Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
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Hyattsville Ordinance 2020-07: Processing of Vote-by-Mail Ballots
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council introduce Hyattsville Ordinance 2020-07, an ordinance whereby the City Council amends Section 8-4, Article V, Chapter 8 of the Hyattsville Code to change the time for which the Board may begin to process ballots received before the closing of the polls on Election Day in an election that is conducted primarily by mail (INTRODUCTION).
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Summary Background:
The Council recently adopted changes to the City’s election code which were 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). While working on the implementation of the administrative procedures an omission pertaining to the processing of Vote-by-Mail ballot was found. This omission has been addressed in the proposed legislation, Hyattsville Ordinance 2020-07.
The proposed legislation will allow the Board of Elections to begin the processing of ballots 15 days prior to the Election Day for an election which is conducted primarily by mail. The process includes the opening of ballot envelopes and scanning of ballots. The votes may not be tabulated until the close of polls on Election Day. This change is necessary to process mail-in ballots in a timely manner and similar to the process by which the Board has conducted early voting days in years past (ballots are scanned, secured until Election Day and tabulated at close of polls). The processing and scanning of ballots are required to be a public process. The Board of Elections is currently determining the scanning days for the 2021 election and looking into the possibility of televising and web streaming the canvass.
Next Steps:
A first reading is scheduled for December 7, 2020 with adoption on December 21. The ordinance will be effective 20 days post adoption. Ballot processing dates will be published in January.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact for this change, however the Vote-by-Mail election will have increased costs 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?
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