Ballot Scout: Revolutionizing Mail Ballot Tracking

1. Ballot Tracking Jessenia Eliza - Democracy Works / May 6, 2019

2. Agenda • What is Ballot Scout • How does it acquire IMb scan data • How are we using IMb scan data and what does it provide partners and voters • Overview of the Ballot Scout dashboard and voter-look up tool • What do partners and voters have to say • What does the future hold for Ballot Scout • Q & A

3. Ballot Scout is a mail ballot tracking tool that uses USPS Intelligent Mail barcodes and tracking data to provide election administrators and voters with data about how ballots are moving through the mail stream. Making tracking data accessible provides clarity, accountability, and can help streamline other election processes by providing data about undeliverable or “return-to-sender” mail in a real-time format.

4. Using USPSIMb services, Ballot Scout has tracked more than 2 million ballots 2017 (covered 1 major election) Total localities served: 133 Total Ballots In Ballot Scout: 11,897 % of Ballots Scanned: 80% Approximate % of Ballots Return to Sender: .09% 2018 (covered 2 major elections) Total localities served: 144 Total Ballots In Ballot Scout: 2,737,100 % of Ballots Scanned: 90-98% Approximate % of Ballots Return to Sender: .09% - .12%

5. How does it work? • Determine MID, STIDs, and if our system will need to receive or generate IMbs • Democracy Works sends data delegation requests • Ballot Scout receives and stores voter records • Ballot Scout receives, stores, and applies applicable scan data

6. Administrative Dashboard & Voter Lookup-Tool

7. What can a partner do with Ballot Scout data? • Current Ballot Location • Days in Service • Mailing Progress

8. What can a partner do with Ballot Scout data? Answer Voter Questions: I didn’t get my ballot, where is it? Has my ballot arrived back at the election office? When will I get my ballot?

9. What can a partner do with Ballot Scout data? Answer Voter Questions: When will I get my ballot? Has my ballot arrived back at the election office? I didn’t get my ballot, where is it?

10. What does Ballot Scout provide to a voter? Voter-look up tool • Voters can look up the current mailing status of their ballot online • Voters can sign up to receive future notifications about their ballot via text or email

11. What does Ballot Scout provide to a voter? Text and email notifications based on scan data

12. What do election administrators and voters have to say? • Election Admins: • Ease of coordination between USPS, mailing vendor, and SOS office • Current location map helpful to understand where and how ballots are moving • Helps to leverage action with the Post office • Lack of scans means delayed/lack of updates for voters

13. What do election administrators and voters have to say? • Voters: • Provides insight on when to anticipate ballot • Provides confidence that ballots are received [by election office] • Would like to see the lookup tool support military addresses • Would like to see the lookup tool support international addresses

14. What does the future hold for Ballot Scout & Ballot tracking • Expanding the ballot status notifications voters receive through the tool (accepted/rejected, counted, etc.) • Reminders for voters to go vote • Voter look-up tool more reflective of how ballots are returned • Voter look-up tool supporting other languages

15. Questions and Answers Any other questions, thoughts, or comments? Please feel free to contact Jessenia Eliza, Democracy Works Government Program Lead at: Jessenia@democracy.worksor via phone at 916-241-3876.

16. Thank You! Democracy Works Jessenia Eliza, Government Program Lead Jessenia@democracy.works