Draft February 2012 

United States Election Assistance Commission 

Urban/Rural Study 

Local Election Officials Survey 

 
Draft February 2012 

ABOUT THIS SURVEY 

The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was created as part of the Help 

America Vote Act (HAVA) to assist State and local election officials with the administration of 

Federal elections. HAVA (b)(15) requires EAC to study “[m]atters particularly relevant to voting 

and administering elections in rural and urban areas.” The purpose of Survey of Rural and Urban 

Election Administration is to determine the ways in which election officials conduct voter 

outreach, secure personnel, and handle any cost-related challenges associated with administering 

general elections in rural and urban jurisdictions. You will be asked questions about your 

jurisdictions; however, they are for research purposes only and are not connected to any 

enforcement activity on the part of other Federal agencies. 

Your input in this study is very important. This survey should take 40 minutes to complete 

(including reviewing instructions, consult any necessary sources, responding to the survey, and 

submitting the survey). Please respond to all applicable questions. In addition, we ask that if you 

would be willing to participate in an in-depth interview regarding the topic of this survey, please 

indicate this at the end of the survey. 

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT 

1. The EAC may collect the information requested in this survey under the authority of the Help 

America Vote Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-252). Providing information in this questionnaire 

is voluntary. There is no penalty associated with failing to respond to a specific question in 

this survey. 

2. Public Law 93-573 (Privacy Act of 1974) requires that you be informed of the purpose and 

uses to be made of the information collected. The information collected in the survey will be 

used in a mandatory report to Congress. Only group statistics from the survey will be 

reported. 

In 2009 and 2010, EAC conducted two working groups with election officials from 

rural and urban communities and with social science researchers. The purpose of the 

working groups was to gain perspective and feedback on how EAC might approach 

this study. The working group members spent their time considering current 

challenges related to administering elections in urban and rural areas. Potential areas 

for future study they identified included voter outreach and personnel (along with 

costs related to these factors). Voter outreach and personnel are examples of areas in 

which jurisdictions are demonstrating creativity and innovation in responding to 

election administration challenges and, therefore, may present an interesting contrast 

when considered in the context of urban and rural election administration. These are 

also areas where cost savings can be realized. Highlighting these topics in EAC’s 

report will provide a greater understanding of how urban and rural areas differ on 

these issues and might help to provide best practices information for election officials 

around the country.
Draft February 2012 

Background

1. How long have you served as an election official? (include total experience in all jurisdictions) 

_______ number of years 

2. Approximately how many registered voters reside in the jurisdiction you currently serve? 

_______ approximate number of registered voters 

3. How would you describe your jurisdiction? Is it primarily rural or primarily urban? 

○ Rural 

○ Urban 

○ Both. My jurisdiction includes both rural and urban areas. 

4. Is your jurisdiction required to provide language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights 

Act? 

ο Yes – Go to question 4a 

ο No – Skip to question 5 

4(a). If yes, for which languages or language groups is your jurisdiction required to provide 

assistance? (Check all that apply) 

 

 ○ Spanish 

 ○ Asian languages 

 ○ Alaskan / Native American languages 

 ○ Other (please specify) ____________________ 

5. Does your office have full/ultimate responsibility for all aspects of elections in your jurisdiction (e.g., 

voter registration, voting machines, ballots, vote counting, etc.)? Please note that your office may 

have full/ultimate responsibility for an election-related activity even if it is not actually performed in 

your office (e.g., computer-related support). 

ο Yes – Skip to question 6 

ο No – Go to question 5a 

5(a). (If no) Is full/ultimate responsibility for all aspects of elections in your jurisdiction...

 

 ○ A state function only 

 ○ A shared state and local function 

 ○ Other (please specify)________________________
Draft February 2012 

6. Please indicate whether or not each of the following is allowed in your jurisdiction. 

Yes No 

Absentee voting (excuse required) ○ ○

No-excuse absentee voting ○ ○

Early voting ○ ○

All vote-by-mail ○ ○

Voter Outreach

The next series of questions is about voter outreach activities. For purposes of this survey, please 

consider voter outreach to be any activity that your office engages in to provide information to 

the voting public. This includes information your office is required to provide and responses to 

information requests from individuals and/or organizations. 

7. For each of the following, please indicate whether your office provides this type of outreach to the 

voting public. If your office provides this outreach, please indicate the language(s) in which it is 

provided. 

Type of Outreach 

Does your 

office provide 

this type of 

outreach? 

If YES, in what languages is the 

outreach provided? 

Yes No English 

only 

English 

and other 

languages 

Other 

languages 

only 

Paid print advertising (e.g., newspaper) ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Paid television/radio advertising ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Elections Office/County website ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Hard copy direct mailing to voters 

(e.g., voter’s guide, sample ballot) 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Toll-free telephone line ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, 

blogs) 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Participating in community events ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Other (please specify) 

______________________________________ ○ ○ ○ ○
Draft February 2012 

8. Does your jurisdiction form partnerships with any third-party or civic organizations on voter outreach

efforts? 

