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
Insession 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