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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/28/2006 Blue Sheet Election Cycle and All Ballot by Mail TOWN COUNCIL MEETING INFORMATION TOWN OF MARANA MEETING DATE: March 28, 2006 AGENDA ITEM: D.4 TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL FROM: Jocelyn Bronson, Town Clerk SUBJECT: Discussion: Election Cycle and All Ballot By Mail considerations DISCUSSION On February 21, 2006, Council requested staff to provide information at a future meeting on the ramifications of changing the current election cycle. Staff provided the Manager's Office with a comprehensive memorandum detailing the pros and cons of changing the election cycle, and a brief overview of the current status of all ballot by mail elections in Arizona. This memorandum was distributed to Council prior to tonight's meeting for review. Staff will be available to answer questions related to the memorandum. ATTACHMENT Memorandum of considerations for changing the election cycle and all ballot by mail elections. RECOMMENDATION Information only. SUGGESTED MOTION Staff direction is at Council's pleasure. Election Cycle/All Ballot By Mail JCB/32106 Considerations for Changing to September/November Election Cycle and All Ballot By Mail Elections At the February 21,2006 Council meeting, staff was directed to provide additional information on changing the town elections from spring to fall. Currently, the Marana Town Code does not designate when elections are to be held - spring or fall. The Code should be amended to reflect the election cycle. Chris Roads, Pima County Recorder's Office/Registrar of Voters, indicates that as of March 6, there are 13,141 registered Marana voters. In the past two years, the number of registered voters in Marana has increased by more than 5,800. Changing Election Cycle to September/November Pros . Anticipated increase in voter turnout in even numbered years. Campaigning for county/state elections is significant, and activities like "Kids Voting" raise voter awareness and turnout. Current statewide primary turnout averages 22%-40%. The Town turnout over the last four elections as ranged as follows: . Election Voter Turnout Votes Cast Registered Voters 2005 General 6.8% 836 12,316 (Home Rule Option) 2005 Primary 5% 614 12,164 (Council) 2004 Special** 36.6% 3,543 10,038 (Referendum) 2003 Primary 4.2% 306 7,282 (Council) **This election (Willows Ridge) was held in conjunction with a Pima County consolidated election. . Reduced election costs. The consolidated election cost is $.31 per active registered voter. In an independent election, the Recorder's Office 2 Yz cents per active registered voter. In a consolidated election there is no charge for mailing/processing of early ballots. But there is a $5.75 per early ballot mailing/processing charge in an independent election. Charges for the Town's May 2005 General Election were: Pima County Recorder's Office: 12,316 active registered voters @ 2 Yz cents 235 early mail ballot requests @ $5.75 Misc. charges Pima County Division of Elections: 307.90 1,351.25 523.50 Equipment, advertising, board workers Total Election Charges 11,296.77 $13,479.42 . Voters would be able to vote on a consolidated ballot. . The Council that begins the budget process follows the entire process and approves the new fiscal year budget as the newly-elected candidates elected in a fall election would be able to fully participate in the Town's spring budget cycle. . No loss of continuity. Cons . Less flexibility with ballot layout. Town candidates and issues may get lost in the placement, especially in a consolidated election such as the presidential or governor's race. The Town's items would have to compete with county, state, school and federal issues for the attention of the voter. The Town might not be able to submit ballot questions in November due to statewide issues, thereby losing the flexibility oftwo chances per election for ballot issues. . The length of a consolidated ballot, especially in a presidential election year, may dissuade people from completing the ballot. Per Pima County Elections, we would have to place our candidates and propositions on the Primary Election ballot. The General Election ballot would be used only for run-off elections. . Space on the Primary Election Ballot is limited. If the Town had a large number of issues and candidates, separate ballots and election board could be required. . Voters would have to be advised to look for Town candidates/propositions/issues on the Pima County Primary Election ballot and Town run-off races. . The option of conducting all mail ballot elections would be precluded at this time as state statutes prohibit the county from participating in all mail ballot elections. . Less flexibility with the breakdown of election reports. . It takes the County longer to provide the election results. In statewide elections, Town election results are generally counted last. Therefore, results may not be available as quickly as in a stand-alone election. . Additional political signage would be necessary to compete