:14:35:24 Speaker 2 And about how many voters do we have in Martin County? Almost 116,000 registered voters. Okay. And then, Kherri how many poll workers do you have for this upcoming. 00:14:35:27 - 00:14:46:23 Speaker 3 General election? We'll have 212 poll workers for Election Day. And then we'll add another 60 for early voting because we'll have six early voting sites. So we have to staff those early voting locations. 00:14:46:24 - 00:14:51:26 Speaker 2 And your early voting locations are different than your primary. 00:14:51:27 - 00:14:52:17 Speaker 6 Primary, right? 00:14:52:18 - 00:15:12:20 Speaker 3 Correct. So for the primary, we only had three early voting locations. But for the general, more people are here. They want to vote in person. We'll have six early voting locations. So all public libraries, with the exception of the Blake because our office is here. So those will be your six early voting spots October 21st through the 31st, 8 to 5, including Sunday. 00:15:12:20 - 00:15:22:07 Speaker 3 People always forget they were open on Sunday and it's the quietest day. So if you want a quieter opportunity to vote in person, think about Sunday for early voting. 00:15:22:08 - 00:15:32:07 Speaker 4 Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah, you guys are. I feel like for 12 people you guys run it so efficiently. Oh my God. You would never think it was just 12 people doing. Oh. 00:15:32:09 - 00:15:41:20 Speaker 2 It's all about the details. Elections are. So we lay our master calendar out and we're following that on a daily basis that appeals to us. 00:15:41:21 - 00:15:43:03 Speaker 4 Yes. Yeah. Planning. 00:15:43:03 - 00:15:53:19 Speaker 2 We love that planning strategy. Yes. Yeah, it's all about that. Marcos, you want to share about the secure ballot take. This is so fancy looking. It's all dressed up nice. 00:15:53:21 - 00:16:05:10 Speaker 5 Yes. So we have to secure belt intake station. We have one for every early voting site. Okay. Over here. So we make sure we have an inspector. Also verify when a voter drops off the envelope. Make sure it's sign and dated for. 00:16:05:10 - 00:16:06:00 Speaker 4 You okay. 00:16:06:02 - 00:16:07:24 Speaker 2 So it's not just people aren't just. 00:16:07:25 - 00:16:09:17 Speaker 6 Dumping ones in. Yeah, right. 00:16:09:18 - 00:16:33:18 Speaker 2 Right. Florida law only allows ballots to be returned. Your own ballot, that of a spouse, a family member, members, and then two others. So someone does have to be at the ballot box, drop box at all times. Or I am personally subject to a $25,000 civil fine. Somebody is always at the ballot box, right? 00:16:33:21 - 00:16:58:28 Speaker 2 Somebody's always at that ballot box. So it's locked right now. But those ballots from the early voting sites come back here on a, a nightly basis whenever that location closes, that early voting site. So they come back here. They're locked in here. Yep, yep. Absolutely. So yeah. And we really like to encourage our voters who vote by mail drop off your ballot. 00:16:59:00 - 00:17:02:13 Speaker 2 You know, that way, you know, we absolutely have it. 00:17:02:14 - 00:17:02:25 Speaker 4 Yes. 00:17:02:26 - 00:17:03:28 Speaker 6 Yes, I like it. 00:17:04:01 - 00:17:08:21 Speaker 2 Perfect. And down. Yeah. Down here a little bit. 00:17:08:23 - 00:17:09:06 Speaker 6 Okay. 00:17:09:12 - 00:17:26:29 Speaker 5 Here we have our electronic voter identification systems. We have two different models here. We just recently got a BODs which is a ballot on demand printer. So right now it's for early voting sites. So as our voters come in. It's a quicker for it really helps out our poll workers to the. 00:17:26:29 - 00:17:28:00 Speaker 4 Voters faster. 00:17:28:02 - 00:17:32:09 Speaker 5 And we also have our zebra scanner. So that scans that driver license. 00:17:32:12 - 00:17:34:12 Speaker 6 And did you know that. 00:17:34:13 - 00:17:36:28 Speaker 5 Have a driver license here to. 00:17:37:01 - 00:17:41:15 Speaker 4 Look at you. 00:17:41:17 - 00:17:42:20 Speaker 4 That's so fun. 00:17:42:26 - 00:17:52:23 Speaker 5 But this is our demo of course. 00:17:52:26 - 00:17:55:03 Speaker 4 What. 00:17:55:05 - 00:18:09:21 Speaker 2 So that that's a voter pass in it. It shares the ballot style that that folder will receive. And then the ballot on demand printer is going to print it out. Okay. If it's what party. 00:18:09:21 - 00:18:11:15 Speaker 6 Or okay, I get it. 00:18:11:18 - 00:18:24:05 Speaker 2 Which is really important for a primary for a general, it doesn't make a difference. But and people always, I think, not get confused. But there are. Always questions about the difference in the ballots going into the primary. 00:18:24:05 - 00:18:24:07 Speaker 4 And. 00:18:24:11 - 00:18:54:10 Speaker 2 I yeah, it never fails. I see somebody that's surprised, like, wait, I didn't. I didn't vote for that or I didn't know I could vote. Right. And because Florida's a close primary state, so you have 29 days prior to each election to change your party. Okay. It really limits your ballot for a primary. If you are registered with a minor party or as no part with no party affiliation. 00:18:54:14 - 00:19:14:25 Speaker 2 And that's that's the difference. Primary elections are for the parties. Therefore, the two major parties to determine who their nominee is going to be on that general ballot. I think that's great information, because I think that, you know, some people think, well, I'll just vote in the general election, the primary. I don't need to, but it's it's important. 