HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07222003 - C.19 CONTRA
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ;
COSTA
FROM: Steve Weir, County Clerk-Recorde� — {`" %°
COUNTY
DATE: July 8, 2003
SUBJECT: Absentee Ballots Mandate
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT continuation of the State mandate on absentee ballots, including the obligation for local
reimbursements
BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S):
As part of the State's budget balancing efforts, the Governor has proposed eliminating numerous state mandates.
Elimination of the state requirement also eliminates the possibility of reimbursement for the activity.
Currently, the state mandates that local elections allow for absentee ballots. So far the State has deferred over $700,000
in reimbursements to Contra Costa County for absentee ballots activities. Nonetheless, the State is legally obligated to
reimburse the County for this activity at some point in time. Absentee ballots are the fastest growing voting mechanism
in both Contra Costa County and the State of California. 34% of those voting in the last election did so by absentee
ballot.
Absentee ballot voting is very expensive; upwards to a half a million dollars in a major election. Losing state
reimbursement, which pays for most of the cost, and having to continue to provide the service would result in a
tremendous burden on the Clerk-Recorder's budget.
Elimination of absentee ballots would provide budgetary relief, but would not be well received by the electorate. If the
State continued the mandate and deferred the obligation, with the deferral as part of the State Budget, it will allow the
County to borrow against that obligation until such a time as the County receives its absentee ballot mandate
reimbursement.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ®YES SIGNATURE:
-'`RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_,,-APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOA "`ry y , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED_OTHER
i.�
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT IST 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact:Steve Weir—646-2955
ATTESTED Ju1Y 22, 2003
cc: Clerk-Recorder JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF
CAO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORSO
County Lobbyist ?ND COUNY�1D ttlSTR
Legislative Delegation(via Lobbyist)
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