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Registrar of Voters is recommending the Board give direction concerning the upcoming Statewide Special Election to be held on May 19, 2009. Approval of the following proposals is recommended:
1) Consolidate polling places as permitted by Elections Code 12241; and
2) Creating Vote by Mail precincts as specified in Elections Code 3005.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
Background: 1) The Registrar of Voters recommends consolidating polling places as allowed by Elections Code 12241. This code section relates to any Special Election. The Registrar estimates as many as 30 to 40 existing polling places may be consolidated throughout the county. The cost of opening a polling place for an election, conservatively speaking, is approximately $1,000.00 each.
2) The Registrar of Voters recommends following Elections Code 3005 which allows for changing those polling places which have 250 voters or less to a Vote by Mail precinct. This would apply to the Statewide Special Election on May 19, 2009 only, and means that those voters would be mailed a Vote by Mail ballot. Voters would also be furnished with the addresses of the two closest polling places, should they want to deposit their mail ballot at a polling place rather than returning it by mail.
Reason for Recommendation: If your Board approves these proposals for the Statewide Special Election on May 19, 2009, it is estimated that approximately $30-$40,000.00 would be saved by implementing option #1. Additional savings would also be realized with the implementation of recommendation #2; however, that calculation would have to be provided after the election. It is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars at this time. Should your Board decide not to approve these recommendations, the election will proceed as usual with approximately 106 polling places throughout the county.
Action to be taken following Board approval: The Registar of Voters will consolidate polling places an...
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