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VAAC Committee Meeting Report From January 31, 2017

Lynda Roberts, Registrar of Voters, Elections

VAAC committee report from January 31, 2017, meeting

Elections in 2016

May 3: Larkspur Corte Madera School District Special Vote-by-Mail Election

  • Registered voters: 9,093
  • Cards Cast: 3,963 (43.58% turnout)

June 7: Presidential Primary Election

  • Total Voters: 103,012 (67.75% turnout)
  • VBM Voters: 71,725 (47.18% turnout)
  • Poll Voters: 31,287 (20.57% turnout)
  • 161 voting precincts
  • 93 polling places: 60 accessible and 33 inaccessible
  • 704 Election Day workers

November 8: Presidential General Election

  • Total Voters: 143,041 (88.96% turnout)
  • VBM Voters: 100,442 (62.47% turnout)
  • Poll Voters: 42,599 (26.49% turnout)
  • 161 voting precincts
  • 92 polling places: 58 accessible and 34 inaccessible
  • 748 Election Day workers

New polling places

Whistlestop replaced the San Rafael Corporate Center, which was accessible.
This location is considered inaccessible due to the path of travel from the parking to the voting room—the sidewalk cross slope is 3% and three pavement cracks are greater than ½ inch.
Mitigation: Accessible route signage, Braille sign, and parking attendant

San Rafael High School replaced San Rafael Fire Station #52, which was inaccessible.
This new location is considered inaccessible since there is no designated path of travel from the street to the voting room, and people must enter through a driveway with a speed bump that has a 7.8 % slope.
Mitigation: Braille sign, parking attendant

These new places requested a parking lot attendant so the department included a metal ballot box with the attendant to make vote-by-mail ballot drop off more convenient.

Groups physically looking at polling places

  • Poll watchers (both elections)
  • Exit polls (Corte Madera Recreation Center and United Methodist Church)
  • Secretary of State observers (also audited training)
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice—this group has encouraged recruitment of more bilingual poll workers

Elections Department increased efforts

  • Included sensitivity training at poll worker class
  • Added Procedures for Selecting Polling Places to website
  • Added phone number to Vote Here curb sign for those who need to call for assistance
  • Printed Disability Rights California hotline in Voter Information Pamphlet, Access & Language Needs page
  • Included rovers in pre-election testing of Automark machines
  • Provided CD recordings of local ballot measures and state propositions
  • Included recordings of local measures on the website

Number of voters using Automark accessible voting device

June 7 Presidential Primary Election, Automarks used at the following locations:

  • Lincoln Hill
  • San Rafael Corporate Center
  • Masonic Lodge
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (9 ballots)
  • Aegis of Corte Madera
  • Novato Fire Station #63

A total of 14 Automark ballots were voted. However, the high number at Mt. Carmel was probably due to poll worker error (giving voters the Automark ballot instead of the regular ballot).

November 8 Presidential General Election, Automarks used at the following locations:

  • Lincoln Hill
  • San Rafael High School
  • Whistlestop
  • United Methodist Church

A total of 4 Automark ballots were voted.