REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Robin Estanislau, CMC, City Clerk
PREPARED BY: Robin Estanislau, CMC, City Clerk
Subject:
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Approve and authorize execution of Vote Center Facility Use Agreements with the County of Orange for use of the Huntington Beach Civic Center, Huntington Beach Central Library, Main Street Branch Library, Edison Community Center and Rodgers Senior Outreach Center as four or eleven-day Vote Centers for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election
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Statement of Issue:
California Senate Bill 450, aka the California Voter’s Choice Act passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2016 authorizes counties to conduct all-mailed ballot elections if the jurisdiction can meet certain criteria. The Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is in the process of transitioning to this new model of voting, and is seeking approval to use certain City facilities as four or eleven-day Vote Centers for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election.
Financial Impact: Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Orange County Registrar of Voters “Vote Center Facility Use Agreements” approved as to form by the City Attorney on the following sites:
A) Huntington Beach Civic Center, Meeting Room B-7, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
B) Huntington Beach Central Library, Rooms C/D, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 22, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (11-day Vote Center); and,
C) Main Street Branch Library, Blue Room, 525 Main Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
D) Edison Community Center, Studio, 21377 Magnolia Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2010, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
E) Rodgers Senior Outreach Center, Auditorium, 1706 Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 22, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (11-day Vote Center).
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Alternative Action(s): Deny the request.
Analysis:
The California Voter’s Choice Act passed in 2016 allows counties to conduct all-mailed ballot elections to provide greater flexibility and convenience for voters - elections will no longer be a one-day event. In February 2019, the County Board of Supervisors voted to enact the Voter’s Choice Act. Starting in 2020, all voters in Orange County will receive a vote-by-mail ballot and can choose to: 1) return their ballot by mail (postage-free) through the United States Postal Service; 2) drop their ballot in an official and secure Ballot Drop Box; or, deliver their ballot to any four or eleven-day Vote Center within the County.
Benefits of Vote Centers
Vote Centers are designed to improve the voter experience. While polling places have been a mainstay of voting for many years, the use of them has dropped dramatically in the past 20 years. Voters have gravitated towards more convenience, choosing instead to receive a vote-by-mail ballot and in many instances drop it off at a polling place, rather than vote in-person. Vote Centers adapt to these changes and offer many more conveniences.
Features Traditional Polling Place Vote Center
Electronic voting system X X
Drop off ballot at any site X X
Disabled access voting X X
Ballot on-demand X
Electronic secure check-in X
Provisional ballots nearly eliminated X
Trained employees X
Vote at any location X
Multi-day voting X
Reduced costs X
To implement the new elections model, Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley and staff began working with local government agencies in mid-2019 to assess and secure potential sites suitable to serve as four or eleven-day Vote Centers, or Ballot Drop Box locations. Site selection considerations included:
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to public transportation
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to communities with historically low vote by mail usage
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to population centers
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to language minority communities
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to voters with disabilities
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to communities with low rates of household vehicle ownership
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to low-income communities
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to communities of eligible voters who are not registered to vote and may need access to same day voter registration
• Vote center and ballot drop box location proximity to geographically isolated populations, including Native American reservations
• Access to accessible and free parking at vote centers and ballot drop box locations
• The distance and time a voter must travel by car or public transportation to a vote center and ballot drop box location
• The need for alternate methods for voters with disabilities for whom vote-by-mail ballots are not accessible to cast a ballot
• Traffic patterns near vote centers and ballot drop box locations
• The need for mobile vote centers in addition to the number of vote centers established pursuant to this section
• Room size and location
• Facility availability for multiple days and extended hours, including weekends
The City Clerk, Director of Community Services and Director of Library Services worked with ROV representatives in the site selection process. In early October, the ROV provided a communication that requested specific site use for Vote Center purposes. Department Directors provided preliminary approval for use of the requested sites (Vote Center Facility Use Agreements, attached), and the Agreements were approved as to form by the City Attorney.
Voter registration data used by the County to determine the required number of four and eleven-day Vote Centers in Huntington Beach is provided as Attachment 6.
Environmental Status: Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal: Non-Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Vote Center Facility Use Agreement - Huntington Beach Civic Center, Meeting Room B-7, 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
2. Vote Center Facility Use Agreement - Huntington Beach Central Library, Rooms C/D, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 22, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (11-day Vote Center); and,
3. Vote Center Facility Use Agreement - Main Street Branch Library, Blue Room, 525 Main Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
4. Vote Center Facility Use Agreement - Edison Community Center, Studio, 21377 Magnolia Street, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 29, 2010, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (4-day Vote Center); and,
5. Vote Center Facility Use Agreement - Rodgers Senior Outreach Center, Auditorium, 1706 Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach from Saturday, February 22, 2020, through Tuesday, March 3, 2020, (11-day Vote Center).
6. Voter Registration Data