00:19:14:25 - 00:19:34:06 Speaker 2 It's really it's always important. Primaries are very important because many times the races, local races are decided in that primary. So yes, when you have a low turnout, you know, it's it makes a difference. Yes, it makes a difference in a decision is made, you know, at a very low percentage. 00:19:34:08 - 00:19:37:16 Speaker 4 Yeah. So get out and vote. Yes. Get out. 00:19:37:19 - 00:19:40:26 Speaker 2 Thank you. That's right. Okay, great. 00:19:40:29 - 00:19:42:14 Speaker 4 Courtney I'm on it. 00:19:42:17 - 00:20:05:26 Speaker 5 Well, is the disc once it's turned on. But as a as I was saying, we don't have anything programed as of yet. We test all of our equipment before it goes. Election. Take everything out to election cycles. We have everything sealed. We test everything with our launch and accuracy testing that has a canvasing board with our supervisor Davis, our county commissioner, and our judge. 00:20:05:29 - 00:20:06:13 Speaker 4 Okay. 00:20:06:16 - 00:20:32:00 Speaker 2 So Florida law requires us to test every piece of equipment prior to every election, prior to it being deployed out into the field. But is Marcos was saying there is a time. And for the upcoming election, it will be October 14th at 830. Here at the office, it will be a public testing of ten pieces of the equipment. 00:20:32:03 - 00:21:05:04 Speaker 2 Just so that the public knows and candidates know that the equipment is properly there, tested. There are lots. Yes. It's a predetermined ballot. And there's a custody log that goes with every piece of equipment out into the field. It has to be signed off on it comes back here. So much. Behind the scenes that I think all of these seals have to be checked every election day by the poll workers to make sure that it coordinates with the custody lock. 00:21:05:07 - 00:21:12:28 Speaker 2 And, and then they can break the seal and open it up and power it up for processing, asking to be a. 00:21:12:28 - 00:21:15:15 Speaker 4 Poll workers. No shit. We'd love. 00:21:15:15 - 00:21:16:23 Speaker 3 To welcome you all to our team. 00:21:16:24 - 00:21:40:03 Speaker 2 I have a friend that does it in Georgia. He's retired and he's like, he's so excited when that time comes for him to get trained and work. Yeah, we like the small elections. You know, we occasionally have a small election in. Staff goes out in and actually works them because it gives them that handsome perspective rather than being here. 00:21:40:04 - 00:21:45:29 Speaker 2 Yes. In addition to this equipment, Marcos, you want to share about the Ada piece of equipment. 00:21:46:01 - 00:22:03:29 Speaker 5 You have? An express machine is intended for the visually impaired. So the person will come and they have the braille They can have a they can black out the screen, they have their headset. And it's actually also any voter can use this if you have a shaky hand and you can't fill out that oval, you can request to use an express function. 00:22:04:01 - 00:22:09:08 Speaker 5 But it's just a marketing device. So once you oh, would you like to. 00:22:09:11 - 00:22:21:02 Speaker 4 Go ahead and show you. All right. So you begin by inserting a card right here or feeder. 00:22:21:04 - 00:22:29:15 Speaker 2 Takes a minute to pull the ballot up in the system. 00:22:29:17 - 00:22:32:14 Speaker 4 Okay. Select English. 00:22:32:16 - 00:22:38:12 Speaker 2 You can select English or Spanish because you're required to have Spanish on our ballot. 00:22:38:15 - 00:22:55:06 Speaker 4 On how to fill it out. You can touch the screen and also use this little remote and hit Start voting. And then the audio will come out of these headphones. That is so, so amazing. 00:22:55:08 - 00:23:09:10 Speaker 2 And in like Marcos was saying, it really is good for those individuals that have a hard time. They may have a tremor. Yes. You know, and those circles are known and they're little. 00:23:09:11 - 00:23:10:24 Speaker 4 They're very little. Like, I haven't. 00:23:10:24 - 00:23:20:04 Speaker 2 Filled in a circle on a test sheet in a very long time. You should see some of the ballots we get in in the way they're filled in or circled or. 00:23:20:07 - 00:23:27:12 Speaker 4 Right. But that's great because you can just click if you want to, and you don't have to worry about getting in the little. 00:23:27:14 - 00:23:42:16 Speaker 3 And there was even a voter with a broken arm. And so the election worker suggested it to him and he was like, wow, I would never have been able to fill in the ovals on my own and would have needed assistance. But this gave him his independence because his arm was broken. So it's great for anyone who needs. 00:23:42:16 - 00:24:05:13 Speaker 4 That perfect. Here you can just review the summary of what I selected and then it should spit it on back up. Yeah, that is so cool. And then up here you can change the text size the display. And there's a little help icon right there. If they're having some issues at the precinct with the machine. Nice. That is awesome. 00:24:05:16 - 00:24:17:18 Speaker 2 And then that ballot it. When it prints out the voter does insert it. The top portion of the scanner tabulator. 00:24:17:20 - 00:24:20:16 Speaker 4 Yeah we use these for the primary right. 00:24:20:17 - 00:24:21:14 Speaker 2 Yes yes, yes. 00:24:21:15 - 00:24:23:09 Speaker 4 And your ballot went. 00:24:23:09 - 00:24:24:22 Speaker 2 Into here. Yes, yes. 00:24:24:23 - 00:24:25:20 Speaker 4 When I put it in it was. 00:24:25:20 - 00:24:27:14 Speaker 2 Like there's there's the ballot. 