HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB03-Council Office
.CIO OF SAN BERNARDI()o - REQUE9r FOR COUNCIL AC'JQ)N
From: Councilman Ralph Hernandez
Subject: Absentee ballot abuse
Dept: Council Office
Da~: January 4, 1984
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
'8\ ~
C")
,..,
NONE ~ =<
m
<::>
~ I
c->
=i
:P -<
c->
'0 .-
N m
::0
- ::0::
Recommended motion:
Direct the City Attorney to prepare, an emergency ordinance that
would prohibit campaign workers from handling or mail~~pplications
for absentee ballots and that such ordinance would take effect immedi-
ately and be enforced in the March 5, 1985 San Bernardino City primary
election.
U-4-
Signature
Contact person:
Councilman Ralph Hernandez
Phone: 383-5333
Supporting data attached:
Yes
Ward:
N/A
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount:
N/A
Source:
Finance:
Council Notes:
75-0262
NBo3
Agenda Item No. New Business
-
o
o
o
o
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Absentee ballot abuse and misuse have increased
tremendously in recent years throughout the state. Numerous
elections have been contested through the courts resulting
in high litigation costs to cities and candidates.
Additionally, City Clerks' and County Registrars' staffs and
budgets have been saturated, overworked and financially
overburdened by processing applications and mailings of
absentee ballots.
The original intent of the absentee ballot was to give
citizens access to the election process because of
hospitalization, confinement due to illness or a handicap,
or because of an absenteeism on election day due to out-of-
town vacation, travel or emergency.
It is time for the City of San Bernardino to take the
lead and return to this original intent by passing an
emergency ordinance that would prohibit election campaign
volunteers or workers from handling or mailing applications
for absentee ballots. Our ordinance now prohibits their
handling the absentee ballots of voters.
The emergency ordinance would restrict absentee ballot
applications to those mailed by the City Clerk with the
sample ballots or mailed to or handed out by the City Clerk
upon voter request.