San Rafael, CA – Public review was a key element when Marin County adopted the California Voter’s Choice Act, which modernized elections and increased choices in voting. The Marin County Elections Department is soliciting feedback and planning for a July 20 virtual public meeting to consider revisions to its election administration plan.
The Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), also known as Senate Bill 450, was adopted by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in May 2021 and implemented by the Elections Department in time for the 2022 election cycle. The VCA allows a county to conduct all elections with vote-by-mail results and replaces neighborhood polling places with regional vote centers. With VCA implemented in Marin, the regional vote centers are open several days prior to Election Day and secure ballot drop boxes are placed throughout the county starting 28 days before Election Day. Unlike with polling places, voters may visit any regional vote center for services. More details are on the Elections website.
Now two years into the change, Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts has opened public review of the draft election administration plan and is accepting comments through July 20. The draft plan describes voting options and voter services, voting technology, security, outreach and education, and the process of selecting ballot drop box and vote center locations.
Written comments may be submitted by email or mailed to Registrar of Voters, P.O. Box E, San Rafael, CA 94913. Comments in person can be contributed during the virtual meeting scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 20. More information about the meeting will be available soon on the Elections Department homepage. Interpretation services will be provided at the meeting in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and American Sign Language. Following the public comment period, the draft plan may be amended to reflect public input.
Once final, the plan will be submitted to the California Secretary of State’s Office, which must review and approve the outreach and education portion of the plan.