○ Yes – Continue to question 8a 

○ No – Skip to question 9 

8a. For each of the following, please indicate whether your jurisdiction forms partnerships with 

other organizations on this type of voter outreach effort. 

Types of Outreach 

Conduct with 

other 

organizations 

Do not conduct 

with other 

organizations 

Paid print advertising (e.g., newspaper) ○ ○

Paid television/radio advertising ○ ○

Elections Office/County website ○ ○

Hard copy direct mailing to voters (e.g., voter’s 

guide, sample ballot) ○ ○

Toll-free telephone line ○ ○

Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Blogs) ○ ○

Participating in community events ○ ○

Other (please specify) 

___________________________________________________ ○

Other (please specify) 

___________________________________________________ ○

 8b. Please indicate whether your jurisdiction forms partnerships with each of the following types 

of organizations on voter outreach efforts. 

Types of Organization 

Conduct with 

this type of 

organization 

Do not conduct 

with this type of 

organization 

School-related organization(s) ○ ○

Non-profit organization(s) ○ ○

Political parties ○ ○

Other type of organization (please specify) 

___________________________________________ ○

Other type of organization (please specify) 

___________________________________________ ○
Draft February 2012 

 8c. We are particularly interested in voter outreach efforts that jurisdictions have provided in 

partnership with other organizations. Please provide further information about these efforts. 

9. For each of the following, please indicate whether your jurisdiction has voter outreach initiatives or

activities that focus on this group. 

Voter outreach focus Focus on this 

group 

Do not focus 

on this group 

Students ○ ○

Racial/ethnic minorities ○ ○

Foreign language speakers ○ ○

Voters in long-term care facilities ○ ○

Voters with disabilities ○ ○

Other group (please specify) 

____________________________________________ ○

Other group (please specify) 

____________________________________________ ○

10. Approximately how much did voter outreach efforts for the 2010 Mid-Term Election cost your 

jurisdiction? 

○ $10,000 or less ○ $60,001 – 70,000 

○ $10,001 – 20,000 ○ $70,001 – 80,000 

○ $20,001 – 30,000 ○ $80,001 – 90,000 

○ $30,001 – 40,000 ○ $90,001 –100,000 

○ $40,001 – 50,000 ○ $100,001 – 200,000 

○ $50,001 – 60,000 ○ $200,001 or more 

11. Approximately how much do you anticipate voter outreach efforts for the 2012 General Election

will cost your jurisdiction? 

○ $10,000 or less ○ $80,001 – 90,000 

○ $10,001 – 20,000 ○ $90,001 – 100,000 

○ $20,001 – 30,000 ○ $100,001 – 200,000 

○ $30,001 – 40,000 ○ $200,001 – 300,000 

○ $40,001 – 50,000 ○ $300,001 – 400,000 

○ $50,001 – 60,000 ○ $400,001 – 500,000 

○ $60,001 – 70,000 ○ $500,001 or more 

○ $70,001 – 80,000 
Draft February 2012 

12. How are your jurisdiction’s voter outreach efforts paid for? (Check all that apply) 

○ From the local election office budget 

○ From fees collected for other office responsibilities (e.g., rental of equipment, selling voter 

lists, etc.) 

○ From line item appropriation in the county or state budget 

○ Other (please specify) __________________________________________________ 

13. In general, how easy or difficult is it for your jurisdiction to engage in voter outreach for general 

election cycles? 

○ Very easy 

○ Somewhat easy 

○ Neither easy nor difficult 

○ Somewhat difficult 

○ Very difficult 

14. How much of a problem is each of the following in engaging in voter outreach for general election 

cycles? 

A big 

problem 

A moderate 

problem 

A small 

problem 

Not a 

problem at 

all 

Cost ο ο ο ο

Staff availability/time ο ο ο ο

Availability of media outlets ο ο ο ο

Travel distance required for inperson contact ο ο ο ο

Limitations on Internet access or 

reliability ο ο ο ο

Variety of languages spoken ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

________________________ ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

________________________ ο ο ο ο

 
Draft February 2012 

Personnel 

15. Please indicate how many of each of the following types of paid staff you had in 2010. 

a. In 2010, approximately how many paid full-time (permanent) staff did you have? 

_______ number of paid full-time (permanent) staff 

b. In 2010, approximately how many paid part-time (permanent) staff did you have? 

_______ number of paid part-time (permanent) staff 

c. In 2010, approximately how many paid temporary staff did you have (e.g., workers who 

come in around election time to help with administrative tasks such as data entry for voter 

registration, work the customer service hotline, etc.)? Please do NOT include poll workers. 

_______ number of paid temporary staff 

d. In 2010 did you “borrow” staff from other departments within your local/municipal 

government to supplement your full-time, part-time, and temporary staff? 

○ Yes (please indicate approximate number of staff) ___________ 

○ No 

16. For the 2010 General Election, approximately how many poll workers/election judges did your 

office use? 

_______ number of poll workers/election judges 

17. Please indicate how many of each of the following types of paid staff you anticipate having in 

2012. 

a. In 2012, approximately how many paid full-time (permanent) staff do you anticipate 

having? 

