Livermore Elementary School

Livermore Elementary School is an easily recognized community building located adjacent to a state highway in Livermore, Colorado. Livermore is a rural town with a population of approximately 1,500 and approximately 1,300 active registered voters. The Vote Center there processed over 430 voters on Election Day with a staff of only 7 poll workers. In rural, less populated areas with fewer accessible facility options, a county may set up Vote Centers in smaller rooms.

Exterior View of Vote Center

Although a smaller location, it is still essential that every Vote Center has accessible parking and entrances. Livermore Elementary School had one designated accessible parking space which was close to the facility entrance. For gravel lots, counties can purchase or rent access matting to ensure voters with disabilities can safely access the main entrance.

Exterior View of Voting Area Entrance/Exit

The picture above shows the main entrance/exit door for the Vote Center. The voting area is directly inside this door. Additional signs are placed outside the main doors to direct voters to the correct entryway on Election Day. Because there is less voter traffic at a smaller location, it is possible to use the same door as an entryway and exit without causing any congestion.

Interior View of Main Voting Area

Layout of Voting Area (click image to enlarge)

The Vote Center layout is integral to a successful Election Day. The Elections Department staff works with the Vote Center facility staff weeks prior to the election to determine the most efficient layout possible. Using everything from measuring tape and common sense to digital cameras and layout software, the Elections Department is able to ensure voters an accessible and efficient experience on Election Day.

In the picture above, you can see the actual layout and flow of this Vote Center. Voters enter the main entryway and are immediately met by the Greeter. The Greeter queues voters in line, reminding voters to have their signature card and proper ID available for processing. If the voter did not bring proper identification , the Greeter directs the voter to the provisional ballot station, where the voter is assisted by a Provisional Judge on the provisional voting process. If a voter forgot his/her signature card, the Greeter also helps the voter fill out a blank signature card.

Although much smaller than a large urban Vote Center, this site still uses queuing lines to maintain a smooth flow of traffic inside the voting area.

The voter is then queued to the Computer Station where a Computer Judge checks the voter ID and processes the voter using an electronic poll book. The average voter is processed in 30-45 seconds.

Voters are then queued to the Ballot Station where a Ballot Judge provides each voter with the correct ballot style. The ballot judge instructs the voter how to correctly complete the ballot, and queues the voter for the next available voting booth.

Once the voter has completed his/her optical scan paper ballot, he/she proceeds to cast his/her ballot. Larimer County uses a paper ballot optical scan voting system to tally votes cast. An election judge is available to assist voters, make sure the optical scan correctly accepts the voter's ballot and direct voters to the exit.