HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04222014 - C.117RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE an adjustment to the stipends for volunteer poll workers and volunteer election
workers in the Elections Division of the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department:
CLERKS INSPECTORS ROVERS DEPOT
CAPTAINS
DEPOT
LABORERS
VBM/ELECTION
WORKERS
Proposed $125 $230 $400 $75 $50 $75
Current $100 $145 $500-600 hourly hourly hourly
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total increase in estimated cost for the remainder of 2014 is $4,310, and is funded within the current Election
Division budget (General Fund). A portion of the cost for volunteer poll workers and election workers will be
reimbursed by local agencies.
BACKGROUND:
The Elections Division continues to face difficulties recruiting a sufficient number of competent and responsible poll
workers. Contra Costa County continues to have the lowest poll worker stipend in the Bay Area. Since the last update
to poll worker and volunteer stipends in 2006, our volunteers are required to perform additional responsibilities as the
procedures and tasks have evolved. These responsibilities include setting up, running, and troubleshooting the
specialized equipment, as well as continuing to perform the existing Election Day processes surrounding
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/22/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Scott Konopasek,
335-7808
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 22, 2014
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.117
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Joseph E. Canciamilla, Clerk-Recorder
Date:April 22, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:ADJUSTMENT TO ELECTION WORKER STIPENDS
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
the conduct of the election. The Department has also received additional federal and State mandates related to the
Americans With Disabilities Act, language, and reporting requirements.
The California Election Code has changed the qualifications for service as a poll workers; previously, poll
workers had to be registered voters in the county in which they served but the law now permits poll workers to
serve anywhere, as long as they are a registered voter in the State. Poll workers can now shop and compare the
compensation for their services and we do not want to be at a disadvantage with neighboring counties. It is
difficult to recruit and retain quality poll workers for each election. The quality of the voting experience increases
and the occurrence of errors and problems diminishes when well-trained poll workers consistently serve at the
polls. The departments goal is to develop a group of loyal, responsible, and trained poll workers that will come
back to work for us at each election.
The category of election volunteer has been expanded to include Depot Captains, Depot Laborers, and Vote by
Mail Workers, who will work minimum six hour increments to perform other election related functions, such as
preparing vote-by-mail ballots for counting, performing audits and recounts during the official canvass, as well as
those volunteering on Election Night. These types of one day assignments occur prior to Election Day (preparing
vote-by-mail ballots for counting) and may continue through the canvass and recount period (audit, recounts).
Previously, these positions were County Seasonal Clerks that were paid as employees for just a few hours. The
limited number of hours each person works makes stipends more cost effective for hiring and administering the
volunteers. County employees, who are not temporary or permanent employees of the Elections division, are
eligible to be Vote-by-Mail Election workers provided they volunteer and work on their personal time. Election
division employees performing the same or similar tasks are not eligible for the stipend and will be paid their
regular wage, including overtime as appropriate.
The proposed adjustment includes an increase in the stipends for Clerks and Inspectors, and a decrease for Rovers
(with no reimbursement for mileage), and the addition of a category of stipends for election volunteers (Depot
Captains, Depot Laborers, Vote-by-Mail Election Workers, which would align Contra Costa County with
neighboring counties.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve the stipends will hinder the department's efforts to retain the best performing and trained poll
and election workers.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS
2006 Stipend Order
2014 Stipends
2014 Poll Workers Stipend Increase and Depot Workers Rate Proposal
CLERKS INSPECTORS ROVERS
DEPOT
CAPTAINS
DEPOT
LABORERS
VBM/
Election
Workers
Proposed $125.00 $230.00 $400.00 $75.00 $50.00 $75.00
Current $100.00 $145.00 $500-600 hourly hourly hourly