Texas Secretary of State Elections Division 11/23/2018 Election Night Returns Louri O’Leary 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State Elections Division Texas Secretary of State Elections Division

Texas Secretary of State Overview History Responsibilities Process & Procedures 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State History The first tabulation of election night results took place on November 2, 1982. Disseminating results on election night best serves the county, public interest, candidates, and media. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State Responsibilities SOS -Sec. 68.001. DUTY TO TABULATE GENERALLY. (a) The secretary of state shall tabulate the unofficial results as provided by this subchapter in each primary election and general election for state and county officers on each proposed amendment to the state constitution and for each contested race. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State Election Officials Covered under Chapter 68, Subchapter B: Duties of Local Election Officials For Certain Races. Sec. 68.034 (a) The county clerk/EA shall transmit periodically, by telephone or other electronic means, to the secretary of state the results for the races being tabulated by the secretary. The results shall be transmitted continuously until complete. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Sec. 68.034 TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS TO SECRETARY OF STATE (b) The county clerk shall transmit the complete or partial results of the early voting for the appropriate races at 7 p.m. on election day. If only partial results are available, the results shall be transmitted periodically until complete. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Unofficial Results (Sec. 127.1311) Central Count: Unofficial results shall be released as soon as they are available after the polls close. Presiding judge may, in cooperation with county clerk, withhold release results until the last voter has voted. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Preparing Precinct Returns (Sec. 65.014) Who? Presiding judge What? Returns must contain: Total number of voters who voted at the precinct. Total number of votes for each candidate/measure. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Process & Procedures for Election Night Returns SOS to collect contact information for election night SOS to collect additional information (varies by election type). Testing the ENR system Election Day- system opens at 7pm 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Five Weeks Before Election Day We will need the following information from your office: Contact Information Type of Voting Equipment Number of precincts, or vote centers 11/23/2018 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State 10

Texas Secretary of State Contact Information We will need the following information for the county election official, person designated to report vote totals, and an alternate designated person: Evening Phone Home Phone/ Cell Phone Telephone Number that will be answered on election night Telephone Number of Central Counting Station (if applicable) 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Type of Voting Equipment Check all that apply to this election: Optical Scan DRE Automark Paper Ballot 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

PLUS ONE FOR EARLY VOTING Texas Secretary of State Number of Precincts Total number of precincts that will be open on election day If consolidating- the number of consolidated precincts (cannot consolidate for presidential election) If combining provide the total number of precincts If your county participates in county-wide polling, then provide the number of vote centers. PLUS ONE FOR EARLY VOTING 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

3-4 Weeks Before Election Day Testing the System: each county is asked to log on and enter test data. You will be able to log in once per day during testing week. If any information (contact, precincts, voting equipment) changes inform our office right away. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State Election Day System Opens at 7pm Enter early votes as close to 7pm as possible Enter precinct totals as the numbers become available Smaller counties vs. bigger counties 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State Election Night Make sure you enter early votes at 7pm. The results can be updated throughout the night. Monitoring Team- trained to track status, contact you if no intermittent activity is observed; call your contact phone number for details. Data Entry Team- If you encounter technical difficulties you can call in your results. Questions: Online Link: 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State

Texas Secretary of State Day After the Election Any counties that do not finalize on election night will begin receiving phone calls from our staff first thing in the morning after for status follow up. 11/23/2018 Texas Secretary of State