Form 00002 Survey of Urban and Rural Election Administration

Survey of Urban and Rural Election Administration

EAC Urban_Rural Survey_FINAL VERSION_5.2012

Survey of Urban and Rural Election Administration

OMB: 3265-0017

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United States Election Assistance Commission
Urban/Rural Study
Local Election Officials Survey

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ABOUT THIS SURVEY
The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was created as part of the Help
America Vote Act (HAVA) to assist State and local election officials with the administration of
Federal elections. HAVA 241 (b)(15) requires EAC to study “[m]atters particularly relevant to
voting and administering elections in rural and urban areas.” The purpose of Survey of Rural and
Urban Election Administration is to determine the ways in which election officials conduct voter
outreach, secure personnel, and handle any cost-related challenges associated with administering
general elections in rural and urban jurisdictions. You will be asked questions about your
jurisdictions; however, they are for research purposes only and are not connected to any
enforcement activity on the part of other Federal agencies.
Over the past two years, EAC conducted two working groups with election officials
from rural and urban communities and with social science researchers. The purpose of
the working groups was to gain perspective and feedback on how EAC might
approach this study. The working group members spent their time considering
challenges related to administering elections in urban and rural areas. The issues they
identified included voter outreach and personnel (along with costs related to these
factors). Voter outreach and personnel are examples of areas in which jurisdictions are
demonstrating creativity and innovation in responding to election administration
challenges and, therefore, may present an interesting contrast when considered in the
context of urban and rural election administration. These are also areas where cost
savings can be realized. Highlighting these topics in EAC’s report will provide a
greater understanding of how urban and rural areas differ on these issues and might
help to provide best practices information for election officials around the country.

Your input in this study is very important. This survey should take no more than 30 minutes to
complete. Please respond to all applicable questions. In addition, we ask that if you would be
willing to participate in an in-depth interview regarding the topic of this survey, please indicate
this at the end of the survey.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
1. The EAC may collect the information requested in this survey under the authority of the Help
America Vote Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-252). Providing information in this questionnaire
is voluntary. There is no penalty associated with failing to respond to a specific question in
this survey.
2. Public Law 93-573 (Privacy Act of 1974) requires that you be informed of the purpose and
uses to be made of the information collected. The information collected in the survey will be
used in a mandatory report to Congress. Only group statistics from the survey will be
reported.

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Background
1. How long have you served as an election official? (include total experience in all jurisdictions)
_______ number of years
1a. Were you elected or appointed to your current position?
○
○

Elected
Appointed

2. Approximately how many registered voters reside in the jurisdiction you currently serve?
_______ approximate number of registered voters
3. How would you describe your jurisdiction? Is it primarily rural or primarily urban?
○
○
○

Rural
Urban
Both. My jurisdiction includes both rural and urban areas.

4. Is your jurisdiction required to provide language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights
Act?

ο Yes – Go to question 4a
ο No – Skip to question 5
4(a). If yes, for which languages or language groups is your jurisdiction required to provide
assistance? (Check all that apply)
○
○
○
○

Spanish
Asian languages
Alaskan / Native American languages
Other (please specify) ____________________

5. Does your office have full/ultimate responsibility for all aspects of elections in your jurisdiction (e.g.,
voter registration, voting machines, ballots, vote counting, etc.)? Please note that your office may
have full/ultimate responsibility for an election-related activity even if it is not actually performed in
your office (e.g., computer-related support).

ο Yes – Skip to question 6
ο No – Go to question 5a

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5(a). (If no) Is full/ultimate responsibility for all aspects of elections in your jurisdiction…
○
○
○

A state function only
A shared state and local function
Other (please specify)________________________

6. Please indicate whether or not each of the following is allowed in your jurisdiction.
Yes
○

No
○

No-excuse absentee voting

○

Early voting

○

All vote-by-mail

○

Absentee voting (excuse required)

Voter Outreach
The next series of questions is about voter outreach activities. For purposes of this survey, please
consider voter outreach to be any activity that your office engages in to provide information to
the voting public. This includes information your office is required to provide and responses to
information requests from individuals and/or organizations.
7. For each of the following, please indicate whether your office provides this type of outreach to the
voting public. If your office provides this outreach, please indicate the language(s) in which it is
provided.

Type of Outreach

Does your
office provide
this type of
outreach?

If YES, in what languages is the
outreach provided?

Yes

English
only
○

English
and other
languages
○

Other
languages
only
○

Paid print advertising (e.g., newspaper)

○

Paid television/radio advertising

○

Elections Office/County website

○

Hard copy direct mailing to voters (e.g., voter’s
guide, sample ballot)

○

Toll-free telephone line

○

Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs)

○

Participating in community events
Other (please specify)
____________________________

○

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8. Does your jurisdiction form partnerships with any third-party or civic organizations on voter outreach
efforts?
○ Yes – Continue to question 8a
○ No – Skip to question 9
8a.

