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Unique or out of the ordinary events for the given time period. – Joel D. Miller – Linn County Auditor10/6/2017Interviewed by Dave Franzman of KCRG regarding the trending of absentee/early voters.Donated blood to the Mississippi Valley Blood Center at Westfield School in Robins/CR.Recommended to Communications Director that Deputy Auditor Stacey Law be considered to become an Assistant Public Information Officer for the County. 10/7/2016Deputy Stacey Law participated in U.S. Department of Homeland Security conference call on Election Cybersecurity.Authorized Deputy Auditor Stacey Law to finalize agreement with KGAN/KFXA for integrated marketing for voter outreach. Deputy Auditor Tim Box responded to questions from the Iowa GOP’s Director of Election Day Operations.10/10/2016 – Reviewed email from Supervisor Rogers advising me that the Board Support Team would review the issues I raised regarding Chapter 22, how long videos should be kept, and who is the final custodian of videos as it relates to the Board’s video surveillance policy.10/11/2016Forwarded the 1st three of many related party transactions occurring in FY15-16 to Finance & Budget for inclusion in the outside auditor’s annual report.Reviewed memo from RSM US LLP regarding taxation of group term life insurance for employees.Provided assistance to employee who had family visiting India who would not be returning to Iowa in time to vote at the polls.10/12/2016Met with newly hired Senior Accountant in Budget & Finance Division which reports to the Board of Supervisors.Met with union steward and provided responses to grievance filed by union.Issued directive to Accounting Services regarding the use of personal cell phones and County owned devices during working hours.Submitted claim to State Treasurer for $327.29 regarding unclaimed property listed by the Treasurer that Linn County was entitled to claim. Note: Received check from State on 11/7/2016.Election Services processed 2,084 requests for absentees today – a record!Reviewed initial contract for Managed Services on Aumentum from Thomson Reuters.Requested IT scan the Office’s network connections for any vulnerability from the internet.Responded to complaint by resident who indicated someone at the Elections counter indicated that the voter did not have to vote on the judges. Answer = While true, my employees should avoid giving an opinion on what to vote on or leave blank.10/13/2016Inspected satellite/early voting station in the Cole Library on the campus of Cornell College in Mount Vernon.Reviewed Article 26 of the AFSCME Union Contract and responded to an inquiry from a union steward.Addressed poll watcher’s lack of a credential with the county central committee chairperson.Forwarded comments by the IT Director regarding the Managed Services contract on Aumentum to our account representative at Thomson Reuters.10/14/2016Provided links to Election Services for distribution to voters, i.e., The Gazette’s candidate profiles at ; the League of Women Voters candidate profiles at ; and the Judicial Performance Evaluations at email from Secretary of State regarding provisional ballots for felons and process to handle felons on Election Day.Reviewed email chain regarding two absentee ballots being sent to the same voter. Cause = It was a single instance of the vendor’s employee not following a standard procedure.10/15/2016 - SaturdayDeputy Tim Box and Voter Outreach Coordinator Edwin Valladares spoke at meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa.Reviewed contract with Per Mar for Election Day security.10/16/2016 – Sunday – Booked roundtrip flights from Cedar Rapids to Dayton, OH, to inspect vendor printing/processing/mailing absentee ballots for Linn, Johnson, and Black Hawk counties.10/17/2016Inspected satellite/early voting station in the University Center on the campus of Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids.Interviewed by Phil Reed of KCRG regarding precautions Linn County Elections is taking to ensure the election goes smoothly on Election Day.Reviewed email detailing a joint analysis by the Federal Election Assistance Commission and the Department of Homeland Security regarding the vulnerability of Local, State, and Federal networks to cybersecurity threats.Requested the IT Director take the appropriate actions indicated in a warning from the FBI.10/18/2018Satellite/early voting station open in Gage Memorial Union on the campus of Coe College in Cedar Rapids.Responded to emailer alleging election was rigged. Short answer based upon facts = Not in Linn County.Inspected vote by mail center/absentee ballot printer in Dayton, Ohio, area to confirm quality controls.Reviewed email from Trump campaign requesting sample ballots. Answer = Sample ballots posted here.Emailer wanted to know how to obtain a list of registered voters by party for Linn County. Answer = Lists can be ordered here.10/19/2016Hosted tour of satellite/early voting station in the Public Service Center for OSCE election observers and a local resident. Also hosted tour at the Election Depot so they and the press could view how voting machines were tested