HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-17 PACKET 08.C.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 10/17/201
PREPARED BY City Clerk Caron Stransky
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST:
Consider adopting a resolution opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the
voting rights of Minnesotans and create an unfunded mandate for local governments to
scrutinize voter identity at polling places, and encourage Minnesota voters to vote "no" on the
proposed constitutional amendment.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution and encourage Minnesota voters to vote "no" on the proposed
constitutional amendment regarding voter ID.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
® MEMO /LETTER: Memo from Caron Stransky.
® RESOLUTION: Draft.
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
® OTHER: Attachments.
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
- L tity Administrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
Document4
r�
COTTAGE GROVE
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Caron Stransky, City Clerk
Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
Date: October 10, 2012
Subject: Resolution Opposing Voter ID Constitutional Amendment
The right to vote is fundamental to democracy in America. The high level of accuracy and integrity of the
election system in Minnesota has been confirmed by statewide recounts in 2008 and 2010.
The Minnesota Legislature has placed a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to restrict the
voting rights of all Minnesotans by mandating possession of a government- issued document to vote. The
cost of purchasing and deploying electronic pollbooks, which election judges would use to verify the
voters' identity documents, amounts to more than $25 million statewide.
The proposed amendment has been alleged to disenfranchise Minnesotans serving in the armed services or
residing overseas by requiring those voters to find government officials to certify their absentee ballots, and
could disenfranchise students and seniors who do not have government- issued photo identification
documents. There is no money or mechanism in the amendment for the state or local governments to
produce alternate government issued IDs.
There are significant concerns that the costs of implementing the provisions of the proposed amendment
could fall on local governments and would create a huge unfunded mandate for cities and counties. The
proposed amendment would effectively end same day registration as we know it and replace it with a
provisional ballot system where voters would have to return later with a government- issued ID in order for
their votes to count at all, and only 13% of the provisional ballots cast in Indiana were counted in 2008
after they implemented a similar law. A cost breakdown of what we estimate it would cost the City of
Cottage Grove based on a 10 -day verification period is attached. We estimate that it would cost anywhere
from $18,348 to $35,934 for training, to purchase ballot boxes, pollbooks or laptops, and for the cost to
process post election provisional ballots.
Action Requested
1. Adopt resolution opposing the proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the voting rights of
Minnesotans and create an unfunded mandate for local governments by mandating government -
issued documents as a condition for voting.
2. Encourage Minnesota voters to vote "no" on the proposed constitutional amendment at the
November 6, 2012 State General Election.
O1
N
C
N
Q
X
W
C
v
0
O
CL
v
O
I
O
N
41
tLo
c
C
L
O
0)
O_
_h
v
41
O
C
O
r�
O
^,
a
C
O
�r
U
4�
T �
V
0
G
O
N
N
N
fu
0)
N
O
0
t0
V
M
O
0
Ln
LD
O
N
O
0
0
O
h
N
O
0
0
It
i�
M
O
0
0
N
N
O
0
0
N
O
0
6
0
O
0
6
O
ti
N
O
0
U/
i
r
Lr
O
0
N't
d'
N
O
0
M
01
Lf
m
O
0
O
d'
d'
O
0
li
m
Ol
to
m
O
0
O
0
d'
N
m
O
h-
T
(0
Q
O
H
O
O
O
7 Ej
v
N
>
>
O
o
00
C5
L
\
lD
N
L
to
v
Ct
\
c-I
T
N
O
w
K
,
m
ti
ti
m
p
i.n
@)
>
.n
O
'�
N
Y
>
v
C
N
H
tL
3
W
c
O
t6
pp
N
v
O
',F,
rV
U
u
C
N
a�
O
:_
Y
_
L
Y
(n
t6
#+
cu
c
v
o
°
°•
t
O
a
O
m
T
C
N
V}
m
O
O
Lr
>
v
7
O_
bA
@)
C
O
O_
Q
(��
O
fl_
i11
p
-C
M
d
C '
N
C
w
E
p
m_
O
.-�
x
...�
N
.�
O
u
U
O
v
m
O�
pp
L
2
ai
,—
W
p
p
O
Q
p
O
v
ate+
N
C
v
m
O
,
z
O
0
U
- O
U
D_
N
b9
t10
O
.0
O
'O
O
0
>
N
N
Vf
d
.
'>6
x
o
n
L
N
•�
V
�0
0
N
m
p
U
N
F-
p
C
G
O
-2
- 2
wv..
d'
O
G
m
N
C
cL6
u
-
m
d
C
v
O
.�
O
>
CL
W
p
f
W
W
Q
.-1
a-i
(--
I.
W
I
1
10
N
T
(6
O
M
O
Ln
Produce ca[atag
Pre Firm." 8 voter
egietration
v0de -by -Mall
Ancen'so Sionti.
Ealiot on Demand &
Early Voting Print
SoluGOn
Electronic Palf Book
Solutions
ExpudespeA -5000
PS100 Pal lbook P
Hardwal,thung
- 'e,dent
Seco,,e- elemon
nesulis 2eporting
Softllt v- Eectlen
Management Systems
Election Support
Services
Election Staff St Pall
Worker Training
customer cartel FAQ,
The Electron', Po118aok allows voters to quickly move through their assigned polling place by providing an
effldent tool for poll workers to check voters In, provide accurate ballots to each voter, and enhance the voting
experience for all. In addition to the standard Electronic Po11800k package, we provide an array of accessories
that can be added anytime to further therease efficiency and automation of the check in process.
02010 Election Systems ffi Software My Esdis Portal
MAINTAINING VOTER CONFIDENCE.
ENHANCING THE VOTING EXPERIENCE.
i
Products & Services
Igir
http: / /www.essvote.com /HTML /products /PS l OO.htm1 10/12/2012
&o r Co 1
•
RESOLUTION NO.2012 -XXX & 70 ;
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE
PROPOSED VOTER ID AMENDMENT
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature has placed a constitutional amendment on
the ballot which reads:
"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present
valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free
identification to eligible voters effective July 1, 2013 ?"
WHEREAS, the cost of purchasing and deploying electronic pollbooks, which
election judges would use to verify the voters' identity documents, amounts to an estimated
$25 million statewide; and the cost to the City of Cottage Grove is estimated to be between
$18,348 to $35,934 for training, to purchase ballot boxes, pollbooks or laptops, and for the
cost to process post- election provisional ballots.
WHEREAS, we have significant concerns that the costs of implementing the
provisions of the proposed amendment could fall on local governments and would create a
huge unfunded mandate for the City; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Cottage Grove, County of Washington, State of Minnesota, to oppose the proposed
constitutional amendment restricting the voting rights of Minnesotans and creating an
unfunded mandate for local governments by mandating government- issued documents as a
condition for voting.
Passed this 17th day of October, 2012.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk