HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04071987 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Supervisor Nancy Fanden Contra
Costa
DATE: March 31, 1987 County
DELAYED MAILING OF SAMPLE BALLOTS
SUBJECT:
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
That James Olsson, County Clerk, investigate the complaint
of the CITIZENS FOR ORINDA SCHOOL TAX that ballots mailed to
Orinda residents prior to the recent special school tax
initiative election on March 3 , 1987 , were not received by
voters at least 10 days prior to the election.
That this report be brought back to the Board of Supervisors
no later than April 20, 1987 .
BACKGROUND:
CITIZENS FOR ORINDA SCHOOL TAX have written to James R.
Olsson, County Clerk, and the Postmaster, Orinda Post
Office, for an explanation as to why the mailing of sample
ballots were delayed:
One concern expressed was the deadline for receipt of
absentee ballot requests was Tuesday, February 24th. Many
residents didn' t received their ballots until February 24th
or 25th. Other residents never received their ballots.
It was their understanding that there is a law that states
sample ballots must be received by voters at least 10 days
prior to an election. Therefore, what is the penalty if
this law is not followed?
Copies of their letters were sent to:
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Congressman Ronald Dellums
Assemblyman William P. Baker
State Senator Nicholas Petris
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER .
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON April 7, 1987 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Elections Department ATTESTED 7. /F97
County Clerk Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
County Administrator — _ Sbijcrv4orsand_County-gd1(#irygr.*+.
M382/7-83 BY 0 zm� ' DEPUTY
26 orindo wou orindo • colifornio 94563 415 . 254-3900
March 17, 1987
---�LL-;Q-{,y�';• gipp:
Congressman Ronald Dellums
3557 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA 94549
Dear Congressman Dellums:
The Orinda City Council has received information about
our postal service which is very disheartening because
it bears directly upon our most important liberty, the
right to vote. We hope that your office may be able to
assist in preventing a reoccurrence of similar threats
to our democratic rights in the future.
On March' 3, 1987, a special election' ordered by the
Orinda Union School District was held to determine
whether a special parcel tax should be assessed to
support the district' s educational programs. The County
Elections Supervisor, who conducts all consolidated
elections, has advised the City and the District that
sample ballots were delivered to the post office in a
timely manner. However, an apparent. delay in postal
delivery caused more than 1,700 sample ballots to be
delivered after the date upon which absentee ballots
could be submitted, thus rendering the absentee ballot
process ineffective. This delay and resulting
disenfranchisement is unacceptable, and we hope that
your office may conduct such investigations as are
necessary to assure that this does not occur again.
Thank you for your assistance in this very important
matter.
Sincerely,
os ph M. arb
Mayor DISTRn urio,
JMH/TS:mw Board Members
..L County Admintg:ror
CC: Orinda Union School District fiaa::� ServiceS
Contra Costa Board of Supervisors ` Community Development
Public,Works
�-•. County Counsel
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