Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
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Hyattsville Charter Amendment Resolution 2020-01: Election Day, Certification of Election, and Council Organizational Meeting (Introduction & Adoption)
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council adopt Hyattsville Charter Amendment Resolution 2020-01, a Resolution amending Article II of the City of Hyattsville’s Charter to alter the day when the newly elected Mayor and Council take office and alter the day of the Mayor and Council’s organizational meeting; amending Article IV of the City’s Charter to alter Election Day, change the time by which certification of the Election must take place, and include related clarifying language (INTRODUCTION & ADOPTION).
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Summary Background:
In November 2018, Mayor Hollingsworth and Councilmembers Ward, Suiter, and Lawrence submitted a motion proposing the City make revisions to the Election Code necessary to enable the Board of Elections Supervisors to distribute, proactively, a Vote-by-Mail ballot to all registered voters in the City of Hyattsville (on State and city-only registries) and appropriate funds necessary to support this effort in the 2021 municipal election. Council discussed the motion on November 19, 2018. Council indicated support for bringing the proposal back for further discussion after evaluation by the Board of Supervisors of Elections. The Board made a commitment to Council to research the feasibility and logistics of moving to a Vote-by-Mail system post-Election 2019.
Since that time, and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a renewed national initiative for Vote-by-Mail elections. Locally, several elections have been held by mail including the State primary and the Cities of Rockville and New Carrollton. Benefits of an all Vote-by-Mail election include increased voter turnout and civic engagement.
The Board and Clerk’s office have worked with the City Attorney to review and make recommended changes to the City Charter and Code for an all Vote-by-Mail election in 2021. These changes include three (3) separate pieces of legislation: the enabling ordinance for City Code: Chapter 8, Elections, the Charter Amendment, and a resolution formally designating the 2021 election as Vote-by-Mail.
The ordinance enabling the administrative changes required to implement a Vote-by-Mail election was adopted by Council on November 2, 2020. To formally designate the 2021 election as a Vote-by-Mail election the Council must adopt a resolution. This resolution is included in the public hearing packet under separate cover and will be on the action agenda for the City Council on December 7, 2020.
A high-level summary of the proposed changes to the City’s Charter is below. These changes were discussed at the Council meetings of July 20 and October 19, 2020 and the Public Hearing of November 16, 2020.
Charter Amendment
• Proposes moving Election Day from the 1st Tuesday in May to the 2nd Tuesday in May
• Proposes changes to the process by which the Council President & Vice President are Elected
• Reduce timeline for Board to certify election from 10 days to 5 days
Charter Amendments require a Public Hearing which must be held 21 days after public notice of the hearing. The proposed timeline for adoption of the Charter Amendment is listed under “Next Steps”. The Public Hearing was held on November 16, 2020.
Next Steps:
• December 7: Adoption of the Charter Amendment Resolution
• January 26: Effective Date of the Charter Amendment Resolution
Fiscal Impact:
TBD - There is currently $55,000 budgeted for the 2021 Election. An all Vote-by-Mail election will likely require a budget amendment, related to infrastructure and increased communication costs. Staff and the Election Board are currently in the evaluation process for equipment and mailing vendors.
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend support.
Community Engagement:
There will be a communications strategy planned for Vote-by-Mail.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 1 - Ensure Transparent and Accessible Governance
Legal Review Required?
Complete