Certification Exam Developed by the Certification and Training Program Name:

County:

E-Mail:

Phone:

E101 – Date and Location

2/2017

INFORMATION

This test is one component of Election Administrator Certification. The test allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of election law and your ability to apply the Revised Code of Washington, the Washington Administrative Code, and other pertinent source documents.

This exam is designed as an open book test. It consists of three sections—Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank, Essay. Group work is acceptable for the first two sections. You must complete the Essay section individually.

In the first two sections, points are awarded separately; one for the correct answer and one for the correct citation supporting your answer. In the Essay section, describe your answer in detail and include the correct citation(s) to support your answer. Do not quote the language from the applicable RCWs or WACs as your answer; use your own words to describe your response.

Please read and consider each question carefully before answering. Record your answers directly onto the test booklet. There are 186 possible points. An 80% score, or 149 points, is required to pass the exam.

Please Return completed exams to:

CTsupport@sos.wa.gov

Multiple choice

Directions: Vote for one, and provide the supporting citation(s)

Which document is not a source used to cancel deceased voters? (2 pts.)

A newspaper obituary article

A returned mail ballot with the word “deceased” written on it

Vital statistics information from the Secretary of State’s Office

A signed statement from another registered voter

Citation(s):

Which item is unavailable for public inspection and copying from the voter registration file? (2 pts.)

Date of birth

A registrant’s residential address

A registrant’s phone number

The original date of registration

Citation(s):

A voter has moved less than 60 days before the election but did not transfer his or her registration. When is the last day a registered voter may initiate a voter registration challenge against this voter? (2 pts.)

The day of the primary or election

The day before the primary or election

The tenth day before the primary or election

Only the County’s Prosecuting Attorney may initiate a voter registration challenge

Citation(s):

When should you send a questionnaire to cities, towns, and districts? (2 pts.)

Prior to March 1st of each odd year

Prior to April 1st every year

When you’ve heard that one of these offices received a pay raise

Prior to February 1st & during the twelve months before the jurisdiction is scheduled to elect officers

Citation(s):

Who accepts Declarations of Candidacy for joint school district positions? (2 pts.)

Secretary of State

Auditor of the county containing the largest percentage of the district’s geographic area

Auditor of the county containing the largest percentage of the district’s registered voters

Auditor designated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Citation(s):

Two candidates file for a three-year unexpired term election held for the office of State Senator in a legislative district. On which ballot(s) do the candidates appear? (2 pts.)

The general election ballot only

Both the primary and general election ballots

The primary ballot, with only the winner advancing to the general election

No unexpired term election is required for this office

Citation(s):

A provisionally registered voter has returned a ballot, but you have not received verification of his or her ID by the day before certification. What should you do? (2 pts.)

Refer the ballot to the Canvassing Board for rejection

Send another identification notice and call the voter

Count the ballot

Any of the above

Citation(s):

How do you handle information from a returned jury summons that indicates a voter does not live in your county? (2 pts.)

Cancel the voter

Take no action

Send the voter a confirmation notice

Both A and C

Citation(s):

What determines the order of candidate names for partisan offices on the even-year general election ballot? (2 pts.)

The number of votes received in the primary

A random lot drawing

The number of votes cast in the state for the office of President

The number of votes cast in the county for the office of President

Citation(s):

A voter attempts to vote in person at a voting center, but his voter registration cannot be verified. What should the election worker do? (2 pts.)

Direct the voter to vote on an accessible voting unit

Issue a challenged ballot

Issue a provisional ballot

Not permit the voter to cast a ballot

Citation(s):

Which of the items below are required at a voting center? (2 pts.)

Provisional ballots

Accessible voting

Electronic or telephonic access to the voter registration system

All of the above

Citation(s):

Any person desiring to vote on an Accessible Voting Unit (AVU) must complete which of the task(s) below? (2 pts.)