00:24:27:15 - 00:24:28:13 Speaker 4 She just nice. 00:24:28:20 - 00:24:29:11 Speaker 5 You like to see it. 00:24:29:16 - 00:24:41:19 Speaker 4 Oh yeah. And then you would go ahead and just insert it actually at this top part right here. We'll go. Well it won't take it but this is where it would go. Yeah. Well that's awesome. Wow. This is every. 00:24:41:22 - 00:24:45:07 Speaker 2 Single thing is considered planned for. 00:24:45:10 - 00:24:46:16 Speaker 4 Yes. Yeah. 00:24:46:18 - 00:24:59:21 Speaker 2 Well and then a lot of people ask what happens to the ballots after the election. And we're required by law, all of these white boxes that you see over here. So my ballot is in here, your ballots in there. 00:24:59:24 - 00:25:00:27 Speaker 3 My ballots in there. 00:25:00:28 - 00:25:02:23 Speaker 4 Yes. Oh my gosh. 00:25:02:27 - 00:25:04:15 Speaker 5 Yes, yes. 00:25:04:17 - 00:25:12:20 Speaker 2 I'm on the bottom okay. Yes. And Marcus, you want to explain the difference between these two color coded systems here? 00:25:12:21 - 00:25:22:24 Speaker 5 This is from my general, from my 2024 election. And keep all our balance between two months. So this is getting very close to here. But here's a primary ballot okay. 00:25:23:00 - 00:25:39:09 Speaker 2 Yeah. They're all organized by precinct. And so then when you then shred these these move up the other ones. Well actually they stay there. And then the new general comes okay. Comes in a better system. Yeah. 00:25:39:11 - 00:25:42:17 Speaker 5 Copy that. Comes on site and read about it on site before. 00:25:42:20 - 00:25:43:14 Speaker 4 Okay. 00:25:43:16 - 00:25:45:28 Speaker 5 I like on a shredding day. Yes. 00:25:46:01 - 00:26:14:21 Speaker 2 But yeah, we're required by law to maintain the entire election for 22 months. That's federal and state law. It's been codified into state. But you can see over here these are the envelopes by precinct that that the vote by mail ballots were in. So what if somebody comes into the precinct, forgot they voted early. It happens. You know, people get busy or whatever. 00:26:14:25 - 00:26:36:16 Speaker 2 So how do they handle that? It comes up in the system that they already voted. Okay. And if they still maintain the fact that they didn't vote, they're issued a provisional ballot which goes into an envelope. Okay. Then it comes back here, we research it and then present it to the canvasing board to make the final determination, okay. 00:26:36:18 - 00:26:59:22 Speaker 2 If it's going to happen every now and then, it does happen and it happens more so to with vote by mail ballots, because ballots go out in the mail 40 days prior to Election Day, and they start getting those ballots within a couple days and they vote it right away, put it in the mail or drop it off here. 00:26:59:25 - 00:27:02:17 Speaker 2 And then they hear all this hype. Yeah, go out and vote. 00:27:02:19 - 00:27:05:15 Speaker 4 Go out. Yes. 00:27:05:17 - 00:27:29:21 Speaker 2 So they'll show up at the precinct to vote. And it tells the poll worker yes. Already voted. So the envelopes that I was just mentioning, we come back and we find the envelope with that individual voter signature. And if, you know, we encourage them to come here, take a look at it just to satisfy their mind that they actually did. 00:27:29:23 - 00:27:29:27 Speaker 4 Yeah. 00:27:29:29 - 00:27:31:23 Speaker 2 I like that did cast a vote. 00:27:31:24 - 00:27:33:03 Speaker 4 So wow. 00:27:33:06 - 00:27:34:21 Speaker 2 This is incredible. 00:27:34:22 - 00:27:37:16 Speaker 4 I know I'm loving this. 00:27:37:19 - 00:27:39:08 Speaker 7 I know. 00:27:39:10 - 00:27:42:05 Speaker 2 Well Marcos, you want to take them up to. 00:27:42:08 - 00:27:50:06 Speaker 5 Would you like to show us so the audit machine. It's for me. I like to call it like a Samsung. And this is the iPhone. Different independent systems. 00:27:50:08 - 00:27:51:22 Speaker 4 You know. Okay, that makes sense. 00:27:51:24 - 00:27:54:05 Speaker 5 Systems. We count everything twice. No matter what you want to. 00:27:54:05 - 00:27:55:24 Speaker 4 Start, we'll hit enter. 00:27:55:27 - 00:27:56:28 Speaker 5 Yeah. 00:27:57:00 - 00:28:25:17 Speaker 2 So every single ballot goes through this independent audit system okay. So we can look at our numbers to make sure that they're matching up. Wow. And for the primary election our numbers matched perfectly. So sometimes it'll vary by. A slight you know, percentage. Because this equipment the auditing system may read the ovals. It does read the ovals differently than the DS. 00:28:25:17 - 00:28:26:01 Speaker 4 Two. 00:28:26:03 - 00:28:30:22 Speaker 2 300. So but it meant perfect. 00:28:30:24 - 00:28:41:22 Speaker 4 That's amazing. So it's a big high five moment for you guys. Yeah it is. When that happens it's like yes yes yes yes yes. 00:28:41:24 - 00:28:42:12 Speaker 4 Yeah. 00:28:42:14 - 00:28:46:12 Speaker 2 But you can see the ballots showing up on the screen. 00:28:46:14 - 00:28:50:15 Speaker 4 Oh neat. That is really awesome. And it's. 00:28:50:18 - 00:28:55:12 Speaker 2 Interesting to see how how our voters fill out their ballots too. 00:28:55:18 - 00:28:59:07 Speaker 4 Yeah, yeah. 00:28:59:09 - 00:29:03:20 Speaker 4 I know I feel like some people would just like X the Oval. They do. They put. 00:29:03:20 - 00:29:04:15 Speaker 2 A check mark. 00:29:04:22 - 00:29:05:07 Speaker 4 Yes. 00:29:05:08 - 00:29:08:22 Speaker 2 Yeah. They'll circle it. They'll circle the circle navel. 00:29:08:23 - 00:29:09:28 Speaker 4 Oh okay. Yeah. 00:29:10:03 - 00:29:10:16 Speaker 2 Yeah. 00:29:10:17 - 00:29:11:17 Speaker 3 Everything but fill. 00:29:11:17 - 00:29:19:00 Speaker 4 In I know I'm like Kherri says fill it in. Yes. Yeah. 00:29:19:03 - 00:29:20:08 Speaker 2 So anything else? 00:29:20:16 - 00:29:26:04 Speaker 5 Marcos here we have our I believe we last use it in 2000. 