and certified prior to Election Day.Convened conference call with Johnson County Auditor’s Office and ES&S Vote by Mail Services regarding expedited delivery of absentee ballots.Interviewed by KGAN, KWWL, and KCRG regarding voting machine tests, international election observers, and/or election fraud accusations.10/20/2016Inspected satellite/early voting station in Iowa Hall on the campus of Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.Met with union steward regarding grievance filed by union member.Attended Pints & Politics pre-election event held at CSPS.10/21/2016Participated in panel discussion hosted by Iowa Public TV regarding the election. Other panelists were Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Iowa State University Professor David Anderson.Forwarded County Auditors’ legislative goals to Board of Supervisors’ legislative liaison.10/22/2016 – Saturday - Satellite/early voting station open in the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids.10/23/2016 – SundayReplied to inquiry from The Gazette regarding a story in USA Today about Bernie Sanders receiving write-in votes. To see how many votes Sanders and others received, go to Who voted for you?Deputy Auditor Box ordered locks and cylinders to be changed on the conference rooms to be used by the Special Precinct Board to prepare and count the absentee ballots.10/24/2016Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Provided explanation/called a resident who did not like my office printing/mailing ballots from Ohio.Provided explanation/called a resident regarding inaccurate voting information printed on The Sun newspaper’s and Cornell College’s websites.Reviewed complaint from resident indicating the image of a pencil on the ballot is misleading when we want the ballot ovals filled-in with ink.Forwarded comment on Reddit regarding voting machine testing to Johnson County Auditor for his review.Received kudo from fellow county auditor regarding my appearance on IPTV.Received offer of assistance from Congressman Blum’s office regarding potential issue with USPS not accepting mail metered in Ohio.Responded to complaint from resident regarding yard signs being uprooted and left in his yard. Advised him to report the incident to the Marion Police and be thankful they left the signs in his yard as they usually are taken and never recovered.10/25/2016Participated in meeting with Treasurer, Supervisor Harris, IT Director and others regarding signing Managed Service contract with Thomson Reuters to support Aumentum.Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Initiated various emails to local law enforcement agencies asking if they were going to step up coverage on Election Day.Coordinated assistance for curb side voter to vote and pay her property taxes without getting out of her car.Responded to voter who emailed question: What happens if I voted absentee for a candidate who died prior to the election? Answer: Your vote goes to the deceased candidate.10/26/2016Participated in County’s Labor Management & AFSCME monthly meeting to address several grievances filed by the union against my office.Initiated joint interview between Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert and Gazette reporter James Lynch regarding ballot selfies and selfie spots in voting places.Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Talked to Ms. Catherine Christ about using disability volunteers to assist with curbside voting.Reviewed response by Assistant Linn County Attorney regarding voters carrying firearms into voting places.10/27/2016Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Gathered statements and evidence related to a voter removing his ballot from the voting place and voting booth, and later voting his ballot by the men’s restroom. Later submitted evidence to the CRPD with an order to arrest the voter for violating Iowa’s election laws.Reviewed list of precinct election officials assigned to the Absentee & Special Precinct Board, which was provided to the chairpersons of the Democratic and Republican County Central Committees.10/28/2016Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Received emailed kudo from a poll watcher at the Hy-Vee on Oakland Road complimenting the chair person on her management of the satellite voting station.Reviewed news story regarding Three suspected of voter fraud in Polk County.10/29/2016 – Saturday Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the community rooms of the Hy-Vees on Edgewood, Oakland, and/or Wilson in Cedar Rapids.Confirmed that we had received an absentee ballot from an Iowan temporarily residing in New Jersey. Previous attempts to deliver an absentee ballot to him via USPS were unsuccessful.Viewed video recording of voter who voted ballot outside of the men’s restroom. Voter obtained ballot from the Election Services counter and by law the ballot should have been marked in a voting booth.10/30/2016 – Sunday – Replied to County Attorney’s email inquiry. Here’s an excerpt:In 39.3 (5),?"Election"?is defined as?a general election, primary election, city election, school election or special election.In 49.1?Elections included.? The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all elections except those special elections which by the terms of the statutes authorizing them are exempt from the provisions of this chapter.In 53.1?Right to vote — conditions.? 