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Bannock County
November 2022
A look at Bannock County's Election Security
As confidence in U.S. elections wobbles nationwide, staff in the Bannock County Elections Office are proud of the measures they’ve taken to secure local election results.

Earlier this year, the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office conducted the first official Post-Election Audit of eight Idaho counties’ Primary Elections, including Bannock County.

Race auditors traveled to Pocatello to review 10 Bannock County precincts, accounting for more than 2,000 ballots. They found a single variation that was attributed to a sorting error.

“That seems about right for our typical margin of error,” said Julie Hancock, who has been the Elections Administrator for Bannock County since 2014.

The Bannock County Elections Office has touted a 0.01% to 0.0011% margin of error for the past seven years, according to Hancock.

Despite the low margin of error, Hancock welcomes audits like the Secretary of State’s.

“We want to be audited. We want to prove to our public that our office runs secure and accurate elections,” Hancock said.

To improve the public’s confidence in local election results, Hancock is sharing how her office safeguards the vote.

TABULATION MACHINES

Before every election, the Bannock County Elections Office hosts a Public Re-Certification of the Ballot Tabulation Machines, the machines that count ballots and votes.

The public, members of the media, and candidates on the ballot are invited to watch as volunteers from the Bannock County Republicans, Bannock County Democrats, and the League of Women Voters observe and certify a test of the machines to ensure they are working accurately.

The Public Re-Certification for the 2022 General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. in the Elections Office, 141 N 6th Ave. To view the May 2022 Re-Certification, visit bannockcounty.us/elections and scroll to the “Election Security” tab.

Since 2017, Bannock County has used Election Systems & Software (ES&S) DS450 ballot tabulation machines. In order for a county in Idaho to use these machines, they had to be certified by the Idaho Secretary of State by running 1.5 million ballots through each device with zero error.

“We chose ES&S because they’re reliable, accurate, and safe. They’re well known for their integrity, and they even use the Idaho National Lab to test their machines,” Hancock said.

There is a system in place to verify the tabulation machines’ results. While the tabulation machine tracks how many ballots it counts, the voter database tracks how many voters signed the poll books to cast their ballot. At the end of each election, both the machine and the database should have the same number of ballots cast.

“That’s about the best checks and balances you can get,” Hancock said. “I would venture to say you’ll get more human error counting ballots by hand than you would by counting ballots using the machines.”

The tabulation machines do not have internet connectivity, which means they cannot communicate with the voter database, nor can they be hacked.

PHYSICALLY SECURE

Not only are the tabulation machines not connected to the internet, but the entire Bannock County Elections Office has no wireless internet connection, further protecting the office from bad actors.

The Elections Office is physically secure, too. Ballots are locked in a vault inside a locked room. The tabulation machines are stored in a separate vault, also with limited access. All doors to the office are locked every night, with only two people assigned keys: the elections administrator (Hancock) and the assistant elections supervisor.

Beyond locked doors and vaults, the Elections Office uses surveillance cameras for added security. Two security cameras are on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week recording the ballot vault and the ballot drop box outside the office.

“We record and stream everything on election night, too. Once a ballot enters the elections office, the public can watch every step that ballot takes before it’s stored in the vault,” Hancock said.

An additional two cameras are turned on and live-streamed to bannockcounty.us/elections on Election Day. The cameras’ line of sight covers every space that a ballot will travel through the office during an official count.

VOTER DATABASE

“We hear concerns from people about out-of-state residents or dead people voting in Idaho elections, which I understand, but I try to communicate why that isn’t an issue for us,” Hancock said.

In Idaho, the voter database is updated, or “purged,” at least every four years. All registered voters who did not vote at least once in the past four years are purged from the voter database in January following a presidential General Election.

In addition, the state sends county election offices a “vital statistics death list” every two weeks, identifying Idaho residents who have recently passed away. Local funeral homes also regularly notify the elections office of Idaho residents who may have passed away out of state.

The state also notifies elections offices of newly convicted felons who are ineligible to vote as well as former Idaho residents who recently moved out of state. Elections staff use this information to remove the deceased and ineligible voters from the database.

“We take every measure to make sure each election is secure and accurate, but we are always looking for ways we can do even better. I encourage the public to ask us questions if they have concerns about the integrity of Bannock County elections,” Hancock said.

To learn more about Bannock County’s election security measures, visit bannockcounty.us/elections and scroll down to the “Elections Security” tab.
Mark Your Calendar




November 8 – Election Day


November 11 – Veterans Day, County Offices CLOSED


November 24 – Thanksgiving, County Offices CLOSED
A Minute With Your Elected Official
Clerk Jason Dixon
One of the duties that an Elected Clerk is called on to perform in Idaho is to manage the jury duty system and summon citizens for jury duty. Each month as the Jury Commissioner mails jury summons, I know that I can look forward to a few texts from old friends saying, "I thought we were friends," followed by a picture of their jury summons letter with my name on it. I have found that people are often curious about what jury duty will entail and are even excited to participate in the process...
PRESERVING HISTORY
Bannock County Veteran Services asking the public to share memories of the
Pearl Harbor attack
Bannock County Veteran Services is asking the public to share their memories of the fateful attacks on Pearl Harbor. (Instructions below)

On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. The attack, which killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians, launched America into World War II.

