Certificate in Election Administration, Technology, and Security (CEATS)
Curriculum – Phase I
Phase I Session Descriptions
I-1: Election Administration, Technology, and Security: An Overview
The Process of Elections; State and local Election Officials; Federal State and Local Elections; The Election Calendar; Voting Machines and Electronic Poll Books; Physical and Cybersecurity of Elections; The Statewide Voter Registration System.
I-2: Elections in the United States and Indiana – History and Current Landscape
The Australian Ballot; Mechanized, Punched card and Electronic Voting Systems; The 2000 Presidential Election; The 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA); The Election Assistance Commission; Election Equipment Certification; and the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG)
I-3: Information Technology and Elections
IT Basics for Election personnel – Basic components of computer systems; Operating Systems; Organization and management of files and folders; Network Fundamentals; Graphical User Interfaces; Spreadsheets and Databases;
I-4: Introduction to the Operations of Voting Systems – Direct Record Electronic (DRE) and Optical Scan Systems (OPSCAN)
Voting System Components: Hardware; Software and Firmware; Election Management Systems; Technology and features of DRE and OPSCAN Systems; Similarities and difference between DRE and OPSCAN Systems; Advantages and Disadvantages of each type of system – DRE and OPSCAN. Setting up Election definitions; The process and voting; tabulation and reporting.
I-5: Election Integrity
The roles and functions of the Indiana SOS; the Indiana State Police; the U.S. Department of Justice; Election Assistance Commission; Federal Election Commission; the Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana DHS regarding elections and election integrity; Association of Clerks of Circuit Courts of Indiana, the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL); Public tests of voting systems to enhance voter confidence.
I-6: Introduction to Operations of Electronic Poll Books (ePBs)
The process of voter registration; The Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS); Poll lists and Electronic Poll Books; Electronic Poll Book Components: Hardware and Software; SVRS Web Services Framework (WSF); Vote Centers.
I-7: Preparing for and Managing Elections: Effectiveness and Efficiency
The ongoing process of preparing for Elections; Election personnel ethics and integrity; Effective election personnel management; Election Administration and Media.
Phase I Session Hours
Session No. |
Session Topic |
Training hours | ||
In-session | Pre- and Post- activities | Total | ||
1 | Election Administration; Technology; and Security: An Overview | 7.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
2 | Elections in the United States and Indiana – History and Current Landscape | 7.0 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
3 | Information Technology and Elections | 7.0 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
4 | Introduction to Operations Voting Systems – Direct Record Electronic (DRE) and Optical Scan Systems (OPSCAN) |
7.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
5 | Election Integrity | 7.0 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
6 | Introduction to Operations of Electronic Poll Books (ePBs) | 7.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
7 | Preparing for and Managing Elections: Effectiveness and Efficiency | 7.0 | 2.5 | 9.5 |
Total Phase I Hours | 49.0 | 13.0 | 62.0 |