Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
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Resolution 2023-01: Designating the 2023 Biennial Mayoral Election as Vote-by-Mail
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Mayor and Council adopt Hyattsville Resolution 2023-01, a resolution whereby the City Council declares the City's 2023 Biennial Election to be a Vote-by-Mail Election (INTRODUCTION & ADOPTION).
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Summary Background:
Regular elections are held every two years in the City of Hyattsville. Pursuant to ? 8-3 of the City Code, there is a biennial election scheduled for May 9, 2023. There will be five Council seats up and the Mayoral seat up for election. The terms for election will run from June 2023 through June 2027. Section 8-4 of the City Code provides that the Mayor and Council may determine by resolution that an election is a vote-by-mail election.
The Board of Supervisors of Elections met in December and January to discuss the upcoming election. Correspondence from the Board of Supervisors of Elections dated January 10, 2023, is included with this agenda item. The Board recommends that the City Council designate the 2023 Election as a vote-by-mail election whereas each resident will be mailed a ballot with the option of voting in person at the City Building on Tuesday, May 9 or returning their ballot via mail or brought to one of three City drop boxes. The previous four City elections have been designated as vote-by-mail elections which has resulted in a significant increase in voter participation.
Election preparations are currently underway with candidate registration opening on February 7. There will be two candidate information sessions held, a virtual session on February 1 at 6 PM and an in-person session on January 25 at 10 AM in the City Building. The Board and staff will present an update on the upcoming election at a Council meeting in February.
Next Steps:
Designate the election as vote-by-mail.
Fiscal...
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