February 17, 2022

Meeting called to order at 7:03 pm via Zoom.

 

In attendance:

Chair: Robin Kaye

Supervisors: Constance Pruitt, David Thorpe,

BoE Clerk: Tonya Jones

ASL interpreter: Ros

 

Motion to approve January 3, 2022, minutes with the amendment that the February 10, 2022, was the administrative meeting and February 17, 2022, is a public meeting: by C. Pruitt, seconded by D. Thorpe. All in favor.

 

C. Pruitt – Stated since the last public meeting she and K. Carnes reached out to all the municipalities in Prince George’s County. Only were able to make contact with a few towns/cities. Of the municipalities that replied are using a paper ballot many are using paper ballots:

• Berwyn Heights prints their own ballots. The tried electronic voting, but it was unsuccessful.

• Hyattsville switched back paper after e-voting complications.

• Bladensburg is electronic. Waiting to speak to the Town Clerk

• Brentwood recommended speaking with Giselle Richards

 

Some municipalities had some concerns with using the company Electec.

• R. Kaye asked if any of the municipalities spoken to went to electronic voting machines.

• C. Pruitt stated Seat Pleasant used Electec without issues but changed to E-poll books.

• R. Kaye stated the Board of Elections was hoping to still have paper ballots tallied and tracked electronically and E-polls for an ease of communication about voter participation to the county.

• C. Pruitt stated most municipalities are doing E-poll books.

• R. Kaye stated by it may be too ambitious take on these processes for this election

D. Thorpe – discussed using QR codes for the ballots. Barcodes are for simple inventory, but QR codes can hold more data. They would be the better option and will need to figure out the how to create them in bulk.

• R. Kaye stated she and D. Thorpe can meet later to discuss using QR codes on the ballot.

• R. Kaye stated that Melanie Friesen sent a correction to the information she gave about Berwyn Heights. She doesn’t know what their method they are using for ballots.

 

R. Kaye – stated she will still need to speak with Mr. Galloway about acquiring storage mechanism for mail in ballots. The Streets by Ward corrections were submitted to BoE by the Town for a second review. J. Pruitt and R. Kaye will do a second review prior to being posted to the Town website.

 

R. Kaye asked if Electec had been contacted.

 

C. Pruitt stated they had not been contacted

 

R. Kaye stated it would be discussed at the next administrative meeting.

 

• J. Pruden and R. Kaye to review streets by ward and review the website changes

• Have forms available at Town Hall for pick-up

 

Resident Input: No Resident Input

 

Process for reviewing and certifying candidates who submit nominating petitions to run for office

Candidates’ applications due by March 18, 2022

• Applications will be reviewed between the meetings to give the applicant to make corrections to their applications

• When nominating petitions come in:

o Town clerk scan application and email to BoE in secure email

o At least two BoE member review the information using a spread sheet on the google drive that can be initialed and dated by the person reviewing

o If there is need for corrections, the Town Clerk will reach out to the applicant to let them know

For councilmembers:

Motion to institute a review process for the nominating petitions to review the information prior to the meeting in order to give feedback to candidates to give them a chance to correct their forms: by D. Thorpe, seconded by C. Pruitt. All in favor.

 

Process for Mail in Ballot approval

• Mail in ballots need two BoE members to review, approve or identify issues in order for town clerk to reach out to the applicant

• Town clerk initial and date when it was received, scan and email to BoE in secure email

• At least two BoE member will review the information and use the official spread sheet on the google drive to track/approve/specify problems the information

• Town Clerk will reach out to the applicant to let them know if there are issues or to follow up with approvals

 

Motion to institute a mail in ballot process that includes receiving, scanning, initial and date, tracking in spreadsheet, Board of Election members approval process, communicating back to the Town Clerk, Town Clerk entering in the spreadsheet the date the ballot was mailed out or picked: by C. Pruitt, seconded by D. Thorpe. All in favor.

 

The next administrative meeting will be Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 7pm.

 

The next public meeting Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 7pm

 

Motion to adjourn by D. Thorpe, seconded by C. Pruitt. All in favor. Adjourned at 7:44 PM