RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION PROPOSING URGENCY LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING ANY COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA THE OPTION TO CONDUCT THE
JUNE 6, 2006 GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION BY ALL MAIL BALLOT

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 USC 15301 et seq.) (HAVA) requires that the June 6, 2006 gubernatorial primary election be conducted so as to provide each polling place with at least one accessible voting machine that provides voters with disabilities the opportunity to cast their ballots independently and in secret; and

WHEREAS, San Mateo County’s current voting system is not in compliance with federal HAVA requirements and a full system replacement is planned upon successful state certification of voting equipment. However, only one voting device developed by one voting manufacturer in the United States has received certification for use in the upcoming 2006 California Gubernatorial Primary at this time; and

WHEREAS, delays beyond County’s control in the state certification process pose a serious risk of jeopardizing our ability to timely and responsibly purchase, install, test, and train staff, poll workers and voters on a new, compliant system before the nomination of candidates deadline of March 10, 2006 when ballot design commences; and

WHEREAS, the option to conduct an all mail election will comply with both federal and state laws, serve the needs of all voters and the preferences of most, and reduce election costs by one-third, while ensuring optimum integrity in the future rollout of the new voting system; and

WHEREAS, this County’s Chief Elections Official has presented to the Board proposed urgency legislation to authorize the County to conduct the June 6, 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election entirely by mail ballot rising from his concern for the integrity of the upcoming election.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors wholeheartedly endorses and supports the passage of urgency legislation to permit any county in California seeking the option to conduct the 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election by all mail ballot the option to do so.

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