COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Assessor – County Clerk – Recorder

Registration – Elections Division

DATE:

August 24, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

Sept. 13, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

SUBJECT:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICE TO RENDER SPECIFIED ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE SAN MATEO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, LA HONDA-PESCADERO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, BELMONT-REDWOOD SHORES SCHOOL DISTRICT, WOODSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAN CARLOS SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY OF BELMONT, CITY OF BRISBANE, CITY OF BURLINGAME, CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO, CITY OF FOSTER CITY, CITY OF HALF MOON BAY, CITY OF MILLBRAE, TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY, CITY OF REDWOOD CITY, CITY OF SAN BRUNO, CITY OF SAN CARLOS, CITY OF SAN MATEO, AND THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL STATEWIDE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2005.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Chief Elections Officer to render specified election services to the San Mateo Community College District, La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, Woodside School District, San Carlos School District, City of Belmont, City of Brisbane, City of Burlingame, City of East Palo Alto, City of Foster City, City of Half Moon Bay, City of Millbrae, Town of Portola Valley, City of Redwood City, City of San Bruno, City of San Carlos, City of San Mateo, and the City of South San Francisco.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Providing our diverse population an opportunity to become civically engaged via an elections process that requires collaborative efforts between various levels of governance in San Mateo County

Goal(s): Goals 1, 2, and 22: Elections are an integral part of our social and civic fiber. All stakeholders, including the diverse population of the many cities and districts on the ballot, the legislative bodies of these jurisdictions, proponents, opponents, and the Elections division must participate and collaborate in order for a robust public debate to manifest itself in a fair and impartial election.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2004-05 Projected

Percent of Voters that vote on 11/8/05

27.23%

Number of registered voters in San Mateo County

355,000

The mean turnout percentage for the last two UDEL elections is 25.93%. A 5% increase over that number in the turnout would be an optimistic goal due to the traditionally low turnout rates for district elections in the odd-numbered years.

The number of registered voters is currently 357,279. The Elections Office is in the midst of a voter verification process that may further reduce the number of voters on the rolls even though new registrations are being added to the rolls every day. With several thousand more Voter Verification Cards yet to be processed, the goal is to remain above 355,000 registered voters for the November 8, 2005 election.

BACKGROUND:

According to Elections Code §10002, the governing body of any city or district may request the Board of Supervisors of the County to permit the County Elections Official to render specified services to the city or district relating to the conduct of an election. Subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors, these services shall be performed by the Chief Elections Officer.

DISCUSSION:

In accordance with State Law, resolutions were filed by the above named districts requesting the Chief Elections Officer to perform specified election services in conjunction with the Consolidated Special Statewide Election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2005. In addition to these resolutions, the Chief Elections Officer will provide election services for School Districts and Special Districts holding Governing Board and Board of Directors elections as required by the Election Code.

It is in order for your Honorable Board to authorize the Chief Elections Officer to render specified election services for the above districts. We respectfully request that our recommendation be approved.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The County Elections Office will be reimbursed for all elections costs incurred on behalf of the above named districts. There is no fiscal impact.