In a recent conversation, officials from Contra Costa County shed light on their newly launched Certified Election Observer Program, which aims to bolster election transparency and security. The program recruits 15 community members who will frequently visit the election office to gain insights into the electoral process, including the 48 meticulous steps taken to ensure election security and integrity.
Participants in the Certified Election Observer Program will be privy to key election management activities, such as testing voting machines, verifying signatures, and scanning and counting ballots. The election office is eager to welcome participation from all stakeholders, irrespective of their political affiliations. Since it was established in 2022, the program has been organized ahead of each election and has garnered recognition, including the 2023 People’s Choice Award from the Election Center.
This initiative aims to demystify the electoral process for the public, fostering a deeper understanding of how elections operate. Over five sessions, observer participants will receive a comprehensive overview of each phase of the electoral process, spanning voter registration, logic testing of voting equipment, training poll workers, collecting ballot boxes, verifying signatures, processing provisional ballots, adjudication, and conducting a 1% manual ballot audit.
Kristin B. Connelly, the county’s registrar of voters, stressed the significance of protecting voting rights amid a landscape filled with misinformation. She underscored that addressing voters’ concerns regarding election administration is vital: “Contra Costa has implemented stringent procedures to ensure adherence to all state and federal laws, ensuring that every vote is counted accurately.”
Residents who wish to witness the election process firsthand are welcome to visit the election office from Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 5 PM, as well as designated early voting locations on the weekend before Election Day. On Election Day, November 5, voters can observe the process at any of Contra Costa’s 146 polling places. The election office encourages residents to call 925-335-7800 for more information regarding observation hours and activities.
