Title
Registrar of Voters recommending the Board approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5157 requiring elected officers, candidates and committees to file campaign statements electronically. (Cont. 1/4/2022, Item 32)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On January 4, 2022 the Board approved the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5157 requiring elected officers, candidates and committees to file campaign statements electronically.
On June 8, 2021 the Board approved the concept of requiring elected officers, candidates and committees to file campaign statements electronically (file #21-0809). In accordance with the County Charter, requiring electronic filing of elected officers, candidates and committees to file campaign statement electronically must be enacted by ordinance.
The El Dorado County Elections Department processes all campaign statements required under the Political Reform Act, making them available to the public upon request. Currently, these requests are fulfilled manually, available for pick up at the Elections Department, or emailed to the requesting party.
In 2020, the Department received 297 Campaign Statement Filings. Public requests for copies most frequently are for all filings for a given election or year.
On September 28, 2020, the Governor approved AB 2151, adding Section 84616 to the Government Code relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974, requiring all Campaign Statement Filings to be posted online within 72 hours of receipt, with the redaction of street name and building number of the persons or entity representatives listed on any statement, report or document, or bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer.
It is recommended that an ordinance be enacted requiring elected officers, candidates, and committees to file campaign statements in electronically, thus providing the most efficient method to comply with AB 2151. The system needed to accommodate electronic filing and redaction of information listed above is already in place in El Dorado County under contract number 4052. The Department cannot enable the module required for electronic format filings without an ordinance being enacted.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline this recommendation, the Elections Department will add resources during our most critical period to redact the required sections, scan and post online manually.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Conceptual approval June 8, 2021 (file #21-0809)
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There will be no additional expense related to enacting this ordinance as the required module is included in the County’s contract with Granicus #4052. Implementation of electronic filings will create greater efficiency within the Elections Department during our busiest times.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Linda Webster, Assistant Registrar of Voters