K&H Election Services Process Control

K&H has well established processes and controls in the management of customer data and personalized mail assembly. In addition, we are currently in the process of completing a SAS70 Type II review and certification audit.

Integral to K&H process control are the array of line scan cameras, camera/optical scanners and the leading edge image analysis programs in place throughout our facilities. These include systems from industry leaders such as Lake Image Systems, Bowe, Bell & Howell and Micro Scan Systems, Inc. as well as proprietary systems developed by our in-house programming resources. Each pocket of our inserting equipment is fitted with a camera and/or scanner; not only to match pieces to a specific record, but also to confirm the use of correct mail piece components (e.g. versioned inserts).

The data to delivery difference

tony_computerK&H is driven by a commitment to integrity, vision, perseverance, perfect and timely. This commitment influences our approach to ballot printing and mailing, resulting in timely and accurate election services.

During its more than 100 years of business, K&H has never experienced production impairment affecting customer deliveries, including "Force Majeure."

K&H has direct experience in producing Precinct, Vote-by-Mail, Test, Duplicate, Provisional and other ballots as well as the application of ballot information, unique from one ballot to the next, including numbering schemes and precinct identification.

By printing digitally, we only print the ballots as required by the extract of by-mail voter information. Our process allows for the daily, "on-demand" processing of updated by-mail voter information, production of by-mail balloting materials and distribution to the requesting voter, for reduced in-house handling of by-mail balloting materials.

To assure "Zero Defect" execution of job specifications, K&H has documented and proprietary protocols and processes in place throughout the manufacturing and mailing of ballots.

Our production protocols begin when we receive the voter extract. During the initial data processing, we establish production tracking of balloting materials for each voter throughout the process, providing an auditable record as to what was sent to each voter and when. A typical production audit report will include:

• Voter ID (captured from ballot return envelope)
• Precinct type (captured from ballot)
• Sequence in assembly (captured from ballot return envelope)
• Time stamp (captured from mail-assembly machine)
• ID's for inserts assembled with package
• ID's for envelopes used in assembly
• Intelligent Mail Barcode number

Each official return envelope is marked with a unique numbering system that is both human and machine readable. Each ballot stub is also marked using a similar scheme. By using these markings we are able to monitor the assembly with optical scanners. Should the system read any anomaly it will stop immediately and notify the operator where in the process the error occurred. This assures an exact match of voter to ballot.

Our "on-demand" production capabilities allow for each ballot face to be produced and tested before it is committed to production. This one very simple step significantly improves the efficiency and reliability of election-day ballot scanning.

From the extract of by-mail voter information, our processing produces a print stream that marks the corners of each return envelope with the voter's precinct. Using these markings, counties can manually sort daily inbound mail in a very short period of time.

K&H protocols provide an auditable "Chain of Custody" for balloting materials. Because K&H performs all ballot printing and mail assembly under one roof, balloting materials are shipped directly to you or USPS, instead of subcontracting to another building or vendor.

Does the timeliness and accuracy of our data-to-delivery approach appeal to you? Then let's talk about how K&H Election Services can make your elections run smoothly.