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Policies and Procedures <br />The Alameda County Registrar of Voters is in the process of reviewing its existing <br />policies and procedures to determine best practices and to establish the most efficient <br />way to convert from a traditional ballot to a Ranked Choice Voting Ballot. Since San <br />Francisco County is well versed in Ranked. Choice Voting (RCV), they have provided <br />Alameda County with their established procedures to serve as a guideline. <br />A traditional ballot, either a one or two card ballot, consists of races where the voter <br />votes for the candidate or measure of their choice. In contrast A Ranked Choice Voting <br />Ballot will be a separate ballot card where the voter will select their first, second and <br />third choice. <br />When. all ballots have been counted; the Registrar of Voters staff conducts the random <br />selection of precincts for the 1 % Manual Tally. This process will continue with the <br />transition to Ranked Choice Voting. <br />With a traditional ballot, the 1 % Manual Tally process requires staff to sort the ballots by <br />candidates, over votes, blanks and write-ins. In using a Ranked Choice Voting ballot, <br />the 1 % Manual Tally sorting process will be adjusted and staff will sort the ballots <br />according to the steps outlined in our Ranked Choice Voting procedures until each RCV <br />contest is completed and verified. <br />Outreach and Education Activities: <br />1. Easy-to-Read instructions for RCV will be incorporated in voting materials <br />distributed to voters <br />The Alameda County Registrar of Voters is preparing a brief written overview, with <br />visuals and step-by-step instructions on how to vote using Ranked Choice Voting, which <br />will be included in the pages of all sample ballots that are distributed to voters prior to <br />the November 2010 election. <br />These easy-to-follow instructions will also be included as an insert in all vote-by-mail <br />ballots distributed to voters for the November 2010 election. <br />This overview of how to vote using Ranked Choice Voting will also be made available at <br />polling places in November 2010 to help voters who arrive at the polls with little or no <br />knowledge of the shift to this new voting format. The instructions will also be modified <br />to create visual reminders that can be posted inside polling places and in voting booths <br />to remind voters how to vote using Ranked Choice Voting. <br />Prior to each election, there are several pieces of literature distributed by mail to <br />Alameda County voters, including Sample Ballots and Vote-By-Mail Ballots. Each of <br />these mailings presents an outreach opportunity for the Registrar of Voters to engage <br />voters about the shift to Ranked Choice Voting in Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro, <br />and to explain to them in simple terms how to vote using this new voting format. <br />Page ~ 3 <br />