00:29:26:05 - 00:29:26:26 Speaker 2 In 2000. 00:29:26:27 - 00:29:27:02 Speaker 5 Two. 00:29:27:02 - 00:29:29:08 Speaker 4 Thousand, 2000. Okay. 00:29:29:11 - 00:29:30:14 Speaker 5 Patented In the 1800s. 00:29:30:15 - 00:29:32:05 Speaker 4 I actually remember. 00:29:32:11 - 00:29:33:18 Speaker 2 Voting on those. Yeah, I. 00:29:33:18 - 00:29:33:25 Speaker 4 Do. 00:29:33:26 - 00:29:35:21 Speaker 2 And not in the 1800s. 00:29:35:23 - 00:29:39:05 Speaker 4 No. You know. Okay. 00:29:39:08 - 00:29:42:08 Speaker 4 Yeah. Because you would close the curtains behind you. 00:29:42:09 - 00:29:43:20 Speaker 2 You walk up here, you can. 00:29:43:20 - 00:29:46:05 Speaker 4 See it is Courtney. 00:29:46:05 - 00:29:52:09 Speaker 2 Get in there. There's there's the red lever on the top left that you would pull. 00:29:52:11 - 00:29:56:17 Speaker 4 You see, it's it's you've never seen, you know, this is so cool. 00:29:56:19 - 00:30:03:12 Speaker 2 But the curtain would close behind you and then you. Would get into the levers to make your selection on. 00:30:03:14 - 00:30:08:20 Speaker 4 Really cool, though. All right, don't bother me. I'm voting over here for you. 00:30:08:20 - 00:30:09:17 Speaker 3 Then take. 00:30:09:17 - 00:30:16:01 Speaker 4 Your time. You finished? That is really cool, isn't it? Yeah. That is. Wow. 00:30:16:03 - 00:30:17:01 Speaker 2 Five minutes only. 00:30:17:04 - 00:30:18:15 Speaker 4 Yes. Well, yeah. 00:30:18:20 - 00:30:30:03 Speaker 2 Well, well, that was back in 2000. Yeah, but I love that you still have one though. I know, I know the Elliott Museum has one. Oh do they. Yeah. 00:30:30:09 - 00:30:35:11 Speaker 4 And like, you can't get rid of that. No. That's history. It is. 00:30:35:15 - 00:31:03:09 Speaker 2 It's history and you know it. When did you say you last used this? 2000. I mean, it's not that long ago. No, no, but the election of 2000 was the very controversial election. It was. And Congress met after that. And, they passed the law in 2001 called the Help America Vote Act, and it decertified this type of equipment. 00:31:03:10 - 00:31:30:19 Speaker 2 Of course, it decertified the punch cards. Yes. That was the hanging Chad era. Correct. Exactly, exactly. Do you remember that? No. Okay. Yeah. So? So that's when we went with my predecessor. Purchased equipment from ES&S, as I indicated earlier. But it wasn't this type of system. It wasn't a paper ballot system. It was a touchscreen system and paper ballot. 00:31:30:20 - 00:31:46:03 Speaker 2 I like the paper ballot. And in 2008, Governor Crist, at that time, there were some counties that had paper ballots in some counties that had the touchscreen equipment. And he said, no, all counties are going to have a paper ballot. 00:31:46:05 - 00:31:58:15 Speaker 3 So we're going down the hallway now. Just so you know, this is the only place in the office that the public has access to without coming with someone that has a swipe card to let them in. Okay. The public hallway. 00:31:58:17 - 00:32:06:26 Speaker 2 Deputy elections operations. 00:32:06:29 - 00:32:10:07 Speaker 2 We didn't say hi to these guys. Oh, we'll come back, right? 00:32:10:13 - 00:32:12:00 Speaker 8 We'll come back around. Okay. 00:32:12:02 - 00:32:17:08 Speaker 3 Well, we can go over here into our conference room. Come on in. 00:32:17:10 - 00:32:21:07 Speaker 9 Oh, yes. This is where I go when I get my ID. 00:32:21:09 - 00:32:39:28 Speaker 3 So it's a dual room. So it serves as the early voting check in. As Courtney knows, she votes early. So you would come in, present your identification, and you all saw our EVIDs our electronic voter identification machines. That's what they would use to verify who you are and print that ballot out and hand it to you. And you go across the hall to make your decision. 00:32:39:28 - 00:32:56:09 Speaker 3 But it's also a conference room. Our supervisor of elections keeps an open door policy, which is great for any person that has a concern or a question. We welcome them. Come into the office. This is your office. Let us know what we can do to assist you. So this is our conference room. But also if you look, we have awards. 00:32:56:12 - 00:33:19:13 Speaker 3 We are an award winning office. And we like to talk about that because I'm 67 counties. Martin's not that large a little over 116,000 registered voters. Our latest award was last year from the National Election Center for our sensitivity training. So think about that out of everyone, Martin County received recognition for our sensitivity training. So that's something we're really this is not. 00:33:19:13 - 00:33:21:08 Speaker 7 Surprising to us. So we. 00:33:21:08 - 00:33:22:18 Speaker 9 Know you guys are such a. 00:33:22:23 - 00:33:24:05 Speaker 7 Step of the way. 00:33:24:07 - 00:33:27:01 Speaker 2 What made you guys like what what drew. 00:33:27:02 - 00:33:28:17 Speaker 7 You to this. 00:33:28:19 - 00:33:29:15 Speaker 2 Career path? 00:33:29:15 - 00:33:30:02 Speaker 7 Yes. 00:33:30:05 - 00:34:06:08 Speaker 2 Well, I was on school board for eight years prior, so I had to interact with the office because as a candidate, this is where local candidate, you would come to file as a candidate and then qualify. And it just hit my heart, you know, that this would be a good fit. And if and when my predecessor decided to retire, which she did, she announced on a Friday she had served for 27 years, almost 28 years, and she had been a school board member before too. 00:34:06:16 - 00:34:21:28 Speaker 2 And served in this capacity. She announced on a