1.??Any registered voter may, subject to the provisions of this chapter, vote at any election:Absentee voting is dependent upon a pending election, in this case, a general election; therefore Chapter 49 applies to Chapter 53.? Absentee voting does NOT occur if no election is pending.Chapter 50 (Canvass of Votes)?requires the precinct election officials that I preside over to account for every ballot whether issued, spoiled, or not issued.? The same applies to the precinct election officials?processing early/absentee voters in the?Commissioner's Office.10/31/2016Phone call with Iowa Deputy Secretary of State regarding voter receiving absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office counter and voting the ballot outside of the voting place.Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the Cedar Rapids (Downtown & Ladd) and/or Marion libraries.Directed Election Services to FedEx a 2nd absentee ballot to a resident temporarily living in New York because USPS failed to deliver the 1st absentee ballot.11/1/2016Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the Cedar Rapids (Downtown & Ladd) and/or Marion libraries.Deputy Auditor Stacey Law completed tax list corrections which will result in about $186K in additional tax collections from the railroads operating in Linn County.11/2/2016Attended Corridor Business Journal’s Cyber Security Power Breakfast at the Cedar Rapids Marriott Hotel.Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the Cedar Rapids (Downtown & Ladd) and/or Marion libraries.11/3/2016Participated in employee’s pre-termination hearing with the HR Director and various union stewards.Inspected satellite/early voting stations in the Cedar Rapids (Downtown & Ladd) and/or Marion libraries.Emailed question to IT Director regarding County’s DDOS counter measures.11/4/2016Met with OAS international elections observer assigned to Iowa. Gave her a tour of the Auditor’s Office including Election Services.Confirmed FBI’s point of contact for election law violations.Asked Election Services to confirm which polling places had emergency generators. Requested each precinct kit be equipped with flashlights.Emailed application for restoration of citizen rights to an ex-felon who wanted to vote.Emailed a history of election law violations to Assistant US Attorney for Northern Iowa.11/5/2016 - SaturdaySupported early voting in the Auditor’s Office as required by law. Office opened at 8am and closed about 5:35pm after 918 residents voted.Replied to email from a member of the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee – see Don’t Rape REAP (reprinted).Replied to email indicating I was “100% correct” when I stated that voters do not have a right to mark a counter issued absentee ballot outside of the voting booth.Replied to an email from a senior photojournalist with The Gazette regarding the guidelines for photography on Election Day.Emailed question to IT Director regarding potential effect of DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack on our IP based phone system.11/6/2016 – Sunday – Replied to inquiry by central committee chairperson regarding credentialing himself to be a poll watcher on Election Day.11/7/2016Interviewed by Stephanie Johnson of CBS2 regarding early voting in Auditor’s Office.Supported early voting in the Auditor’s Office as required by law. Office opened at 8am and closed about 7:09pm after last of 1,123 residents voted.Received joint approvals from the chairs of the Linn County Democratic and Republican Central Committees for one official from Germany and another official from Austria to observe the election. Note: Officials later decided to remain in Polk County and observe the election.Reviewed email from Blum Campaign notifying me of their Election Day contact.Forwarded Electioneering and Campaign Signs information from Secretary of State to the Sheriff and requested he forward it to local law enforcement.Received email from Cedar Rapids Public School District indicating additional administrators will be assisting the principals in schools used as polling places.Requested Sheriff distribute campaign sign buffer maps to local law enforcement.Responded to email from Council on American-Islamic Relations Iowa Chapter (CAIR-Iowa) regarding fair treatment and equality at the polls: Advised executive director to encourage her associates to utilize Voter In Need of Assistance Forms when voting, which allows two voters to converse in a voting booth.Responded to email from resident questioning use of police in polling places: Advised him that unarmed security officers would be in polling locations when/where children are present.11/8/2016Opened the polls in Linn County and across Eastern Iowa via a shout-out broadcast on KZIA radio at precisely 7am.Briefed two CRPD officers hired to respond to issues at the polls. Provided officers with maps indicating 300’ perimeters around polling places in which electioneering and yard signs on public