Advisory Committee 2013 Annual Report

Marin County Registrar of Voters’ Election Advisory Committee
Annual Report for 2013

Elaine Ginnold, Marin County Registrar of Voters
Marin Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 121,
San Rafael, CA 94903 • (415) 473-6456 • General email

Download a PDF version of the Election Advisory Committee Annual Report for 2013

Introduction

The Marin County Registrar of Voters formed the Election Advisory Committee of Voters in July 2006. Its purpose is to provide advice and recommendations to the Registrar of Voters on voter participation and election integrity issues in Marin County. The Advisory Committee advocates for all voters:

• The Committee provides a link between the voting public and the Registrar of Voters.
• The Committee advises the Registrar of Voters to ensure that every voter has the opportunity to vote knowledgeably, safely and effectively.

This Annual Report includes Committee recommendations and actions taken by the Elections Department from January 1, 2013-December 31, 2013. The period covered in this report includes the following four elections in 2013: May 7 Special Vote By Mail Election, June 4 Special Election, August 27 Special Vote by Mail Election and November 5 Uniform District Election.

The Registrar of Voters thanks Election Advisory Committee members for their dedication to improving the election process in Marin County and for its valuable feedback to the Elections Office in 2013. Through its recommendations and feedback, the Election Advisory Committee has enhanced the election process for the benefit of all voters in Marin County.

The public is welcome to attend Advisory Committee meetings, which take place on the third Friday of most months, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in room 324A of the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. In January, the Election Department posts the Committee’s annual meeting schedule. A membership application is also on the website. For more information about the Election Advisory Committee, please contact Elaine Ginnold, Registrar of Voters or call (415) 473-6401.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2013

Voter Outreach and Education

• May 7, 2013 vote by mail election
  The May 7, 2013 Vote by Mail Election, with 55,000 voters and a turnout of 39.43%, was the largest all mail election ever conducted in the county. The election included measures to consolidate for four sewer districts and parcel taxes for both the San Rafael High School and Elementary School Districts. Elections staff and the San Rafael City Clerk monitored drop boxes for vote by mail ballots at the Mill Valley Community Center and at San Rafael City Hall.
• June 4, 2013 Special Election
  Piloted a wireless e-roster at the two polling places used in this election.
• November 5, 2013 Uniform District Election
  This election had 151,308 registered voters with turnout of 57,172 voters (37.76%); 78% voted by mail and 22% voted at the polls. The County participated in Voter Registration Day on September 19.
• Residential Care Facility Outreach
  Implemented a program in cooperation with UC Berkeley to take registration and voting to residential care facilities before the November 5, 2013 election. A team of two election staff visited 17 facilities and registered 90 voters. They delivered voter registration forms and ballots and assisted residents when requested.
• High School Government Teacher Outreach
  Mailed voter registration forms and information about online voter registration to all high school government teachers before the November 2013 election. The Registrar visited Tomales High School and conducted a hands-on demonstration of registering and voting.
• Trained all staff on writing in plain English to provide election information that is clear to voters.

Voter information review

The Election Advisory Committee reviewed and provided suggestions to clarify the language in many of the Department’s written communications to voters, including the Summary of Results; the Notice to Voters who had not voted in the past two federal general elections; letter to participants in the survey of voters with disabilities; vote by mail instructions; and role playing exercises for poll worker training classes.

Poll worker recruitment/training

541 Marin citizens volunteered to work at the polls in the November 5, 2013 election. All precinct boards were fully staffed on Election Day. The Department recruited 10 high school students to work as Clerks at the polls. Assigned Rovers to train poll workers on the Automark during their Election Day rounds for the November 5, 2013 General District Election.

Website

With the Information Technology Services Department, redesigned the Elections website to offer more voter self-service options. In 2014, voters will be able to apply for a mail ballot online and can get their Voter Information Pamphlet online at www.marinvotes.org. Developed a new mobile app for voters to get election information including sample ballot and polling place location. Added a new service for elected officials and designated employees of the county, schools and special districts to fill out their Conflict of Interest Forms online.

Vote by Mail

In fall 2013, Professor Elizabeth Bergman conducted a survey of Marin residents who are eligible to vote to learn why voters with disabilities are not using the accessible AutoMark voting device at the polls and to find out if there are barriers to voting for Marin voters with disabilities. The survey showed that Marin voters with disabilities prefer to vote by mail rather than at the polls on accessible voting equipment and turn out to vote at the high rate of 92%.

Election integrity

The Elections Department used the formulas in the 2012 PEW Charitable Trust study of Election Administration to report on the performance of the November 2012 General Election. In January of 2014 the Committee heard a presentation on proportional voting by Steve Chessin, President of California for Electoral Reform.

Members of the Election Advisory Committee come from different cities and towns in Marin County and belong to different political parties. They have diverse backgrounds in business, politics, academics, labor, law, government and non-profit organizations, and possess different points of views about elections issues. They share an interest in transparent, fair, and honest elections and in making sure that all voters have the opportunity to register and vote.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES REPORT FOR 2013

Goal I: Voter Outreach and Education

Identify and eliminate barriers to registration and voting to maintain Marin County’s current high level of voter participation. Focus on young, low income and minority language voters because research suggests that these populations need more education on the mechanics of registration and voting (ROV survey of non-voters, 2012).

Goal 2: Poll worker recruiting and training

Implement poll worker recruiting methods that maintain current high level of poll worker participation. Continually review and update poll worker training methods and materials.

Goal 3: Communication

Continue to review and update the website to improve services to the public.

Goal 4: Election Integrity and Voter Confidence

Identify methods and practices that enhance the integrity of the voting process and increase voter confidence.