Friday she was going to retire Monday morning. I filed my paperwork and just never looked back. It was just it fit. 00:34:22:02 - 00:34:25:13 Speaker 7 I love that it was been here quite a long time to. 00:34:25:14 - 00:34:43:24 Speaker 3 Actually make 21 years that I've been here at the office. So I love my anniversary. It's on Halloween. Yes. So it's exciting. I've always voted since I was 18. I was very excited. I still have my original green. It was a voter registration card then. It's now a voter information card because that's it. It's just your information. But I still have it. 00:34:43:28 - 00:35:08:14 Speaker 3 It had Peggy Robins, he was supervisor of elections, but it's just something I absolutely enjoy helping our public, talking to our kids, our future voters, encouraging our students to become election workers because people don't realize, even though you vote at 18, at 16 and 17, if you preregister to vote, you can work the polls on Election Day. Yes, it's a great way for kids to learn about the process, sitting. 00:35:08:14 - 00:35:14:17 Speaker 7 On the connection, the education, like through the school district, through the school board, educating your community. 00:35:14:22 - 00:35:15:27 Speaker 2 And they get a paycheck. 00:35:15:28 - 00:35:25:19 Speaker 3 They do what they get an excuse absence. We have such a great partnership with the school district to work. The polls receive an excuse absence because they're participating in the process. 00:35:25:24 - 00:35:26:17 Speaker 9 That's amazing. 00:35:26:18 - 00:35:27:12 Speaker 3 So it's a win win. 00:35:27:13 - 00:35:44:04 Speaker 2 Yeah it is. It's great. They're not intimidated by the technology. That's true. You know. Yes. And our senior poll workers tend to be a little more intimidated. So they so it's a great experience. It's a great yes. Great. Yep. 00:35:44:07 - 00:35:52:06 Speaker 3 Well come on down. 00:35:52:09 - 00:35:56:24 Speaker 3 How cool is this? It was the four leading ladies. I believe that's. 00:35:56:24 - 00:35:58:11 Speaker 9 What the young student. 00:35:58:12 - 00:35:58:29 Speaker 3 I can't remember. 00:35:58:29 - 00:36:12:07 Speaker 2 The women's movement. Susan B Anthony, you know, in the other ladies that really led the charge for us as women to have that right to vote. And, you know, we haven't had it that long in the United. I know. 00:36:12:08 - 00:36:13:02 Speaker 9 So it's. 00:36:13:07 - 00:36:15:02 Speaker 2 It's kind of weird to think that. 00:36:15:02 - 00:36:21:10 Speaker 10 Right. Like, we go through our daily lives and all of the things that we have, and it really isn't that long. 00:36:21:13 - 00:36:23:09 Speaker 2 Right. The 20s. 00:36:23:11 - 00:36:36:27 Speaker 3 That was from one of our art contests with our high school students that was submitted. Color me patriotic. That's the theme because it's nonpartisan. But what democracy means to you on canvas. And that was one of the winning pieces. 00:36:36:29 - 00:36:39:19 Speaker 9 Guess rightfully so. Yeah. 00:36:39:22 - 00:36:41:29 Speaker 3 And we can go over to this side of the building. 00:36:42:00 - 00:36:42:13 Speaker 9 Yep. 00:36:42:19 - 00:37:01:13 Speaker 2 We're leaving the public side of the building. And we were the first building in the county to have two factor authentication to navigate throughout the building because of the security of the ballot, the security of the process. So, 00:37:01:15 - 00:37:02:23 Speaker 2 Come on. 00:37:02:26 - 00:37:05:07 Speaker 3 Oh, I hear. Oh, my. 00:37:05:10 - 00:37:07:02 Speaker 9 Oh! 00:37:07:04 - 00:37:08:04 Speaker 10 Oh my gosh. 00:37:08:06 - 00:37:15:24 Speaker 9 Oh! Come on. I know I will be over here. You can come to me when it's allowed. It's okay. It's allowed. Okay. 00:37:15:27 - 00:37:17:07 Speaker 2 We're with the right people. 00:37:17:10 - 00:37:20:24 Speaker 9 We are with the right people. This is the guard dog. Yes. 00:37:21:00 - 00:37:26:05 Speaker 2 Yes, he's. She is the therapy. She's the therapy girl for the. 00:37:26:07 - 00:37:27:18 Speaker 3 Treats with your best friend. 00:37:27:19 - 00:37:31:02 Speaker 2 Oh, gosh, we didn't plan. She says I don't know about that. 00:37:31:08 - 00:37:32:25 Speaker 9 It's okay. It's okay. 00:37:32:27 - 00:37:35:24 Speaker 2 It's all right. So. 00:37:35:26 - 00:37:38:15 Speaker 9 Yeah. Yeah. She's like that camera. I don't like that. 00:37:38:16 - 00:37:39:22 Speaker 2 She's a lot of fun. 00:37:40:00 - 00:37:43:08 Speaker 9 She's. Yes. Love her. Bandana. I know. 00:37:43:11 - 00:37:45:02 Speaker 3 She has dresses and everything. 00:37:45:03 - 00:37:46:19 Speaker 2 She's patriotic. 00:37:46:19 - 00:37:48:12 Speaker 9 Girl. 00:37:48:15 - 00:37:50:28 Speaker 2 She has a full wardrobe. 00:37:51:00 - 00:37:51:21 Speaker 9 Yes. 00:37:51:23 - 00:37:52:02 Speaker 2 Yeah. 00:37:52:03 - 00:37:52:29 Speaker 9 Oh, she's. 00:37:53:00 - 00:37:55:23 Speaker 2 Just wonderful. 00:37:55:25 - 00:37:59:16 Speaker 9 She is so cute. She's looking for. Make sure. 00:37:59:16 - 00:38:00:08 Speaker 2 That it's okay. 00:38:00:13 - 00:38:04:14 Speaker 9 Yes. Yeah. There are friends. Family. 00:38:04:17 - 00:38:31:21 Speaker 2 Well, this room is. Is. Cathy's back here at her desk, and, this is where a lot of activity takes place during the election. With, separating vote by mail ballots by precinct. The early voting ballots, getting vote by mail ballots out in the mail, and then verifying those signatures when they come back in. So we have to hire temporary staff to help us with that process as well. 00:38:31:23 - 00:38:32:03 Speaker 9 Oh. 00:38:32:10 - 00:38:34:21 Speaker 2 Finley's leading the leading the tour now. 00:38:34:22 - 00:38:35:19 Speaker 9 Yeah. 00:38:35:22 - 00:38:57:15 Speaker 2 She's a good girl. And then this is the mail room, postage meter. And this is employee access with where we come in. And you'll see cameras all throughout the building. And there were lots of cameras in the warehouse, of course. And not a fan of the camera. 