HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02251986 - 1.42 To, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
Contra
February 19, 1986 Costa
DATE: C "J
SUBJECT: Legislation: AB 2737 (Klebs)
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION•
Adopt a position of opposition to AB 2737 by Assemblyman Klehs as
introduced on January 22, 1986 unless the bill is amended to
allow the Board of Supervisors to deny consolidation of the
election with the statewide general election in instances where
the length of the ballot as a result of the consolidation would,
in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors, create delays at
polling places despite the fact that the ballot style, voting
equipment, or computer capacity could handle the consolidation
from a technical viewpoint.
BACKGROUND:
Assemblyman Klehs has introduced AB 2737 . AB 2737 would allow
the governing board of a special district to consolidate its
election for governing board members with the statewide general
election in November of even-numbered years. The only basis for
denying the consolidation of the election would be if the Board
of Supervisors finds "that the ballot style, voting equipment, or
computer capacity is such that additional elections cannot be
handled. "
The voting equipment used by Contra Costa County theoretically
has no maximum capacity. When a long ballot occurs, extra voting
cards are added. Additional cards could be used in case one or
more special districts were to consolidate their election with
the statewide general election. However, as the Board is aware,
adding additional voting cards has the practical consequence of
slowing down voting and causing lines at polling places that
have, in some instances, discouraged voters from voting. As
presently written, there is no way for the Board of Supervisors
to deny the consolidation of the election of the many independent
special districts in the County with the statewide general
election.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; _ YES SIGNATURE:
X RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
X APPROVE OTHER
S I GNATURE I S): a�,41Z/i&
ACTION OF BOARD ON February 25, 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT } AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
County Administrator ATTESTED
cc. County Counsel "►-
Elections Supervisor PHIL BATCHELOR, CL RK OF THE BOARD OF
Assemblyman Johan Klehs SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Jackson/Barish & Associates
M382/7-83 BY �`��� DEPUTY
Page 2
We believe the Board should be able to deny consolidation in
cases where, in the Board' s opinion, such consplidation would
create an unduly long ballot which might cause unnecessarily long
lines at polling places.
We, therefore, recommend that the Board oppose AB 2737 as written
and authorize the County Administrator, Elections Supervisor, and
the County' s contract lobbyist to work with Assemblyman Klehs to
modify the language of AB 2737 as recommended above.