Provide proof of citizenship

Sign a declaration

Provide photo identification

Provide finger print identification

Citation(s):

Which of the following cannot be delegated to the Auditor’s staff by the County Canvassing Board? (2 pts.)

Opening of returned mail ballot envelopes

Duplication of ballots

Signature verification

Rejection of ballots

Citation(s):

How do we determine the order of candidates in a primary? (2 pts.)

Alphabetically

Filing Order

Lot Draw

None of the above

Citation(s):

Which of the following is not subject to the laws covering mandatory recounts? (2 pts.)

Candidates for federal office

State measures

Candidates for offices where fewer than 5,000 votes have been cast

Local measures

Citation(s):

For overseas and service voters, define the “date of mailing” for the purposes of determining whether or not a mail ballot is to be counted? (2 pts.)

The postmark on the return envelope

The date indicated by the voter on the signed declaration

Either A or B, whichever is earlier

Either A or B, whichever is later

Citation(s):

When are write-in votes invalid in a general election? (2 pts.)

The candidate did not file a declaration of write-in candidacy

The candidate filed for the same office at the preceding primary and failed to qualify

The candidate did not pay the required fee for the office

All of the above

Citation(s):

You are notified of a vacancy on the Thursday of Candidate Filing Week. The vacancy was effective prior to candidate filing. What should you do? (3 pts.)

Hold a special three-day filing and place the office on the primary ballot

Hold a special three-day filing and place the office on the general election ballot

Hold filings for the office for the remainder of the regular filing period

Not place it on this year’s ballot as the office is considered void

Citation(s):

What method of security is acceptable without additional action? (2 pts.)

Numbered seals and seal logs

Secure locks with passcode entry

Padlocks

Vault

Citation(s):

The filing fee for state representative is $412.06. To complete the filing process, the candidate may? (2 pts.)

Submit $100 and 312 signatures.

Submit 412 signatures or pay $412.06.

Submit 413 signatures or pay $413.

Pay $413 or submit 826 signatures.

Citation(s):

Fill in the blank

Directions: Provide a written response and the supporting citation(s)

Fire District No. 99 has just increased the board of commissioners from three members to five members. The three commissioners have decided to appoint persons to the two new positions. When are the two new positions up for election? (4 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

Three candidates filed for Mayor of Chesaw. Four days after the close of the filing period, the incumbent wins the Lotto jackpot. She writes the shortest resignation letter in history (i.e., “I quit!”), and disappears. Should this office skip the primary? ☐Yes ☐No	(2 pts.)

Citation(s):

Using the scenario from question 2, when must the winner of the November General Election take the oath of office? (3 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

When all official political party observer requests a random check of either precincts or batches, the county must complete the count within hours of Election Day. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

When a voter writes in a candidate’s name that is already printed on the ballot for the same race, how should the vote be counted? (2 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

Any person, who possesses all the qualifications to vote, is a/an of the state. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

List the five pieces of information required to register to vote: (6 pts.)

1 2 3 4 5

Citation(s):

List the three ways an inactive voter may return to active status: (4 pts.)

1 2 3

Citation(s):

Type in the order of appearance on the ballot of these judicial offices (one being first and four being last).

(5 pts.)

Judges of the Superior Court

Judges of the Court of Appeals

Justices of the Supreme Court

Judges of the District Court

Citation(s):

Each county is required to have a minimum of certified election administrators on staff. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

A ballot received at a ballot deposit box on Election Day between 8:00:00 p.m. and 8:00:59 p.m. be counted. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

All voting systems, voting devices, and vote tallying systems must be and/or before they can be used in Washington. (3 pts.)

Citation(s):

A County Auditor that uses direct recording electronic voting devices must conduct an audit of votes cast on percent of the devices used in the election. No audit is required if fewer than votes (cumulatively) have been cast on all devices used in the county. (4 pts.)