More than 80 years later, most who remember the event have passed.

In an effort to preserve history and the stories of Southeast Idaho heroes, Veteran Services Coordinator Melissa Hartman is calling for anyone with a connection to the attack on Pearl Harbor to tell their story.

The idea came to Hartman after reading about Pocatello’s Sgt. James E. Johnson and his courageous service in the Korean War.

“I thought it could be possible that there are other stories like his out there that should be preserved,” Hartman said.

Hartman is specifically looking for personal accounts from veterans or their family members about the Pearl Harbor attack.

Submissions should be directed to Hartman by Nov. 18, 2022. Submissions will be documented and stored in the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building. Submissions may be published online or in a book.
Submission Instructions:
1. Identify yourself or the family member you are submitting for on their behalf. Please indicate your branch of service (if applicable) and rank, as well as any other identifying information.
2. Tell your story in detail. Tell us where you were, why you were there, what happened, and how you felt.
3. Include a copy of any accompanying photographs. Please do not send original photographs in the mail without contacting the Veteran Services Office first.
4. Send your submission via email or mail by Nov. 18, 2022.
Mailing Address:
Bannock County Veteran Services
921 S. 8th Avenue, Stop 8095
Pocatello, ID 83209-8095
Phone:
208-282-4245
VOLUNTEERS WANTED!
The Bannock County Planning & Development Council has two upcoming vacancies
Position 1: Term would start 3/1/2023
Position 2: Term would start 4/1/2023

The Planning & Development Council members are volunteers who are appointed by the County Commissioners. Per Bannock County Ordinance, Council members shall have resided in the County for at least two years prior to their appointment and must remain a resident of the County during their term.

Positions are open until filled. Application instructions are available here.

*Preference is given to residents who live in south Bannock County or in a city's area of impact, but all who are interested are encouraged to apply.

For questions, please call 208-236-7230.
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Bannock County Gems
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
BISHARAT MARKET
Bisharat Market has been a stable of Bannock County for about 40 years. The Bisharat family moved to Idaho from Nazareth, Israel, and opened Bisharat Market in the small town of Inkom. The family business has even grown to include an auto dealership, Bisharat Automotive, in Pocatello. Located on Old Highway 30, this small market is a one-stop shop for Inkom residents.
DEPARTMENT OF THE MONTH
BONDS AND FINES
Located in Room 108 on the ground floor of the Bannock County Courthouse, the Bonds and Fines department serve a crucial role for the County and 6th District Court. As a division of the Clerk's Office, Bonds and Fines manages the payment of all bail bonds, citations, and court fines. Bonds and Fines is also responsible for entering infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies into the court system. Four employees serve about a hundred members of the public each day, both in person and on the phone.
Busy at Bannock County
We're always busy at Bannock County Government! Follow us on social media to see what we're up to.

Bannock County employees participated in Project Management Professional Training (PMP) to improve efficiency and consistency in future county projects.

The expansion to Cell 4 of the Fort Hall Mine Landfill is well underway. Crews are installing a composite liner to prevent waste from contaminating the Aquifer.

Hon. Rick Carnaroli was appointed as the new Administrative District Judge for the 6th District Court, which oversees the administration of the district court's operation.

Each year for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bannock County partners with Portneuf Medical Center to bring the mammography bus to campus for employees to easily access screenings.

North 6th Avenue between the Bannock County Courthouse and the Courthouse Annex will be vacated to make a safer experience for pedestrians.

The Portneuf Wellness Complex is installing a gravity sewer system to improve access to restrooms near the Amphitheatre.
Notable News in Bannock County

A 49-unit apartment complex will be built on South 5th Avenue in Pocatello to offer options for low-income seniors.

Work to transform the Pocatello-Chubbuck area’s aging “Flying Y” interchange connecting Interstates 15 and 86 is chugging right along, quickly changing the landscape of the interstate in the area.

A nuclear waste treatment plant in eastern Idaho designed to treat 900,000 gallons of sodium-bearing, radioactive waste that has had numerous setbacks will likely start operating in early December.

Three restaurants that have collectively graced the Gate City for more than 140 years are embracing new beginnings following some big changes.

A Pocatello-based development firm is teaming up with a Pocatello construction company to build new housing near Connor Academy in Chubbuck.

Work has been completed on the massive renovation project to turn an iconic downtown Pocatello building that housed a furniture business for decades into a multi-use facility.
Where are you buying your holiday presents?
With just 7 weeks until Christmas and 6 weeks until Hanukkah, it's time to start thinking about what gifts you'll be giving your loved ones.

As you consider what toy to get Sammie or which watch to get your spouse, check the local shops in Bannock County first.

When dollars are spent locally, they can in turn be re-spent locally. This raises the overall level of economic activity in the area, paying your neighbors' salaries and building the local tax base.

Do your part this holiday season and shop locally.
-Emma Iannacone, Public Information Officer
BANNOCK COUNTY | www.bannockcounty.us