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Home My WebLink AboutE-14 Staff Report - SB 415 ElectionsCONSENT ITEM E-14 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: TROY L. BUTZLAFF, ICMA-CM, CITY MANAGER FROM: LOUIE F. LACASELLA, MANAGEMENT ANALYST DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2016 SUBJECT: REQUEST TO SIGN PETITION ASKING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES TO FORCED ELECTION CONSOLIDATION SUMMARY: Senate Bill 415 (SB 415), which was approved by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, prohibits local governments, beginning January 1, 2018, from holding an election on any date other than a statewide election date if doing so in the past has resulted in voter turnout that is at least 25 percent below the average turnout in that jurisdiction in the last four statewide general elections, as specified. The City’s election consultant, Martin & Chapman, analyzed the City’s voter turnout over the past four general elections and determined that the City’s voter turnout rate in the last municipal election (March 2015) fell below the required threshold. As a result, the City will be required to consolidate its election with the statewide election by 2022. Martin & Chapman is encouraging their client cities to sign a petition requesting the State Legislature to explore alternate solutions to SB 415 and to continue to allow stand-alone elections. This action authorizes the City Council, City Treasurer and City Clerk to sign the petition in support of stand-alone elections and to explore alternate solutions to increase voter turnout other than consolidation. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: 1)Authorize Members of the City Council, City Clerk and City Treasurer to sign the petition in support of an alternate solution to increase voter participation and to allow the continuance of stand-alone elections. 2)Direct the City’s lobbyist, Joe A. Gonsalves & Sons, to work with the City’s election consultant and our State Representatives to find an alternate solution that will enable the City to retain its stand-alone election. DISCUSSION: SB 415 was passed by the State legislature, eliminating the ability of cities to have their own stand-alone elections effective in 2018, unless voter turnout compares favorably with statewide general elections. APPROVED COUNCIL MEETING 02/01/2016 Petition Requesting Alternatives to Forced Election Consolidation February 1, 2016 Page 2 Commencing January 1, 2018, "political subdivisions" are prohibited from holding an election other than on a statewide election date if holding an election on a non-concurrent date has previously resulted in voter turnout for a regularly scheduled election in that political subdivision being at least 25% less than the average voter turnout within the political subdivision for the previous four statewide general elections. The City’s election consultant, Martin & Chapman, analyzed the City’s voter turnout over the past four general elections (see Table 1). Based on their analysis the average voter turnout less 25% is 42.24%. The City’s voter turnout rate in the last municipal election (March 2015) was 10.23%. Unfortunately, the turnout rate from our last municipal election is far below the required rate to retain a stand-alone election under SB 415. Table 1 Voter Turnout Voter Turnout November 2008 (Presidential Election) Voter Turnout November 2010 (Governor Election) Voter Turnout November 2012 (Presidential Election) Voter Turnout November 2014 (Governor Election) Average of Last 4 years Elections 4 year Average Less 25% 79.97% 49.62% 67.50% 28.18% 56.32% 42.24% If the City is required to consolidate its stand-alone election with the statewide election the following negative impacts are anticipated: • Consolidated Elections are Typically More Expensive. Stand-alone elections are typically much less expensive than consolidated elections, and would negatively impact city budgets and expenses. For many cities, the cost of a consolidated election is over double what a stand-alone election would cost. Some cities consolidate and share expenses with school districts and/or college districts; their costs would increase up to six times. • Increased Voter Wait Times / Longer Lines on Election Day. Because of the longer ballot and/or multiple ballots for consolidated elections, longer wait times for voters. And increased voter confusion from multiple ballot cards would result. • Local Candidates and Issues Lost in National and State races. Articles, editorials, forums, air-time, campaign signs, and discussions would be focused on national and state races. Local candidates would be competing with national and state candidates and issues for campaign contributions and local races and issues would get lost. • Election Night Returns Slower. On election night, cities typically have all ballots counted, and know the outcome, before 10:00 pm. Los Angeles County has 5,000 precincts to count, and some precincts may not be counted until very late in the evening, or in the early morning hours. • Slower Final Results. The County has up to 30 days to certify the results of an election. Cities typically hold the final count in less than 7 days. The timeliness of the final count and certification is especially important in a close race, and affects the efficiency of cities. Martin & Chapman has initiated a petition they are asking all of their client cities to consider signing that requests the State Legislature to consider alternate solutions to improve voter turnout. A copy of the petition is attached. Martin & Chapman is planning to submit signed petitions to the State Legislature by February 19th. So far six (6) client cities have signed the petition and others are expected to sign within the next few weeks. One possible solution being proposed is to allow cities to hold an All Mail Ballot election. Research has shown that mailed ballot elections increase voter participation by 20% while reducing election costs by 15%. If All Mail Ballot elections were authorized, Martin & Chapman believe that the City could retain its stand-alone March election. The City has until the end of calendar year 2017 to adopt a resolution requesting consolidation of its election with Los Angeles County. Currently, the County is overhauling their election systems and is unlikely to be able accommodate cities who hold stand-alone elections before 2020. Petition Requesting Alternatives to Forced Election Consolidation February 1, 2016 Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT: Higher costs of elections that will be difficult to accurately budget for, as costs will be set by the County. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Louie F. Lacasella Troy L. Butzlaff, ICMA-CM Management Analyst City Manager Attachments: 1. SB 415 2. Petition ATTACHMENT 1 ATTACHMENT 2 PETITION TO OPPOSE ELECTION CODE SECTIONS 14050-14057 (added by SB 415 in 2015) AND TO SUPPORT AN ALTERNATE SOLUTION TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW STAND-ALONE ELECTIONS We, representing the City of Azusa hereby sign this petition to show our opposition to the sections contained in SB 415 from the 2015 legislative session relating to mandatory consolidation of our general municipal election with statewide elections and to support an alternate solution to increase voter participation and to allow cities to continue to conduct stand- alone elections. These sections take away our right to choose our own election date that works best for our city, they will increase the costs the city will have to pay to conduct an election, they will increase the costs the candidates have to pay for campaigning at the same time as federal and state candidates, and they take local control of the election process away from the city level. We request that an alternate solution be made, new sections added, to not only increase voter participation but to make it permissible rather than mandatory to have our general municipal elections on a statewide election date. PRINT NAME SIGNATURE Mayor: Joseph Romero Rocha _______________________ Mayor Pro Tem: Edward J. Alvarez _______________________ Councilmember: Angel A. Carrillo _______________________ Councilmember: Robert Gonzales _______________________ Councilmember: Uriel Edward Macias _______________________ City Clerk: Jeffrey L. Cornejo, Jr. _______________________ City Treasurer: Art Vasquez _______________________ Dated: February 1, 2016