TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file report on precincts and poll locations for the May 1, 2007 Special Municipal Election.
DISCUSSION
As you are well aware, the May 1 Special Election is coming up, and the City Clerk Department has been busy preparing for it. One of our highest priorities is securing the necessary poll locations for the Election and ensuring that voters know where to vote, if they do not choose to vote absentee. This memorandum serves to update you with precinct and poll location information for Election Day.
For the May 1 Special Election we have a total of 167 consolidated precincts. While there are more precincts within the City of Long Beach in regular statewide elections (such as the June 2006 election), the Elections Code allows us to consolidate those precincts for municipal and special elections. Our number of consolidated precincts allows us to maintain a high level of convenience for voters while incurring the cost savings to the City that consolidation allows.
Of our 167 consolidated precincts, four are "mail only" precincts. These precincts have such a small number of voters that voting is conducted entirely by absentee voting, as permitted under Elections Code ยง 3005. Of the other 163 precincts, 143 have their own poll location, while 20 share a poll location with an adjacent precinct (a "Neighborhood Voting Center"). A map showing all of the poll locations throughout the City is available in the City Clerk Department.
Due to printing deadlines presented by the shortened election cycle for the May 1 Special Election, many of the polling locations were either unavailable at the time the sample ballots were processed or have since changed. Thus, our Department is currently designing voter notification cards to mail out to voters affected by new or changed poll locations. These notifications will be full color postcards informing the voter of the correct poll location. In addition, for those poll locations that have changed, notices will be posted at the former poll sites, informing voters of the change and the new location.
Finally, it is worth reiterating that the City of Long Beach is committed to making its elections as accessible as possible, and to that end we will continue to make reasonable accommodations to the disabled. For disabled voters who are unable to enter a poll location, roadside voting is available, in which a poll worker will go out and assist the voter outside of the polling place.
Additionally, assistance is available inside our polls for any disabled voter who requests it.
My Department continues to seek ways to make our elections more accessible to the public while saving money for our taxpayers. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any suggestions or questions you may have.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
None
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact of this action
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larry Herrera, City Clerk
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APPROVED: |
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GERALD R. MILLER |
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CITY MANAGER |