00:38:57:18 - 00:38:59:21 Speaker 9 No, she. Well, she's like, she's like, I'm. 00:38:59:21 - 00:39:00:21 Speaker 3 Gonna be uncertain. 00:39:00:28 - 00:39:30:02 Speaker 2 And one good thing about this building, too, is that all of the windows, doors are hardened glass, hurricane proof. We have a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security through the state of Florida. They've walked through here several times and made recommendations, adding additional cameras. The hardened glass. We received a federal grant to replace all of the glass for the Harden. 00:39:30:02 - 00:39:49:27 Speaker 2 So it didn't cost the county additional dollars. And yeah. So it's really helped harden the security. Yes yes, yes. Yeah. So it's all good. Okay. Come on in. 00:39:49:29 - 00:39:54:05 Speaker 9 It's okay. It's okay. I love her little. I know. 00:39:54:07 - 00:40:22:11 Speaker 2 This room. We're not going to go in because we have a live election in here. This is the room where the election is laid out. I think one really important, piece of information that voters always ask about is, is the election connected to the internet? Is the equipment connected to the internet? And the answer is no. The equipment in here is standalone, not connected to the internet. 00:40:22:14 - 00:40:25:29 Speaker 2 We don't even have Wi-Fi in this building. Just. 00:40:25:29 - 00:40:30:02 Speaker 9 To keep everything secure. Secure? Yes. Yes. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. 00:40:30:03 - 00:40:43:25 Speaker 2 So, And that's Sam's job. He lays out the ballot. And his deputy of technology administration for the office. Have you been here? How long? Sam? 00:40:43:29 - 00:40:44:16 Speaker 9 Three years. 00:40:44:17 - 00:40:55:00 Speaker 2 Three years now. Does a great job for us. And, I mean, it's. Driven on technology. It is? Yeah. It is. Yeah. Yep. 00:40:55:01 - 00:41:01:25 Speaker 9 So are those. Voting machines all electronic? Like. 00:41:01:26 - 00:41:02:23 Speaker 2 Do they plug in? 00:41:02:25 - 00:41:04:20 Speaker 9 Oh, yeah. Okay. Oh, yeah. 00:41:04:22 - 00:41:09:29 Speaker 11 They are. But in Florida that you have to have a paper record as well. So everyone votes on their paper ballot. 00:41:10:02 - 00:41:14:10 Speaker 9 Oh. Yep. So it's both. Yes. Nice. Nice. 00:41:14:12 - 00:41:26:26 Speaker 2 And the real selling point for me, for this building was this fault that been here since post office day. So it's it's a real vault. 00:41:27:00 - 00:41:27:29 Speaker 9 Oh. 00:41:28:01 - 00:41:38:18 Speaker 2 And you can see where Sam is busy printing ballots now, for vote by mail, because we do those in house and, 00:41:38:20 - 00:41:39:02 Speaker 9 Yeah. 00:41:39:03 - 00:41:40:13 Speaker 2 We have a camera there. 00:41:40:16 - 00:41:44:05 Speaker 9 Yeah, I would have kept it, too. Yeah. For sure. 00:41:44:10 - 00:42:01:05 Speaker 2 So we've been told, you know, of course, it's stored postage and money for the post office, but also the sheriff's department has used it over the years. Not since we've been here, but for confiscations of. 00:42:01:07 - 00:42:03:26 Speaker 9 Different variants. No. 00:42:03:29 - 00:42:12:04 Speaker 2 No, that are, you know, government. Sure. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So we love the vault. Yep. 00:42:12:08 - 00:42:13:28 Speaker 9 Heavy door. Yeah. 00:42:14:01 - 00:42:26:01 Speaker 2 It is. And then this is Christie. Christie is director of finance and compliance. I think this in line. You're in the. 00:42:26:03 - 00:42:27:04 Speaker 9 Yes. Yes. 00:42:27:11 - 00:42:27:24 Speaker 2 In through our. 00:42:27:24 - 00:42:28:21 Speaker 9 Cares class. 00:42:28:23 - 00:42:32:26 Speaker 2 Yes she did. And she speaks so highly of both of you. Seriously? 00:42:32:28 - 00:42:37:13 Speaker 9 Seriously enjoyed it. Yes, we enjoyed having you. Honestly. 00:42:37:16 - 00:42:47:24 Speaker 2 Yeah. Christie said just this morning. They just worked together so well. Yeah. Yeah. It's. We have fun. We do. We like to tell the stories. Yeah. Yeah. 00:42:47:29 - 00:42:48:23 Speaker 12 Those are important. 00:42:48:24 - 00:42:49:20 Speaker 2 Yes they are. 00:42:49:26 - 00:42:51:07 Speaker 12 Yes. 00:42:51:09 - 00:43:12:29 Speaker 2 And this is extra room. Which will. This wall will be knocked out and the addition will go on the other side of it. That's right. You can do this wall. Yes. Yes. Yep. For our canvasing and training room. And then this is my home away from home. It's her first. I, I spend more time here than I do at home. 00:43:13:00 - 00:43:30:05 Speaker 2 Yes. But, 100 years. Yes. Yes. Yep. I love that book. And people pick it up and look at it. Oh, yeah. Look who lives here. Well, Finley has her out front, though, too. She's Kathleen school, actually. 00:43:30:07 - 00:43:31:27 Speaker 12 So that's. 00:43:32:00 - 00:43:36:10 Speaker 2 Anyway, we love the high ceiling. Yes. Another piece of artwork. 00:43:36:12 - 00:43:47:00 Speaker 8 Florida art. Yeah. I just feel like it really is, very comfortable. And you feel like you are in our community. Like you feel like you're in Florida? Yes. Martin county. 