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction forms partnerships with each of the following types
of organizations on voter outreach efforts.
Conduct with
this type of
organization

Do not conduct
with this type of
organization

School-related organization(s)

○

Non-profit organization(s)

○

Political parties
Other (please specify)
________________________________________

○

Types of Organization(s)

Other (please specify)
________________________________________

8b. For each of the following, please indicate whether your jurisdiction forms partnerships with
other organizations on this type of voter outreach effort.
Conduct with
other
organizations
○

Do not conduct
with other
organizations
○

Paid television/radio advertising

○

Elections Office/County website

○

Hard copy direct mailing to voters (e.g., voter’s guide,
sample ballot)

○

Toll-free telephone line

○

Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Blogs)

○

Participating in community events
Other (please specify)
________________________________________

○

Types of Outreach
Paid print advertising (e.g., newspaper)

Other (please specify)
________________________________________
8c.

We are particularly interested in voter outreach efforts that jurisdictions have provided in
partnership with other organizations. Please provide further information about these efforts.

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□ No further information
9. For each of the following, please indicate whether your jurisdiction has voter outreach initiatives or
activities that focus on this group.
Focus on
this group
○

Do not focus on
this group
○

Racial/ethnic minorities

○

Foreign language speakers

○

Voters in long-term care facilities

○

Voters with disabilities
Other (please specify)
___________________________________________

○

Other (please specify)
___________________________________________

○

Voter Outreach Focus
Students

10. Approximately how much did voter outreach efforts for the 2010 Mid-Term Election cost your
jurisdiction?
○ $0 – 1,000
○ $1,001 – 5,000
○ $5,001 – 10,000
○ $10,001 – 20,000
○ $20,001 – 30,000
○ $30,001 – 40,000
○ $40,001 – 50,000

○ $50,001 – 60,000
○ $60,001 – 70,000
○ $70,001 – 80,000
○ $80,001 – 90,000
○ $90,001 –100,000
○ $100,001 – 200,000
○ $200,001 or more

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11. Approximately how much do you anticipate voter outreach efforts for the 2012 General Election
will cost your jurisdiction?
○ $0 – 1,000
○ $1,001 – 5,000
○ $5,001 – 10,000
○ $10,001 – 20,000
○ $20,001 – 30,000
○ $30,001 – 40,000
○ $40,001 – 50,000
○ $50,001 – 60,000
○ $60,001 – 70,000

○ $70,001 – 80,000
○ $80,001 – 90,000
○ $90,001 – 100,000
○ $100,001 – 200,000
○ $200,001 – 300,000
○ $300,001 – 400,000
○ $400,001 – 500,000
○ $500,001 or more

12. How are your jurisdiction’s voter outreach efforts paid for? (Check all that apply)
○ From the local election office budget
○ From line item appropriation in the county or state budget
○ Other (please specify) __________________________________________________
13. In general, how easy or difficult is it for your jurisdiction to engage in voter outreach for general
election cycles?
○
○
○
○
○

Very easy
Somewhat easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult

14. How much of a problem is each of the following in engaging in voter outreach for general election
cycles?
A big
problem

A moderate
problem

A small
problem

Not a
problem at
all

Cost

Staff availability/time

Availability of media outlets

Travel distance required for in-person contact

Limitations on Internet access or reliability

Variety of languages spoken

Other (please specify)
__________________________________

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Personnel
2010
15.

Please indicate how many of each of the following types of paid staff you had in 2010.
a. In 2010, approximately how many paid full-time (permanent) staff did you have?
_______ number of paid full-time (permanent) staff
b. In 2010, approximately how many paid part-time (permanent) staff did you have?
_______ number of paid part-time (permanent) staff
c. In 2010, approximately how many paid temporary staff did you have (e.g., workers who
come in around election time to help with administrative tasks such as data entry for voter
registration, work the customer service hotline, etc.)? Please do NOT include poll workers.
_______ number of paid temporary staff
d. In 2010 did you “borrow” staff from other departments within your local/municipal
government to supplement your full-time, part-time, and temporary staff?
○ Yes (please indicate approximate number of staff) ___________
○ No

16.

For the 2010 General Election, approximately how many poll workers/election judges did your
office use?
_______ number of poll workers/election judges

2012
17.

Please indicate how many of each of the following types of paid staff you anticipate having in
2012.
a. In 2012, approximately how many paid full-time (permanent) staff do you anticipate
having?
_______ number of paid full-time (permanent) staff
b. In 2012, approximately how many paid part-time (permanent) staff do you anticipate
having?
_______ number of paid part-time (permanent) staff

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c. In 2012, approximately how many paid temporary staff do you anticipate having (e.g.,
workers who come in around election time to help with administrative tasks such as data
entry for voter registration, work the customer service hotline, etc.)? Please do NOT include
poll workers.
_______ number of paid temporary staff
d. In 2012 do you anticipate “borrowing” staff from other departments within your
local/municipal government to supplement your full-time, part-time, and temporary staff?
○ Yes (please indicate approximate number of staff) ___________
○ No
18.

