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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - ELECTION DATE CHANGE (2)AGENDA REPORT I y Manager pproval Item to be presented by: Donna Grinde UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: January 10, 1995 SUBJECT: ELECTION DATE CHANGE DEPARTMENT: City Clerk BACKGROUND At their meeting of November 8, 1994, Council continued this item for discussion. General Municipal Election dates have historically been set for the second Tuesday in April of even numbered years. Beginning in 1996, the State Legislature has moved the Presidential primary to the fourth Tuesday in March in any year divisible by four (March 26, 1996). The move of the Presidential Primary to March causes a conflict with the General Municipal Election held two weeks later in April, 1996. Most counties will be unable to loan voting booths, ballot boxes, and other equipment to cities; will not be able to verify signatures for nomination papers and/or petitions; we will not be able to verify signatures on absentee ballot applications; and the County may find it impossible to produce the street index and roster familiar to the election workers and voters. Elections Code Section 2601 was amended to allow general law cities holding elections the second Tuesday in April of even -numbered years, to enact an ordinance moving the date of the General Municipal Election to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of odd -numbered years. No term of office may be changed by more than 12 months.. An ordinance adopted prior to November, 1995, would change the election from April 9,'1996, to March 4, 1997, extending terms of approximately 11 months. Under the terms of Elections Code 2601, the election could not be changed to April, 1995 since terms would be decreased by 13 months. The attached matrix, provides five options listing the pros and cons of each option. If we do not change our election day, we will be faced with many obstacles as outlined in option #1, continuing with our April, 1996 election. Option #2, consolidating with County or school board elections, also lends to many obstacles, such as, needing the approval of the Board of Supervisors; County will acquire election workers, counting ballots, etc.; it will take longer Continued To: Agenda Item:, to get voting results as the County will count ballots; does not save money. Option #4, consolidating with primary elections has basically the same disadvantages as Option #2 and the Board of Supervisors has had a policy since 1987 to deny requests for consolidation with statewide elections in even -numbered years because of ballot and voting equipment limitations. Option#5, hold a special election, is too costly. Elections Code 36503.7 allows the Board of Supervisors to refuse approval of consolidation by general law or charter cities with the statewide primary election, statewide general election or the school board elections. Elections Code 2502 further authorizes Los Angeles County to deny requests for consolidation with Statewide elections involving a special election or permanent consolidation. Option #3, changing election date to March odd -numbered years, although it extends the Council term eleven months, lends little or no change to services offered by the County to the City and the confusion of the voters is less. As of this date, approximately 35 general law cities will move to March 1997 elections; 11 are undecided; 3 cities are retaining their April 1996 election date. RECOMMENDATION Staffs recommendation is Council discuss this item and approve Option #3 to move the date of the General Municipal Election from the second Tuesday in April of even -numbered years to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of odd -numbered years (March 4, 1997); and to direct the City Clerk to prepare an ordinance to move the election date and return to Council with the ordinance at the next meeting. ATTACHMENT Election Date Change Matrix agnrptelectchgAmg ELECTION DATE CHANGE mMONS MCC CONS 1; No date change. * No change -will not have * Less voter turnout due to Easter Hold the election within to notify voters of change vacation and the Presidential two weeks of primary * Voters know we have an primary two weeks prior to our elections. (April 9, 1996) April election elections * Must purchase our own voting booths ($70.00 ea/3 per precinct) and must purchase voting devices ($72.50 ea/3 per precinct) which may not be available through the County * Must purchase or use substitutes for other County equipment (i.e. ballot boxes, lights, cords) which may not be available through the County * Must have Martin and Chapman produce the street index and roster index from the County computer tape which is more expensive * Voter confusion as to which polling place to go to for each election since they will receive sample ballots from each agency within one month * Election workers will be confused as to which election they are working or as to whether or not they are working both elections * The nomination periods will overlap, thus creating more confusion * Election will be more expensive for the City * Voters may feel the Council decided to do this on their own * The City and County will be receiving absentee applications and absentee ballots during a common two week period. The voter may try to save money by sending both applications back in an envelope to either the City or County * Since Martin and Chapman are printing the County ballots and pamphlets two weeks earlier, there will be a conflict between the two elections regarding the printing and mailing of sample ballots and delivery of absentee ballots 2: Consolidating with * 'Less work for staff * County will acquire polling places School Board elections and election workers (November 14, 1995) * County will count ballots and process all absentee ballots * Lower voter turn -out with school district elections * Results from County are available approx. 5 hours or more after close of polls * May be more expensive * Higher cost for candidate statements * Needs Board of Supervisors approval * Will decrease Council term by 5 months 3: Change election date * Little, if any change, in * Extends City Council term eleven to the first Tuesday the election services months after the first Monday offered by the County or of March odd -numbered Martin & Chapman years (March 4, 1997) * .No confusion regarding election or polling places 4: Consolidate with * Less work for staff * Board's past history is to deny such primary elections requests (March 26, 1996) * Will take longer to get the results; approx. 5 hours or more after close of polls * Ballot is already too crowded * County will count ballots and process all absentee ballots * Higher costs for candidate statements * More confusion * May be more expensive 5: Hold a special * The possibility of no * Cost will be expensive--approx. an election to determine if adjustment to Council additional $50,000 or more for a voters want the election terms special election date changed * Less confusion ele A.tchg.dm