00:43:47:02 - 00:44:19:08 Speaker 2 Yeah. Well, I'm a generational Floridian, so, Florida history is really important to me. And ancestry. So this really hit home this piece of artwork with this with a South Fork High School student who painted it because my grandparents were pioneer settlers of the river in between Okeechobee and the Brighton Indian Reservation. And they had cattle. And I still have family that have ranches and cattle and. 00:44:19:09 - 00:44:21:23 Speaker 2 Yeah. So it's just a part of me. 00:44:21:29 - 00:44:22:10 Speaker 8 Love it. 00:44:22:11 - 00:44:25:20 Speaker 12 Yeah. It's beautiful. Yeah. 00:44:25:22 - 00:44:34:13 Speaker 2 And then up front, this is where all the voter registration takes place. And, this is now we're in the front office. 00:44:34:15 - 00:44:34:27 Speaker 12 Yes. 00:44:35:00 - 00:44:42:12 Speaker 2 Okay. Front office. This is Lisa and Lori and Kathleen, I guess. And Finley again. Finley is. 00:44:42:12 - 00:44:45:11 Speaker 8 Not a fan of us. Yeah. Maybe the camera. 00:44:45:16 - 00:44:54:19 Speaker 2 There's everyday work that Lisa has. And Cathy does. Some of you want to share what? Your files that you work with? Lisa. 00:44:54:22 - 00:45:15:06 Speaker 12 Some of the stuff is determining eligibility. Okay, okay. Someone has been convicted of a felony or non citizenship. Sure thing like that. So we go through the process of notifying them all of that certified mail. Okay. Yeah. Notify them. Give them the opportunity to provide proof of their eligibility. 00:45:15:12 - 00:45:17:21 Speaker 8 Everything is so interesting to me here. 00:45:17:24 - 00:45:18:04 Speaker 12 Well. 00:45:18:04 - 00:45:18:06 Speaker 2 The. 00:45:18:06 - 00:45:18:19 Speaker 8 Things you. 00:45:18:19 - 00:45:20:10 Speaker 13 Wouldn't think of. 00:45:20:12 - 00:45:32:05 Speaker 2 Yeah, that need to be done. All needs to be done. But to take place. Yes. Every day. And they're removing the deceased on a daily basis. It comes down to us from the state of Florida. Right. 00:45:32:06 - 00:45:46:27 Speaker 12 Okay. Automatic notifications on that. Yeah. But primarily at this point, it's about by mail request. And registrations. People are trying to meet the deadline before. Yes. So it's it's. 00:45:46:29 - 00:45:48:04 Speaker 2 Party changes. 00:45:48:09 - 00:45:49:24 Speaker 12 Yes. Party changes. 00:45:50:02 - 00:45:59:25 Speaker 2 Do you see a people do that a lot? Like. Right. You're saying you have 29 days? 29 days? Do you see people do that and then come back in and then. Yes, change back to back. Yes. 00:45:59:28 - 00:46:11:29 Speaker 12 People change to be able to vote. And I'm sure. Mary. Yeah. Yeah. So at this point, it's just a lot of cleanup and wrapping up the election and moving on to the getting. 00:46:12:06 - 00:46:13:03 Speaker 2 To the next one. 00:46:13:06 - 00:46:14:09 Speaker 3 Yeah. 00:46:14:12 - 00:46:15:09 Speaker 2 Because we're in it. 00:46:15:16 - 00:46:16:18 Speaker 12 Yes. 00:46:16:20 - 00:46:43:05 Speaker 2 Have you seen or have you seen an increase in, voter registrations since? I don't know how long it's been happening, but when you get your driver's license, you can register to vote or you register so that when you turn 18, right. You can pre-register. Register. Yeah. And most of that, the majority of of registration takes place at the tax collectors office because of that. 00:46:43:11 - 00:46:57:06 Speaker 2 In fact, Kherri, if you want to get that voter information card out of my mail basket, I had to renew my driver's license last week. Oh, is that yours? Yeah. And so I have a new voter. 00:46:57:06 - 00:46:59:06 Speaker 3 Information card. Yes. 00:46:59:08 - 00:47:30:07 Speaker 2 And instead of putting it in the mail, my very efficient staff put it in my mailbox and say, just post right on the same. Yeah. So this is the voter information card here. And as Kherri said earlier, it used to be registration, but Florida has had in law since 1977. You had to provide proof of registration and not not registration, proof of identification. 00:47:30:09 - 00:47:56:00 Speaker 2 And when the motor voter law was enacted in the 90s at the federal level, then Florida also included a photograph. So that's why it became a voter information card. Okay. You can't use it as identification because it doesn't have your signature or your your photograph. It's just informational only. What if you lose your voter information card? We have to have your signature. 00:47:56:03 - 00:48:04:17 Speaker 2 Okay. And if a voter contacts us. Yeah. There's a little affidavit that has to be signed off on. 00:48:04:18 - 00:48:06:11 Speaker 3 I have. 00:48:06:13 - 00:48:07:18 Speaker 12 No idea. 00:48:07:20 - 00:48:35:27 Speaker 2 So it's it's an easy process to get a new card. People need it for homestead purposes. Okay. Yeah. Also. So. Yeah. And I didn't know when. You're right. Because you're getting new driver's license numbers now. Yes. Yep. Makes sense. But it was interesting because I had to go through the whole process. She asked me all of the questions and I answered them, you know, which was was really good and then issued me a receipt. 00:48:36:03 - 00:48:57:13 Speaker 2 And I think that was, that's really good because a lot of times people will change, voters will change their party and forget they did that and get to a primary. And I've never been registered that way. But voters keep your registration information from tax collectors. Yeah. Yeah. 00:48:57:15 - 00:49:03:04 Speaker 13 Well, thank you guys so much for having us because I feel like we had so many like it's. 00:49:03:04 - 00:49:04:07 Speaker 12 Just we. 00:49:04:09 - 00:49:18:09 Speaker 2 Just so much information in the process and how it works. And it's wide open to the public to come in and ask questions. And. Yeah, you guys have it. Have it down. 00:49:18:11 - 00:49:21:28 Speaker 13 Yeah. I feel like we just learned so many things and. 00:49:22:00 - 00:49:23:18 Speaker 2 Like history. 