_______ number of paid full-time (permanent) staff 

b. In 2012, approximately how many paid part-time (permanent) staff do you anticipate 

having? 

_______ number of paid part-time (permanent) staff 

c. In 2012, approximately how many paid temporary staff do you anticipate having (e.g., 

workers who come in around election time to help with administrative tasks such as data 

entry for voter registration, work the customer service hotline, etc.)? Please do NOT include 

poll workers. 

_______ number of paid temporary staff 
Draft February 2012 

d. In 2012 do you anticipate “borrowing” staff from other departments within your 

local/municipal government to supplement your full-time, part-time, and temporary staff? 

○ Yes (please indicate approximate number of staff) ___________ 

○ No 

18. For the 2012 General Election, approximately how many poll workers/election judges do you 

anticipate your jurisdiction will use? 

_______ number of poll workers/election judges 

NOTE: For Questions 19 and 20, “poll workers” does not include Chief, Assistant Chief, Judges of 

Elections, Captains, or Supervisors; only poll workers.

19. Are your poll workers paid for their work on Election Day? 

○ Yes – Continue to question 19a 

○ No – Skip to question 20 

19a. How much are your poll workers paid for their work on Election Day? 

 

○ One-time set stipend of $________ 

○ Hourly rate in the amount of $___________per hour

20. Are your poll workers paid for training? 

○ Yes – Continue to question 20a 

○ No – Skip to question 21 

20a. How much are your poll workers paid for training? 

 

○ One-time set stipend of $________ 

○ Hourly rate in the amount of $___________per hour

○ Payment in question 19a includes training pay 
Draft February 2012 

21. Please indicate which recruiting sources you use to obtain poll workers for General Elections. For

each source used, please indicate how successful the source has been for you in obtaining poll 

workers. 

Recruiting Source 

Do you use this 

source? 

If you use this source, rate successfulness 

YES NO Very 

Successful 

Successful Somewhat 

Successful 

Not 

Successful 

Classified ads ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting at college campuses ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting at high schools ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting through website ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting through local 

businesses ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting through volunteer 

organizations ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting through other 

government 

agencies/departments 

ο ο ο ο ο ο

Recruiting through word of 

mouth (e.g., current poll workers 

encourage friends/coworkers to 

volunteer) 

ο ο ο ο ο ο

Responding to requests from 

individuals or groups regarding 

becoming poll workers 

ο ο ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

________________________ ο ο ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

________________________ ο ο ο ο ο ο

22. In general, how easy or difficult is it for your jurisdiction to obtain a sufficient number of poll 

workers for general election cycles? 

○ Very easy 

○ Somewhat easy 

○ Neither easy nor difficult 

○ Somewhat difficult 

○ Very difficult 
Draft February 2012 

23. For each of the following, please indicate how much of a problem it presents in obtaining a 

sufficient number of poll workers for general election cycles? 

A big 

problem 

A 

moderate 

problem 

A small 

problem 

Not a 

problem 

at all 

Payment is too low ο ο ο ο

Election Day work hours are too long ο ο ο ο

Little respect for poll workers ο ο ο ο

Training is too long/takes too much time ο ο ο ο

Potential poll workers cannot get off from 

work to serve ο ο ο ο

Requirement for equal numbers of poll 

workers from different political parties ο ο ο ο

Lack skilled or qualified workers ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

__________________________________ ο ο ο ο

Other (please specify) 

__________________________________ ο ο ο ο

24. Does your jurisdiction offer split shifts for poll workers on Election Day? That is, can poll 

workers sign up to work less than a full day at the polls on Election Day? 

 

○ Yes – Go to question 24a 

○ No – Go to question 24b 

24a. (If split shifts are offered) What impact does the ability to offer split shifts have on your 

recruiting poll workers? 

○ Makes it much easier to recruit poll workers. 

○ Makes it somewhat easier to recruit poll workers.

○ Has no impact. 

24b. (If split shifts are not offered) What impact would the ability to offer split shifts have on 

your recruiting poll workers? 

○ Would make it much easier to recruit poll workers. 

○ Would make it somewhat easier to recruit poll workers. 

○ Would have no impact. 

 
Draft February 2012 

25. Please provide any additional comments you may have about administering elections in urban 

and rural jurisdictions. In particular, we are interested in any ideas and/or experience you have 

regarding voter outreach and personnel that you feel had a positive impact on your ability to 

administer general elections. 

Thank you for participating in this survey. 

EAC is planning to conduct in-depth follow-up interviews regarding the topics addressed in this 

survey. If you would be willing to take part in an in-person interview concerning the same topic, 

check this box □ and provide your contact information below. Please note that your contact 

information will be separated from the answers you have provided in the survey and will 

be used only to contact you for a follow-up interview. 

Name: _______________________________________________________________ 

Phone: ____________________________ 

E-mail:____________________________ 

Instructions 

After you have completed the survey, please place the questionnaire in the postage-paid envelope 

provided and return it in the mail to: 

HumRRO 

P.O. Box 6640 

Lawrenceville, NJ 08640 

If you prefer, you may fax the completed survey to HumRRO at 609-512-3730.