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7.1.D. - Page 3 <br /> methods, return completed vote-by-mail ballots by hand, and can ask general questions <br /> about voting procedure. <br /> Voters in San Mateo County <br /> According to a published brochure by the San Mateo County Chief Elections Office, <br /> 57% of the registered voters in San Mateo are permanent vote-by-mail voters. Staff has <br /> asked Mr. Church what the possible impacts of an all vote-by-mail election are on voters <br /> of different socio-economic backgrounds and County response is that the impacts are <br /> unknown at this point, and that part of the expansion of this approach to San Mateo <br /> County was to obtain data on this matter. <br /> Policy Decision <br /> The City Council must decide whether to opt in and have an all-mailed ballot election for <br /> the November 2015 election since this relates to how voters execute their right to vote, <br /> and there is the potential for the program to save general fund expenditures on election <br /> costs. Council will choose between using the traditional approach and participating in <br /> the All-Mailed Ballot Elections Pilot in San Mateo County when it votes in June on <br /> calling the election for November 2015. <br /> Some items for the City Council to consider: <br /> Will this approach encourage voter participation or inhibit it? <br /> How will this approach be received by diverse populations with different linguistic <br /> backgrounds? <br /> Will this approach promote trust and transparency in the elections process? <br /> Will this approach confuse voters because they'll have a different voting protocol <br /> for the upcoming election? <br /> If the City Council chooses the all vote-by-mail approach, a post-election report will be <br /> prepared by an independent consultant hired by the San Mateo County Elections Office. <br /> The results regarding the outcome from the all vote-by-mail election will be provided to <br /> the State Legislature, the Secretary of State, and the public at large as a tool to <br /> evaluate the merits of an all vote-by-mail election process. <br /> ALTERNATIVES <br /> This report is presented for informational purposes only. <br /> FISCAL IMPACT <br /> The San Mateo County Elections Office states that there are potential cost-savings to <br /> the City to be realized from using an all vote-by-mail ballot election approach. <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br /> This is not a project under CEQA — California Environmental Quality Act. <br />