They are already open to the public on a drop-in basis. But should the Arlington Electoral Board’s “canvass” that follows elections be open to a broader audience, as well?
One of the three Arlington Electoral Board members at least wants the question considered.
At the April 11 board meeting, vice chair Dominick Schirripa asked staff to determine if there is the opportunity to live-cast the canvass process, which follows after an election is concluded and before results are formally certified.
“The canvass is a public meeting,” Schirripa said, asking staff to “see if we can have the public Zoom in and watch the excitement that happens.”
(“Excitement” was somewhat tongue-in-cheek.)
The county’s elections director, Gretchen Reinemeyer, said there were logistical challenges. The room where the canvass takes place in the county-government headquarters is not wired to provide a video feed, as several other areas are.
“I haven’t figured out how to do that yet,” Reinemeyer said.
Schirripa initially proposed getting a plan in place for the June 18 state primary, but took a step back as the discussion moved on.
“It would be great if we could figure that out by November if not by June,” he said.
Those who couldn’t come view the process in person are “not going to get the full experience, but they get to see what we’re doing,” Schirripa said.
The canvass for the June 18 primary is set for June 19, 20 and 22. The results will then be certified to the Virginia Department of Elections.
While most of the canvass process is by law open to the public, the Electoral Board’s discussion of provisional ballots is conducted out of view of the public.
