Inspector Survey

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

In keeping with its goal of continually increasing efficiency and transparency of elections, the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s (RR/CC) Officer began a survey project in 2006 that now constitutes an ongoing statistical analysis of poll worker responses to Election Day operation an equipment issues. The survey introduces scientific statistical analysis processes and publishes its methodology for public review and critique. Its approach to consistently measure responses over time and across election type is unique. The purpose of the survey instrument is threefold: it measures programmatic implementation and reforms; it assesses organizational responses to equipment functionality; it provides information to Department decision-makers regarding policy changes that effect Election Day operations. This survey is sent to RR/CC Inspectors after every major election and entered into a statistical software program for tabulation and analysis. County Inspectors are trained polling place personnel who are responsible for setting up and monitoring Election Day equipment, opening and closing polling places and delivering ballots and materials to county Check-in-Centers located throughout Los Angeles County after polls close. To date, the program has analyzed survey responses in five major elections and provides measurements that assist in valuable programmatic and operational evaluations of Election Day procedures. Improvements have been made since 2006 in every analyzed category and the effects of changes in procedures can be readily seen in the data.