Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
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Hyattsville Ordinance 2020-06: Vote-by-Mail Election Procedures
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council adopt Hyattsville Ordinance 2020-06, an ordinance whereby the City Council amends Chapter 8 of the Hyattsville Code to change the day of the election, provide for an all Vote-by-Mail election, update, reorganize, and refine Chapter 8 to improve its overall clarity and better define the City's election policies and procedures (SECOND READING & 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 push 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. Attached is the draft legislation and draft election calendar.
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