HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-18 PACKET 04.F. REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM # �
DATE 3/18/20 �
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PREPARED BY: City Clerk Caron Stransky
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
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COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Consider adopting a resolution in support of legislation to establish an early voting process in
the State of Minnesota.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Approve the request.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
� MEMO/LETTER: Memo from Caron Stransky 3/6/2015; LMC Letter 2/18/2015.
� RESOLUTION: Draft
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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Ci y Administrator Date
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���r� Prid� ar►d pC�sP�rity M��g
To: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Caron Stransky, City Clerk
Date: March 6, 2015
Subject: Early Voting
The Senate Subcommittee on Elections heard SF 414 which would establish a true early
voting system in Minnesota. The bill authored by committee chair Sen. Katie Sieben will now
be heard in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
The bill would establish early voting 15 days prior to Election Day through 5:00 p.m. on the
third day before the election. The City of Cottage Grove would not process early voting ballots;
they are processed by Washington County Auditor's Office or the County's South Service
Center. Pending certification of statewide systems and voting equipment to administer early
voting by the Secretary of State, the law would be effective for elections held on or after
August 1, 2015.
The legislation would not change the process for mailing absentee ballots, but it would
establish a true early voting system for those voting in person. It would allow in-person voters
to place their ballot in a secured tabulator and allow a voter to fix any potential voter errors
while still in the polling place.
The League of Minnesota Cities supports the establishment of a true early voting system and
submitted written testimony for the hearing. They encourage cities to consider passing a
resolution in support of early voting. A copy of the League of Minnesota Cities support for SF
414 is attached.
An early voting bill has yet to be heard in the House. City officials and staff are encouraged to
contact members of the House Government Operations and Election Policy Committee to
support early voting. If approved by the City Council, a copy of the attached resolution will be
forwarded to the Committee.
Early voting in the long run will help reduce the cost of administering ballots issued before
Election Day.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council pass the resolution in support of legislation establishing an
early voting process for voters in Minnesota.
00
L��,��� ofi CONNECTING & TNNOVATING
�INNESOTA siNCE i9i3
CITIES
February 1 S, 2015
To members of the Senate Subcommittee on Elections:
I am writing to express the League of Minnesota Cities' support for SF414 (Sieben), which
�stablishes �arly voting in Minnesota. Th� League of Minnesota Cities is a 100 year old
membership organization representi�g our more than $QO member cities at the Ca�itol. The League
has long supported early �vating and our board of directoxs has consistently made its establishment
a legislative priority.
City elections administrators are on the front line of ensuring that Minnesotans have an
accessible, �fficient and secure voting experience. The� are commifited to carrying out state
election law and rule with the utmost degree of integrity and security.
With the implementation of no-excuse absentee voting in 2014, cities experienced a
significanfi increase in in-person absentee voting at city halls across the state in the 2014 znid-term
elect'ron. Because this proc�ss was promoted as "early voting"' by the media and political
campaigns alike, many voters were sur�rised by the administrative paperwarlc of fihe in-person
absentee voting process. Voters must apply for a ballot and do not place their ballofi in a secur�
tabulator.
The absentee balloting process requires that the connpleted ballot be placed in a series of
envelopes signed by the election oft"icial. The ballot is then placed in a secure box to be process�d
after the voter has left. Not only is this process inefficient for ad�ninis�rators but it prevents voters
from putting their ballot into a tabulator as they do on Election Day. They know then their ballot
� has been accepted and does not have any errors. �f there are voter errars, the tabulator rejects the
ballot azid the vater can submit a new ballot. With th� cui7ent process, a voter has already Ieft the
building wh�n the ballot is pxocassed, increasing tl�e likelihood they will not have the opportunity
to correct any srrors and subsequently ensure their ballot is counted.
This legislation would not alter the mail-i� absentee process but would simply allow voters
the oppor�unity to place thezr ballots into a secure tabulator, We antici�ate an ev�n greater increase
in Minnesatans voting bafore Election Day in th� 201b general election. Because af this, now is
the time to pass early voting to ensure systems are in place �or the 2016 election.
Tharik yoi2 again for �our consideration of SF414.
�
Ann Lin strom
� Intexgo�ernrnental Relaf�ons Representative
Leagu� of Minnesota Cities
145 UNIVERSITY AV�. W�ST Pxorrs; (651) 281-I200 xnx: (651) 281-1299
ST. PAUL, MN 55103-2044 ToLL F�s: (800) 925-1122 WEE: WWW.LMC.ORG
•- . I
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-OXX
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING
AN EARLY VOTING PROCESS FOR VOTERS IN MINNESOTA
WHEREAS, Minnesota law currently provides for no-excuse absentee
voting by mail and in-person; and
WHEREAS, with in-person absentee voting, the voter must place their
voted ballot in a series of envelopes that is processed at a later date by election
officials; and
WHEREAS, early voting would allow a voter to place their voted ballot
directly into the ballot tabulator, thereby reducing the risk of voter errors and
reducing the administrative costs involved with in-person absentee voting; and
WHEREAS, a process will still be provided for voters to request and
submit an absentee ballot by mail;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Cottage Grove hereby supports legislation establishing an early voting process
for the voters in the State of Minnesota;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by establishing an early voting process,
taxpayer dollars will be saved and a better service will be provided to Minnesota
voters.
Passed this 18t" day of March 2015.
Myron Bailey, Mayor
Attest:
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk