2025 Spring Institute

The agenda for Spring Institute will focus on election protocol and take a deeper dive into the mechanics of an election. We will discuss the dos and don’ts of elections, ethics, absentee ballots, voter registration lists, election overview, and poll workers. We will add the speakers as they confirm their topics. Here are some topics we will be covering:

  • Brief summary of election deadlines (post March 5)
  • Notice of Elections
    • Statements of Candidacy
    • Statements of Economic Interests (Ethics)
    • Candidate Qualifications
    • Final Date to Qualify
    • When only one candidate qualifies for an office
  • Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA)
    • Summary of the purpose of FCPA
    • Municipalities have no enforcement authority of FCPA
  • Printing of Ballots (ES&S)
    • Ordering ballots and election supplies
    • Ordering electronic tabulators
      • Perhaps use of electronic tabulators (maybe later on “Election Day”)
  • Election Offenses
    • Political activity of municipal employees
    • Use of public buildings for election purposes
  • Voters List (Legal talks about rules; clerk gives practical application)
    • Preparing voters list
  • Absentee Voting (Legal discussions about the rules; clerk helps give practical application)
    • Reasons for voting absentee
    • Absentee supplies
    • Absentee applications
    • Voter ID
    • List of Absentee Voters – No public posting
    • Fraudulent activity
    • Absentee deadlines
    • Receipt of absentee ballots
    • List of absentee ballot applicants to poll workers
    • Issues with absentee ballots
      • Fraudulent activity
      • Voter claims to have not received a ballot
      • Provisional absentee ballots
  • Unused absentee supplies
  • Poll Workers
    • Polling place poll workers
    • Absentee ballot poll workers
    • Poll worker training
    • Compensation for poll workers
  • Election Day
    • Swearing in and testing devices
    • Opening polls
    • Voter identification
    • Provisional ballot process
    • Closing polls
    • Tabulating  results
    • Proximity to polling place
    • Poll watchers
  • Recounts
  • Canvassing Results
    • Notice to probate judge, SOS, and ALM
  • Elections Contests