Citation(s):

A constituent applies in person for voter registration after the 29 day deadline. What is your first step in processing the application? (2 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

Three days before an election or primary you receive a UOCAVA ballot request that does not include a Washington State residence address. Explain the steps you should follow. (5 pts.)

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Citation(s):

To mitigate the impacts of conducting elections entirely by mail, the Legislature requires counties to establish a (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

The accessible voting period begins days prior to Election Day. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

A resolution for a spring special election must be filed days before the date of the special election.
(2 pts.)

Citation(s):

A resolution for a special election to be held at a primary must be filed no later than? (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

Each county must provide its voters at least ballot deposit site locations. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

Voters may apply for a special absentee ballot no earlier than days prior to a primary or general election. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

When submitted electronically, the only document that requires a hard copy to follow is a (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

To appear on the general election ballot, a candidate in the primary must receive at least of the total votes cast for the office and be (3 pts.)

Citation(s):

A proposal for the creation of a countywide hospital district will be on a general election ballot. Voters elect the commissioners for the new district at the general election. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

If the signature on a ballot declaration does not match the signature on the registration record, the voter must return a signature update no later than for the ballot to be valid. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

Final processing of voted ballots may begin or, Tabulation may begin (3 pts.)

Citation(s):

Each County Auditor must maintain an audit trail of all ballots received. It must include a reconciliation of the ballots demonstrating the number of ballots plus the number of ballots equal the total number of ballots (4 pts.)

Citation(s):

List the only circumstances under which sealed ballot containers may be opened after an election is certified. (3 pts.)

Answer(s):

Citation(s):

A request for a recount must be filed within days following certification of the election.
(2 pts.)

Citation(s):

The number of petition signatures required to recall a port district commissioner is equal to (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

offices are not subject to recall proceedings. (2 pts.)

Citation(s):

State election administration laws are found in Title 29A of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). However, many election provisions are found elsewhere in RCW. Which RCW titles provide election provisions for the following districts? (13 pts.)

Fire districts

Sewer districts

Public utility districts

1st & 2nd class cities and towns

Non-charter code cities

Port districts

County park and recreation districts

Library districts

Water districts

Cemetery districts

School districts

Hospital districts

Diking & drainage districts

Results of the primary

Candidate A = 8945
Candidate B = 8843
Candidate C = 8810

Is there a recount? If so, between which candidates? (3 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

Results of the primary

Candidate A = 236
Candidate B = 235
Candidate C = 199

Is there a recount? If so, between which candidates? (3 pts.)

Answer:

Citation(s):

You are preparing the ballot for an even-year primary election. Candidates filed for the following three offices. In which order are these offices required to be printed on the ballot? (4 pts.)

State Representative	Public Utility District	Superior Court Judge

Dist. 89, Pos. 1	Commissioner, Pos. 2

Charlie Hunnam	Morgan Freeman	Christine Baranski

Julianna Margulies	Julia Roberts	Katey Sagal

Josh Charles	Meryl Streep	Ralph Reese

Citation(s):

List six items required to appear on a ballot (applicable to the offices listed in the previous question) and provide citation(s) pertaining to each element. (12 pts.)

Answer	Citation

Essay

Directions: Group work is not acceptable for this section

Harold James and James Harold are registered to vote in the same precinct.

In section A and B, highlight the names that would qualify as a write-in vote for Harold (Harry) James in a single race.

In the box below, explain the difference between a declared write-in and an undeclared write-in. (11 pts.)

A) Declared Write-in	B) Undeclared Write-in
James Harold Harry James Harold James Harry	James Harold Harry James Harold James Harry

Citation(s):

The County Auditor is responsible for calculating validation figures. Describe in detail how these figures are calculated, when the figures must be calculated, who needs them and how are they used? Provide supporting citations. (7 pts.)

Citation(s):

You have a voter at your counter requesting to register to vote. There are 15 days left until the election. This voter is currently registered in another county, but is inactive in the VRDB. Explain the actions you will take to help this voter. (7 pts.)

Citation(s):