Board completes security checklist

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SIDNEY — The checklist for cyber security for the Shelby County Board of Elections is complete and has been sent to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.

“We’re done,” said Director Pam Kerrigan Monday morning at the board’s monthly meeting.

Chairman Chris Gibbs said, “There’s no light your hair on fire, you have to do this (immediately).”

Several recommendations were received after the checklist was completed by Rich Valerio. A review of the safety of the E-Pollbooks started Sept. 21 with a meeting between Kerrigan, Deputy Director Donnie Chupp, board member Jon Baker, Shelby County Engineer Bob Geuy and Sidney/Shelby County IT Director Joel Glass. They tested how security at the E-Pollbooks work using a switch instead of a router.

“We got a list of recommendations and some of the changes were made right away,” said Chupp.

Gibbs said the board will be reimbursed for Valerio’s fee — almost $7,000 — since it was required by the Secretary of State’s Office. Some of the recommendations will be done after the first of the year, he said.

Switches will be used with the E-Pollbooks instead of routers, said Kerrigan. The cost will be reimbursed by the Secretary of State’s Office.

“We can’t use the routers,” said Kerrigan. “We wouldn’t pass the checklist.”

Both Kerrigan and Chupp said the use of switchers should speed up the ability of the machines to talk with one another on Election Day.

A visit to the new polling place in Newport for Cynthian Township voters was held Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 11:30 a.m. Kerrigan, Chupp, Baker and the voting location managers established where everything should be set up on Election Day.

A sign will be placed at the Sportsman’s Club on Election Day telling voters the polling place has been changed. All registered voters in the precincts have received a letter telling them the polling location is now at the township garage, 30 Elm St. in Newport.

Chupp told the board that as of Friday, 2,455 absentee ballots have been requested.

Training for poll workers will be completed Thursday, said Chupp. He said several voting location managers attended the poll workers training.

“We need Democrats within the county (to work the polls),” said Chupp. “That’s long been an issue in the county.”

“That they are not able to work on Election Day,” said Kerrigan, finishing Chupp’s sentence. “They come and go as they are available.”

A Secretary of State representative visited all high schools in the county, YMCA, libraries and senior center on an outreach project seeking people to work the polls on Election Day. A person has to be a registered voter to work at the polls.

The board will meet Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. to distribute voting materials to voting location managers. The board will meet on election day at 6 a.m. and stay in session until the last vote is counted.

The board’s next regular meeting will be Monday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 a.m.

Shelby County Board of Elections board member Jon Baker, left to right, Director Pam Kerrigan and voting location managers Becky Jelley, of Fort Loramie, and Roseann Lauk, of Fort Loramie, set up polling equipment at the new voting location for Cynthian Township voters Tuesday, Oct. 16. The new location for registered voters to vote on Nov. 6 is 30 Elm St., Newport.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2018/10/web1_BoardofElections.jpgShelby County Board of Elections board member Jon Baker, left to right, Director Pam Kerrigan and voting location managers Becky Jelley, of Fort Loramie, and Roseann Lauk, of Fort Loramie, set up polling equipment at the new voting location for Cynthian Township voters Tuesday, Oct. 16. The new location for registered voters to vote on Nov. 6 is 30 Elm St., Newport.
New polling site ready for the Nov. 6 Election Day

By Melanie Speicher

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4822.

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