16-532. Instruction of election board inspectors and judges; certificate of qualification; optional training; instruction of counting center election officials

A. Not more than forty-five days before to an election the board of supervisors or other authority in charge of elections shall conduct a class for the instruction of inspectors and judges of the election board in their duties, which shall include instruction in the voting system to be used and the election laws applicable to such election. Each election board member receiving instructions and properly qualified shall receive a certificate of qualification. Only inspectors and judges of the election board who have received the required instruction class shall serve at any election, except as provided pursuant to sections 16-533 and 16-534. Other members of the election board may be trained at the same time.

B. The instructor of election board members shall be qualified in election law and shall have had practical experience in the election process such person is teaching.

C. The election authority in charge of the instructional classes may conduct multiple sessions to ensure that election board members receive adequate instruction.

D. The board of supervisors or other officer in charge of elections may approve an alternate method of instruction and testing for election board members. Each election board member who successfully completes the instruction shall be certified as a premium board worker. This instruction may include at least eight classroom hours of instruction and shall include a written examination on election law and election procedures. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, a certified premium board worker shall not be required to receive additional instruction for at least thirty months from the date of that worker's individual certification. The board of supervisors may approve additional compensation for certified premium board workers.

E. The board of supervisors or other authority in charge of elections may require additional training at any time for any or all election board workers, including premium board workers. The board of supervisors or other authority in charge of elections shall notify election board workers in writing of changes in the law regarding elections or changes in election procedures. This notification shall be made immediately preceding the election in which the statutory change or procedural change regarding election law becomes effective.

F. Not more than forty-five days prior to the day of an election, the board of supervisors or other authority in charge of elections shall conduct a class for the deputized counting center election officials in their duties.