The Quick Start Guides give local and state election officials best practices and tips on 26 election administration topics. The guides are organized below by stage of the election cycle. For more detailed information, see the Election Management Guidelines. The guides are for information only and do not set requirements. html
Select a category to go to its guides:
- Planning and Outreach
- Election Preparation
- Early Voting and Mail Voting
- Election Day and Post-Election Processes
Planning and Outreach
Standard Operating Procedures - Tips for documenting an election office’s regular procedures and the areas standard operating procedures should cover.
Contingency Planning - Steps to identify and plan for emergencies, natural disasters, and other contingencies, as a supplement to standard operating procedures.
Building Community Partnerships - Ways to establish community partnerships, examples of potential partners, and the benefits for election offices and voters, including poll worker recruitment.
Media and Public Relations - Three steps for creating a public relations plan to work with the news media and communicate with voters and the public.
Voter Education - Ways to identify voter education topics, write clear messages, and reach voters.
Poll Watchers - An overview of maintaining transparency and security when election observers are present, in states that allow them.
Election Preparation
Developing an Election Calendar - Tips for building an election calendar to assign and track tasks, and for sharing the calendar with the public.
GIS & Elections - Uses of geographic information systems in an election office to support accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.
Ballot Building - Key steps in ballot design, plus ballot proofing, testing, and contingency planning.
Logic & Accuracy Testing - Steps for testing vote tabulation equipment, from preparation through documenting and publishing test results.
Making Voting Accessible - General accessibility requirements and tips for making the voting process accessible to all voters.
Developing an Audit Trail - Steps to take before and after an election to keep the audit trail complete.
Early Voting and Mail Voting
Curbside Voting - Considerations for protecting the accessibility, privacy, and security of each curbside voter’s ballot.
Ballot Drop Boxes - Where to place ballot drop boxes and how to secure them, for jurisdictions that allow them.
Voting by Mail - Tips on mail ballot preparation, receipt, and tabulation.
Serving Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) Voters - Steps to communicate with and serve military members, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens living outside the country.
Ballot Reconciliation: Early Voting - Preparation for early voting and the steps to include in daily ballot reconciliation and security.
Ballot Reconciliation: Mailed Ballots - Tracking each mail ballot from receipt of the application through post-election storage of ballots and envelopes.
Election Day and Post Election Processes
Developing an Audit Trail: Election Day - Training and procedures for poll workers and staff to maintain the audit trail throughout Election Day.
Ballot Reconciliation: Election Day - Strategies to account for every voted, spoiled, and unused ballot at each Election Day voting location.
Central Count System - Factors to consider when counting Election Day ballots centrally at the election office.
Election Results Reporting - Tips for results websites and for reporting clear, accurate election results.
Provisional Ballots - Sample procedures for administering and processing provisional ballots.
Canvassing & Certifying an Election - Steps for conducting a thorough canvass and certifying accurate results.
Conducting a Recount - Factors to consider from planning through finalizing a recount, whether the recount is automatic, requested by a candidate, or court ordered.
Post-Election Audits - Tips for before, during, and after a post-election audit.