PRE-ELECTION DAY PREPARATION such special election will take place, at least twenty (20) days before the scheduled date of the election. SOURCE: Law governing 3 GCA § 5105



§ Site Inspections Polling Places

The Guam Election Commission (GEC) Executive Director will send a letter to the Guam Department of Education (DOE) Superintendent notifying him/her of the GEC’s intent to use Guam public schools as polling locations for the upcoming election. The correspondence should be sent out at least six (6) months prior to the Primary Election. The GEC staff, upon approval of the Superintendent, shall visit each polling place no later than 60 days prior to any primary election. The staff will meet with the principal or designated staff member of each school to be used as a polling location to finalize and confirm rooms that are to be used for each precinct. Each room to be used as a polling site should meet the following minimum criteria: 1. There should be adequate Accessible Parking spaces (one accessible parking space for every 25 spaces).

2. The room used should be at a reasonable distance from the parking area.

3. Rooms should be on the same level as the parking area. If the facility being used is multi-level, there should access ramps available for persons with disabilities. The ramp to be used should be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (one foot run: one inch rise).

4. There should be adequate lighting along the path of travel to and from the parking space and polling area.



5. Restrooms should be at a reasonable distance from the polling area.

The school principal should designate a poll maintenance worker whose responsibility will be to ensure that the entrances to the polling sites will be opened no later than 6 a.m. Election Day. That person will be compensated by the GEC. Prior to Election Day, the GEC staff will set perimeter boundaries for electioneering. The boundaries shall be set in accordance with Title 3 of the Guam Code Annotated. SOURCE: Best Practice since 2004

Polling Place Accessibility

Attention needs to be given to the special needs of voters with disabilities. It is important to examine the entire polling place, from the parking lot to the entrance of the polling place to the voting area, to assess any areas where temporary accommodations may be needed. The GEC. Some common problems to look for: 1. If there is an alternate entrance used by voters with disabilities, the pathway to the accessible entrance should be clearly marked and a sign posted at the primary entrance directing voters with disabilities to the accessible entrance.

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PRE-ELECTION DAY PREPARATION 2. Be sure that if off-street parking is available at the polling location, that any accessible parking spots are marked with appropriate signs and access aisles are clearly designated.

3. Some doors are too heavy to be opened by the elderly or voters with disabilities. Such doors should have automatic openers or should be left open, if designated as the accessible entrance.

4. A voting booth that is accessible to electors in wheelchairs must be set up. This booth must be at least thirty (30) inches wide with a writing surface between twenty-eight (28) and thirty-four (34) inches high in order to meet accessibility standards. A wheelchair accessible table may meet this requirement if supplemented with a curtain.

5. Accessible equipment must be set up in the accessible voting booth in a manner ensuring privacy for voters choosing to use the equipment.

§ Equipping the Polling Place

The Guam Election Commission is responsible for developing a layout for each of the polling places in accordance with 3 GCA § 9103 (i.e. The precincts shall be arranged so that neither the ballot boxes nor tables on which they are placed shall be hidden from the view of voters outside the guard-rail, rope or other barricade). Prior to any election the Commission shall solicit the assistance of the Department of Public Works of the government of Guam to utilize its labor force for the preparation of the polls.

Layout

Prior to Election Day, the GEC officials should consult with the school principals and Poll Maintenance Workers as to the layout of the polling place. It is important to be familiar with the flow of traffic and take a critical look at the polling place, to make sure it will be accessible for all voters, including those with disabilities.

When planning the layout of the polling place, consider the following: Voting Booths ú Every polling location is required to be able to service a minimum of eight (8) voters at a time. ú One booth must be at least thirty (30) inches wide with a writing surface between twenty-eight (28) and thirty-four (34) inches high in order to meet accessibility standards. ú Precinct Officials must be trained to properly assemble all voting booths and curtains. ú Booths must have a surface on which to write and be sufficiently enclosed to ensure privacy for the elector. It is important to remember that the accessible booth must also be sufficiently enclosed to ensure privacy for the elector. This can be achieved by using a privacy shield or by positioning the booth/equipment so that it is facing away from the view of the room. ú Appropriate marking devices (pencils, pens, etc.) for use with the voting equipment, if any, must be provided.

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