with other signage for county/state/federal elections. Indirect Impact · The Town's Alternative Expenditure Limitation could possibly be affected. . Council terms lengthened for the transition year. . Candidates and political committees supporting or opposing propositions would likely incur increased costs for campaigning. · *The expected increase in voter turnout will also increase the number of required signatures needed to place a Town initiative, referendum or recall on the ballot. The number of signatures required to become a Town candidate would also Increase. · Would require an amendment to the Town Code. Other Towns and Cities Of the 88 cities/towns in Arizona, municipal elections are scheduled as follows: ./ Eight are fall cycle, in even years ./ Five are fall cycle, in odd years (Avondale, Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma) ./ Forty-two are spring cycle, in even years ./ Thirty-three are spring cycle in odd years (Marana) ./ No other city or town in Pima County has joined the September/November even- numbered year elections. Ora Valley is in the spring cycles of even numbered years. Marana, Sahuarita and South Tucson are in the spring of odd numbered years, and the City of Tucson is in the fall of odd-numbered years. All mail ballot elections If the primary goal is to increase voter turnout (which will also raise the signature requirements for referendum, initiative and recall petitions), there is precedent as far back as 1998 (Oregon) to show that all mail ballot elections have been more successful than election day voting. To highlight the increase in Pima County early ballot voting, in the 2000 Presidential election, 287,604 people voted. Of those, 98,033 (34%) were early mail ballots. The results in Pima County for the 2004 Presidential election showed 172,048 (47%) out of 367,492 votes cast were early mail ballots. There are 20 precincts in Marana. Fourteen are in the Continental Ranch/Sunflower area. Three are in Dove Mountain, and three are in north Marana. However, poll workers are required at four sites: the former Town Hall, Dove Mountain and two in the Continental Ranch area. The demographics show that retired/active adult voters are more likely to vote than any other population. Continental Ranch and Dove Mountain both have active adult communities and in one comparison, they both showed a large voting block. Pros . The only issues on all mail ballots are Town issues. The risk of having voters miss the candidates or propositions is significantly reduced. · All ballot by mail elections do cost more than polling place elections once voter registration numbers exceed 7,500. That is primarily because of the postage, materials and labor to assemble the ballots. However, the advantage is that 100% of the voters get a ballot and the opportunity to vote the ballot. · In cities that have replaced a polling place election with an all ballot by mail election, voting has increased 15% to 20%. Elections where there are controversial issues on the ballot usually bring out more voters, regardless of method of election. . The identification requirements of Proposition 200 at polling locations are not imposed on early mail ballot requests and all ballot by mail elections. Cons The Recorder's office costs for handling an all ballot by mail election would be approximately $32,000 assuming a 40% turnout. There would be additional fees for the printing of the ballots and tabulation from the Division of Elections. Overview The only additional work for the Marana Clerk's office for an all ballot by mail election would be to serve as a replacement ballot location. That is similar to having an early voting site except there would be a much smaller volume of activity. The replacement ballot location is open during normal business hours only with the exception of Election Day, which would need to be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. There was a proposed statewide initiative launched in November of 2005 by a businessman Ricky Murphy, who was asking voters to make the 2006 general election the last time they went to the polls. Among the 17 initiatives receiving press, there is no indication that Mr. Murphy will collect the necessaryl22,612 signatures. Whether or not the measure makes it on the statewide ballot this year, indications are good that Proposition 200 may propel another effort. Although it is expected that Proposition 200 will create some inconvenience to voters, all ballot by mail or early ballot by mail requests will be the least onerous method of voting. Cathy Connelly, speaking recently at an Arizona Municipal Clerks conference, expressed grave concern that many people will be turned away from the polls for lack of proper identification and inconsistencies in addressing. She noted that when voters are faced with going home to get the proper credentials to vote, the majority will stay home and not return to the polls. Ann Rodriguez, Pima County Recorder, believes that Proposition 200 will create a surge in mail voting. The only thing required at this time on a mail ballot is a signature.