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Alternative Voting Methods September 2008

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Alternative Voting Methods September 2008 U.S. Election Assistance Commission Alternative Voting Methods September 2008 Alternative Voting Methods September 2008 Table Of Contents iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 1 EARLY VOTING IN TEXAS ............................................................................................... 2 Implementation and Effect .......................................................................................... 2 Legislative History ...................................................................................................... 3 1987 ...................................................................................................................... 3 1988 ...................................................................................................................... 3 1991 ...................................................................................................................... 4 Establishing Early Voting Locations ............................................................................ 4 Costs ......................................................................................................................... 5 Personnel Costs .................................................................................................... 5 Technology Costs .................................................................................................. 5 Administrative Challenges ........................................................................................... 6 Voter Turnout ............................................................................................................... 6 Legal Challenges ........................................................................................................ 8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 1. Overall Turnout (RV) for Federal General Elections (1980-2006) ...................... 7 Figure 2. Early Voting as a Percentage of Overall Turnout ................................................ 7 ELECTION DAY AS A HOLIdaY: ILLINOIS AND MARYLAND .................................... 10 Implementation and Effect ........................................................................................ 10 Voter Turnout ....................................................................................................... 11 Election Day in Illinois ............................................................................................... 13 Administrative Challenges ................................................................................... 13 Voter Turnout ....................................................................................................... 14 Election Day in Maryland .......................................................................................... 15 Administrative Challenges ................................................................................... 15 Voter Turnout ....................................................................................................... 15 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 16 A National Holiday..................................................................................................... 16 Table 1. Turnout in Election Day State Holiday States, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 ................................................................................ 12 OREgon’S VOTE-BY-MAIL .......................................................................................... 17 Implementation and Effect ........................................................................................ 17 History of Vote-by-Mail .............................................................................................. 18 1981 .................................................................................................................... 19 1983 .................................................................................................................... 19 1987 .................................................................................................................... 20 1993 .................................................................................................................... 20 1995 .................................................................................................................... 20 1996 .................................................................................................................... 21 1998 .................................................................................................................... 21 Establishing Uniform Vote-by-Mail Procedures ......................................................... 22 iv Returning the Voted Ballot .................................................................................. 22 Counting the Voted Ballot .................................................................................... 24 Administrative Challenges ......................................................................................... 24 Voters with Disabilities .............................................................................................. 25 Voter Turnout ............................................................................................................. 26 Legal Challenges ...................................................................................................... 26 Academic Studies ..................................................................................................... 27 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 28 Table 2. Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail Timeline of Major Events ............................................... 18 Table 3. Election Day Timeline ........................................................................................ 23 Table 4. Statewide Daily Ballot Returns, November 2000 Presidential Election ............. 24 Table 5. Voter Turnout by Political Party, 2000 and 2006 ................................................. 26 Figure 4. Cumulative Statewide Ballot Returns, November 2000 Presidential Election .. 25 COLORADO VOTE CENTERS....................................................................................... 29 Implementation and Effect ........................................................................................ 29 Legislative History ............................................................................................... 30 Larimer County Launches Vote Centers ................................................................... 31 Costs ................................................................................................................... 31 Educating the Public ........................................................................................... 31 Technology and Logistics .................................................................................... 32 Vote Center Staffing .................................................................................................. 33 The Physical Layout of a Vote Center ....................................................................... 33 Greeter ................................................................................................................ 33 Computer Station ................................................................................................ 33 Provisional Ballot Table ....................................................................................... 33 Ballot Station ....................................................................................................... 34 Voting Booth ........................................................................................................ 34 Exit ...................................................................................................................... 34 Impact of Larimer County Vote Centers .................................................................... 34 Voter Turnout ....................................................................................................... 35 Poll Workers ........................................................................................................ 35 Denver’s Vote Center Experience ............................................................................. 36 Educating the Public ........................................................................................... 36 Vote Center Design and Setup ............................................................................ 36 Technology .......................................................................................................... 36 Contingency Measures ....................................................................................... 36 Academic Study ........................................................................................................ 37 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 37 Figure 5. Vote Center Stations ........................................................................................ 34 Table 6. Larimer County Election Year Totals .................................................................
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