property prohibited. Note: One officer was near a reported burglary and arrested a burglary suspect leaving the premises.Before Election Day, arranged for 300 I-Voted stickers to be provided to the 4th & 5th graders at North Linn Elementary in Troy Mills per a request from a teacher.Before Election Day, arranged for Advanced Placement students from Kennedy High School to visit the polling place located at the Educational Learning Services Center in Cedar Rapids.Responded to last of several emails with questions from an assistant producer at ABC National News.Interviewed by Justin Roberts of WMT radio regarding voter turnout and issues on Election Day.Visited/inspected several polling places on Election Day.11/9/2016Met with management and employees throughout the day to evaluate how we managed the previous day’s election.Reviewed precinct and summary election results produced by Election Services.11/10/2016Provided details on 17 related party transactions, 1 instance of nepotism, 1 illegal clothing allowance payment, and various reimbursements without receipts to Finance & Budget for inclusion in the County’s annual auditor by our outside auditors.Followed up on complaint by voter filed against precinct election official in Alburnett. Voter satisfied with my actions and response.11/11/2016 – Veteran’s Day – County offices closed.11/14/2016Provided clarification to Finance & Budget regarding the related party transactions that should be reported to our outside auditors and included in our annual public audit report.Responded to email asking how the number of Supervisors is reduced from 5 to 3: All (5) of the supervisors’ terms will expire on 12/31/2018, i.e., in 2 years.11/15/2016Responded to email asking if absentee ballots are always counted: Yes, to my knowledge, absentee ballots have always been counted in Iowa.Met with the Board of Supervisors and updated them on the election and other activities.Attested/signed all paperwork required to officially certify the election results.11/16/2016Attended Board of Supervisors meeting to confirm they approved request to hire temporary employee to fill in for account technician vacancy created by resignation.Reviewed expenditures versus appropriations for FY16-17 and discovered the Board removed $500K in annual appropriations without any notification to anyone in my office. An additional $400K will be appropriated to the Auditor’s Office via the Fall Budget Amendment to pay for the costs incurred due to the general election.11/17/2016Confirmed that Enterprise is still the vendor of choice for the County and State for car rentals.Attended County Supervisor Stacey Walker’s swearing-in ceremony and attested/approved his oath of office.Replied to a resident who wanted to know how the reduction in Supervisors would be handled. Answer: Supervisors Rogers, Oleson, and Walker won 2 year terms, which means all 5 Supervisors terms expire on 12/31/2018. If the representation plan stays the same, the County will be divided into 3rds vs 5ths as it is now.? That means 1 Sup will represent CR and 1 Sup will represent the remainder of CR and Marion.? And 1 Sup will represent the rest of the County. The 5 to 3 petitioners have gathered signatures to call for a special election in 2017 to vote on the representation plan; however, the Board could change the representation plan via a resolution next week, if they so choose. 11/18/2016Reviewed kudos from three precinct chairs complimenting the permanent Elections Services employees on the training given prior to the election and the support provided on Election Day.Requested that the current Top Taxpayers lists be posted on our website.11/21/2016Received confirmation from Secretary of State’s Office that they are reviewing the image of the pencil required on ballots. They may mandate a different image for future ballots.Agreed to do a future interview with The Gazette to discuss the future of voting machine technology.Notified that LIFTS provided one ride to the polls on Election Day to a disabled voter.Notified by the Sheriff’s Office that they plan to convert additional employees to Novatime beginning on 1/22/2017.Notified by Accounting Services of a potential fraud caused by an individual inappropriately cashing a County check to a landlord.11/22/2016Rejected idea from local business group to sponsor I Voted stickers given to voters at the polls. Reason: Someone may perceive this business group is trying to influence the election.Reviewed work rule that will be posted in the office on 11/28/2016.Reviewed meeting agenda for upcoming Auditors’ association meeting.11/23/2016Requested Deputy Auditor review accounts payable internal controls document for the FY15-16 financial audit.Attested/approved abstracts for the judges on the 11/8 ballot and retained via the pleted Auditor’s Report for 10/6 – 11/24/2016 and posted it on my blog.Met with KGAN/KFXA and reviewed the results of the voter outreach campaign they conducted for us prior to the election.11/24/2016 – Thanksgiving Holiday – Auditor’s Office closed11/24/2016 – Thanksgiving Holiday – Auditor’s Office closed. ................
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