For the 2012 General Election, approximately how many poll workers/election judges do you
anticipate your jurisdiction will use?
_______ number of poll workers/election judges

NOTE: For Questions 19 and 20, “poll workers” does NOT include Chief, Assistant Chief, Judges of
Elections, Captains, or Supervisors; only poll workers.
19.

Are your poll workers paid for their work on Election Day?
○ Yes – Continue to question 19a
○ No – Skip to question 20
19a. How much are your poll workers paid for their work on Election Day?
○ One-time set stipend of $________
○ Hourly rate in the amount of $___________per hour

20.

Are your poll workers paid for training?
○ Yes – Continue to question 20a
○ No – Skip to question 21
20a. How much are your poll workers paid for training?
○ One-time set stipend of $________
○ Hourly rate in the amount of $___________per hour
○ Payment in question 19a includes training pay

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21.

Please indicate which recruiting sources you use to obtain poll workers for General Elections. For
each source used, please indicate how successful the source has been for you in obtaining poll
workers.

Recruiting Source

If you use this source, rate successfulness

YES

Very
Successful

Successful

Somewhat
Successful

Not
Successful

Classified ads

Recruiting at college campuses

Recruiting at high schools

Recruiting through website

Recruiting through local businesses

Recruiting through volunteer
organizations

Recruiting through other government
agencies/departments

Recruiting through word of mouth
(e.g., current poll workers encourage
friends/coworkers to volunteer)

Responding to requests from
individuals or groups regarding
becoming poll workers
Other (please specify)
________________________
Other (please specify)
________________________

22.

Do you use
this source?

In general, how easy or difficult is it for your jurisdiction to obtain a sufficient number of poll
workers for general election cycles?
○
○
○
○
○

Very easy
Somewhat easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult

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23.

24.

For each of the following, please indicate how much of a problem it presents in obtaining a
sufficient number of poll workers for general election cycles?
A big
problem

A
moderate
problem

A small
problem

Not a
problem
at all

Payment is too low

Election Day work hours are too long

Little respect for poll workers

Training is too long/takes too much time

Potential poll workers cannot get off from
work to serve

Requirement for equal numbers of poll
workers from different political parties

Lack skilled or qualified workers

Other (please specify)
__________________________________

Does your jurisdiction offer split shifts for poll workers on Election Day? That is, can poll
workers sign up to work less than a full day at the polls on Election Day?
○ Yes – Go to question 24a
○ No – Go to question 24b
24a. (If split shifts are offered) What impact does the ability to offer split shifts have on your
recruiting poll workers?
○ Makes it much easier to recruit poll workers.
○ Makes it somewhat easier to recruit poll workers.
○ Has no impact.
24b. (If split shifts are not offered) What impact would the ability to offer split shifts have on
your recruiting poll workers?
○ Would make it much easier to recruit poll workers.
○ Would make it somewhat easier to recruit poll workers.
○ Would have no impact.

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25. Please provide any additional comments you may have about administering elections in urban
and rural jurisdictions. In particular, we are interested in any ideas and/or experience you have
regarding voter outreach and personnel that you feel had a positive impact on your ability to
administer general elections.

□ No additional comments

Thank you for participating in this survey.
EAC is planning to conduct in-depth follow-up interviews regarding the topics addressed in this
survey. If you would be willing to take part in an in-person interview concerning the same topic,

□

check this box
and provide your contact information below. Please note that your contact
information will be separated from the answers you have provided in the survey and will
be used only to contact you for a follow-up interview.
Name: _______________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________
E-mail:____________________________

Instructions
After you have completed the survey, please place the questionnaire in the postage-paid envelope
provided and return it in the mail to:
HumRRO
P.O. Box 6640
Lawrenceville, NJ 08640
If you prefer, you may fax the completed survey to HumRRO at 609-512-3730. Please fax both
sides of each page.

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END OF SURVEY

* This information collection will assist the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) with
meeting its statutory requirement under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 (Section
241(b)(15)). Respondent’s reply to this information collection is voluntary. This information will
be made publicly available on the EAC Web site (http://www.eac.gov). According to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control number for this
information collection is OMB Control No. XXXX-XXXX (expires XX/XX/XXXX). The time
required to complete this information collection is estimated to be 30 minutes. This estimate
includes the time for reviewing the instructions and completing the form. Comments regarding
this burden estimate should be sent the U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Urban/Rural
Survey, 1201 New York Avenue, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

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File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Microsoft Word - OMB IRC for EAC Urban_Rural Survey_FINAL_5.2012
Author	ShellyAnderson
File Modified	2012-05-18
File Created	2012-05-18