Is this PR to rebuild reputation of Clerk-Recorder Office after the lawsuit?

Russ Steele

This is a press release that appeared in the County CEO's Friday Memo.

Nevada County Clerk-Recorder, Gregory J. Diaz, is pleased to announce that the California Secretary of State’s office has certified Nevada County Elections as an official Ballot Finisher, defined as an entity that “processes sheets or unfinished ballot cards to make ballot cards to be used in California elections.”

Certification requires:
• Knowledge of ballot creation and layout regulations
• Accurate inventory control forms and ballot security documentation
• Enforcing a high level of ballot security during the finishing (printing) process
• Ensuring finished ballots are securely transported from one location to another
• Voting System vendor testing and certification of ballot production quality
• On-site inspection

The rigorous certification process was a year-long endeavor, beginning with the creation of the ballot finishing program, requiring approval from the voting system vendor, and culminating in an on-site inspection of the facility and security measures by a representative from the Secretary of State’s office; Nevada County Elections staff successfully satisfied all these requirements.

Earning this certification allows the Nevada County Elections Office the opportunity to realize possible cost savings on ballot printing in upcoming elections. Printing ballots on demand eliminates the practice of estimating ballot inventory levels needed for an election, which will increase both efficiency and security going forward.

Special thanks to Assistant Clerk-Recorder, Gail Smith, and Clerk-Recorder Assistant I, Elise Strickler, for their hard work during the process and successful completion of Nevada County Elections’ Ballot Finishing Certification.

I wonder if this training and certification was mandated after they screwed up the numbering of past ballots?  If it saves taxpayer money, that is a good thing. After the lawsuit the County Elections Office has a lot of making up to do, if they hope to recover the tax dollers flushed down the legal drain.  Your thoughts?