AgdaPkt 2015-05-18 Closed and Joint SA and PFA

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7.1.D. - Page 1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager May 18, 2015 SUBJECT Informational Report to the City Council on AB 2028: All-Mailed Ballot Elections Pilot in San Mateo County - November 2015. RECOMMENDATION Accept by motion an informational update on AB 2028 regarding a possible pilot program providing for an all vote-by-mail election in November 2015. BACKGROUND Legal Basis Assembly Bill 2028 was approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State August 15, 2014. The Bill was authored by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin and permits a pilot program in Yolo and San Mateo Counties for all-mailed elections prior to 2018 if certain other criteria are met. These all vote-by-mail elections are for off-election years only (November of 2015 but not in November of 2016). Yolo County Pilot Program On March 5, 2013 the all vote-by-mail ballot approach was utilized in Yolo County. Yolo County is an agricultural central valley county in California. Some of the findings from the Executive Summary relating to that effort all vote-by-mail ballot election include: "...The study showed that turnout for the all-mailed ballot elections was not significantly different than the polling place elections, and further, that voters who were not already permanent mail voters were as likely to vote in an all-mail special election as in a polling place special election. The turnout figures for different demographic groups, age, ethnic background, and party preference, were consistent and similar between the elections. These data do not show that the all-mailed ballot election favored or disadvantaged any particular group. The provision of an election day polling place in each city was an effective safe guard, allowing voters a second chance to cast their ballots and was well used....