00:49:23:22 - 00:49:24:04 Speaker 13 Yes. 00:49:24:05 - 00:49:28:12 Speaker 2 County history. Yes. Elections office history. 00:49:28:14 - 00:49:36:14 Speaker 13 And then also in the process. And just how you guys do it like so transparent Terry. So that's I think that's important. 00:49:36:15 - 00:49:53:11 Speaker 2 And and you've just added to our transparency. So thank you for that because. Of course seriously this this video will be shared with. Well we were so excited. Like I said, you know we were like okay, well we can come in and just kind of look around and you're like, no, this is your public. You get access. 00:49:53:11 - 00:49:54:01 Speaker 3 To your office. 00:49:54:09 - 00:49:54:24 Speaker 2 That's right. 00:49:54:27 - 00:49:58:27 Speaker 13 And that's awesome. So yeah, if anyone wants to do this, you can. 00:49:58:29 - 00:50:02:24 Speaker 2 So they just contact your office to schedule tours. Maybe not during. 00:50:02:25 - 00:50:07:23 Speaker 3 Not during the election. Yes. But after. We welcome. Yes, yes. 00:50:07:26 - 00:50:37:15 Speaker 2 Wonderful. And and voters can reach us by calling (772) 288-5637. We're going online. There is a format on our site. It's very organized. I, I used it during the primary checking information, checking results, seeing what was going on. It's I think sometimes people think, oh, it's just for beforehand, you know, and then you go to the news. But I love that. 00:50:37:17 - 00:50:41:08 Speaker 2 I know you go to the source. That's right. You go to the source. 00:50:41:10 - 00:50:42:27 Speaker 13 Yes yes yes yes yes. 00:50:43:02 - 00:50:46:17 Speaker 2 But they can sign up for a tour on our website as well. Love it. 00:50:46:19 - 00:50:47:13 Speaker 13 Yes. 00:50:47:15 - 00:50:50:08 Speaker 2 We didn't sign up, martinvotes.gov 00:50:50:11 - 00:50:51:07 Speaker 13 Yes. 00:50:51:09 - 00:50:52:23 Speaker 3 Any time. 00:50:52:25 - 00:51:04:29 Speaker 2 So, before we let you go. I'd like to introduce you to two of our younger members of the team here at the elections office. And I'll let them introduce themselves and tell you what they do. Okay. 00:51:05:01 - 00:51:06:08 Speaker 3 Yes. 00:51:06:10 - 00:51:34:28 Speaker 13 So I'm Jira. I'm the deputy of election support services. Me and me both are in a little bit what we do around the office as well. Title we support the office wherever they need help. We're there to help and work a lot in the warehouse. Keep things organized. Everything's secure for when the elections come around. We work up front, hang phone calls and help our voters know what the election's coming up, what they need to get in for the election and where to go on election day. 00:51:35:01 - 00:51:35:27 Speaker 2 And. Mia. 00:51:36:00 - 00:51:59:05 Speaker 13 Hi. My name is Mia. I'm also, as we said, a deputy of election support services. And something else really interesting that we do is we have the privilege to go out into our community and participate in civic participation with our younger voters, our future voters. So we get to go to voter drives at the high schools, the Pine School, all the different Martin County high schools as well. 00:51:59:07 - 00:52:14:09 Speaker 13 So it's a privilege to be able to advocate for democracy and be young and be able to have our generation understand the importance of voting. So that's something that really motivates us to work here. 00:52:14:12 - 00:52:16:07 Speaker 2 Could not have said that. 00:52:16:09 - 00:52:17:02 Speaker 3 Honestly. 00:52:17:04 - 00:52:21:19 Speaker 2 That was great. So what is that probably your favorite part of what. 00:52:21:19 - 00:52:33:17 Speaker 13 You do? Yes, definitely. Definitely. It's really, really fun to be able to go to talk to the younger students at the high school. My my old high school, I went to South Fork, so it was. 00:52:33:18 - 00:52:36:12 Speaker 3 Really bulldog. Okay. 00:52:36:15 - 00:52:48:11 Speaker 13 Yes. It was it was incredible. And just having younger students understand the importance that, you know, their voice matters. You know, the the leaders that we choose today shape our tomorrow. And so it's really important. 00:52:48:13 - 00:52:49:14 Speaker 3 Wow. 00:52:49:17 - 00:52:49:25 Speaker 13 That. 00:52:50:00 - 00:52:50:14 Speaker 2 Yes. 00:52:50:17 - 00:52:51:15 Speaker 13 That's amazing. 00:52:51:17 - 00:53:17:11 Speaker 2 It's. Yeah. Just like out of a high school government class. Yeah. Yeah. And we love having, having our younger members of staff represent us at chamber events. And just being out in the community representing what we do here. Yes. And I love I love what you guys said about just being out in the community and showing that group that you're a part of it. 00:53:17:12 - 00:53:35:22 Speaker 2 It's important to be part of this part of democracy because one vote, one does count. It does. It does. Every vote counts? Yes. Yes. We had one city election. It was a 19 vote difference, you know. So every single vote does count. They matter. 00:53:35:28 - 00:53:36:28 Speaker 13 Yes. 00:53:37:00 - 00:53:41:08 Speaker 2 Yes. Thank you guys. Thank you guys. Wow. Thank you. 00:53:41:10 - 00:53:42:14 Speaker 13 Okay. That was such. 00:53:42:14 - 00:53:43:15 Speaker 2 A good tour. 00:53:43:19 - 00:53:46:10 Speaker 13 And I highly recommend you guys all do it. 00:53:46:14 - 00:53:49:14 Speaker 2 Book a tour. Learn about your local elections office 00:53:49:14 - 00:53:50:00 Speaker 3 and Go vote.