June 8, 2022 Meeting Minutes

HAMILTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
MEETING HELD
JUNE 8, 2022 at 8:30AM

The meeting of the Hamilton County Board of Elections was called to order at 8:30am. Present were members Ms. McFarlin, Mr. Triantafilou, Mr. Gerhardt and Mr. Mallory. Also present: Director Sherry Poland and Deputy Director Alex Linser; David Stevenson and Jesse Daley with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office.

It was noted that proper notice was duly provided as required by O.R.C. 121.22. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

I. APPROVE: BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MAY 18, 2022 AND MAY 24, 2022

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to approve the Board meeting minutes for May 18, 2022 and May 24, 2022; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

II. CERTIFICATION: PARTISAN CANDIDATE PETITIONS FOR THE AUGUST 2, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION

The Board reviewed the first spreadsheet entitled “August 2, 2022 Primary Election – Hamilton County Candidates List -Sufficient”. This list consists of candidates that filed timely for the General Assembly contest as well as State Central Committee contests. Staff has reviewed the petitions and found them to be sufficient.

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to approve the list of candidates as set forth on this spreadsheet; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board reviewed the second spreadsheet entitled “August 2, 2022 Primary Election – Hamilton County Candidates List – Petition Filed After Deadline”. The Candidates listed on this document filed after the February 2, 2022 filing deadline. The Board reviewed the provisions set forth in Secretary of State Directive 2022-34 and were advised that the filing deadline for candidates for State Representative, State Senator or member of State Central Committee was February 2, 2022; the write-in candidate deadline was February 22, 2022. Mr. Triantafilou noted that this is the subject of pending litigation.

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to go into Executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation; Mr. Mallory seconded. Ms. McFarlin -aye; Mr. Triantafilou -aye; Mr. Gerhardt -aye; Mr. Mallory -aye whereupon the Board entered executive session.

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to return to regular session; Mr. Mallory seconded. Ms. McFarlin -aye; Mr. Triantafilou -aye; Mr. Gerhardt -aye; Mr. Mallory -aye whereupon the Board returned to regular session.

Mr. Triantafilou stated that the Board consulted with counsel on the matter of the petitions filed after the deadline due to this question being the subject of pending litigation. Based on the advice of counsel, Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to reject these petitions; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

III. CERTIFICATION: QUESTIONS AND ISSUES FOR THE AUGUST 2, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to Certify the list of Questions and Issues for the August 2, 2022 Primary Election; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

IV. APPROVE: AUGUST 2, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to approve the August 2, 2022 Primary Election Equipment Allocation; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

V. APPROVE: AUGUST 2, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT AND PROVISIONAL ENVELOPE QUANTITIES

Mr. Mallory made a motion to approve the August 2, 2022 Primary Election Ballot and Provisional Envelope Quantities; Mr. Triantafilou seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

VI. APPROVE: REDUCTION OF PRECINCT ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR THE AUGUST 2, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION

Ms. Poland advised the Board that under Ohio Law the Board may vote in public session to reduce the number of precinct election officials (PEOs) in each precinct from four to two in multiple precinct locations that use an electronic poll book. Due to the expected turn out, coupled with the difficulty in recruiting poll workers, Staff is recommending, per Ohio law, to reduce the number of poll workers to two instead of four in multiple precinct polling locations.

Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to approve the Staff recommendation of reduction of PEOs for the August 2, 2022 Primary Election; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

VII. DISCUSSION: MAY 3, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION ANOMALY REPORT

Ms. Poland reported that she and Deputy Director Linser reached out to the seven voters contained in the Anomaly report. Six of the seven appeared at the Early Vote Center and voted during the early voting period and then also appeared at their polling place and were required to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day; only one ballot was counted. The seventh was a voter who voted by mail and then appeared on Election Day to vote.

A list of the seven voters was reviewed by the Board. Ms. Poland reported that she spoke to voters #1 and #2 and #4, all of whom expressed confusion regarding the 2 primaries. No successful contact has been made with voter #3. Mr. Linser reported a letter sent to voter #5 but as yet, no successful contact. He spoke with voter #5 and #6, each of whom voted early before Election Day and forgot they had already voted when the went to their polling location.

It was agreed there would be no further action with regard to the 5 voters contacted but the 2 not contacted would remain on the list for further review.

VIII. DISCUSSION: MAY 3, 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION AUDIT

Ms. Poland reported that Staff has completed the Audit of the May 3, 2022 Primary Election. This included 3 contests, the largest being the Governor’s Race in the Democratic Primary. Due to the small margin of victory in Hamilton County in that contest, Staff was required to hand count nearly the entire contest. Ms. Poland reported that 40,981 ballots were hand counted; 41,100 ballots were cast. Staff also audited the Republican U.S. Senator Primary and the Democratic Juvenile Court Primary. In total, 50% of the ballots cast in the election were hand counted with a 100% match and zero error rate.

IX. OTHER BUSINESS

Ms. Poland reported that the General Assembly has allocated funds that should cover the entire cost of the August Primary Election.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Triantafilou made a motion to adjourn; Mr. Mallory seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

APPROVED: JULY 12, 2022

CHAIR: GWEN MCFARLIN

DIRECTOR: SHERRY L. POLAND