Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Subject: City of Redwood City's Request to Change from Odd to Even-Numbered Year Elections
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing implementation of the City of Redwood City, City Council's request that future general municipal elections be moved from odd to even-numbered years.
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BACKGROUND:
In September 2015, the Governor signed Senate Bill No. 415 ("SB 415"), also known as the California Voter Participation Rights Act. This Act requires most jurisdictions, including cities, school districts, and other districts, that currently hold elections for governing board members in odd-numbered years to move their elections to even-numbered years. SB 415's apparent goal is to increase voter turnout, given that even-numbered year elections generally have higher voter turnout rates than odd-numbered year elections. There are 70 jurisdictions in San Mateo County. As of May 16, 7 of these jurisdictions have not yet moved to even-numbered year elections. We anticipate that some of these jurisdictions will move to even-numbered year elections in the near future.
On March 13, 2017, the City Council of the City of Redwood City (the "City") approved an ordinance pursuant to Sections 1301 and 10403.5 of the California Elections Code requesting that election dates for future City general municipal elections be moved from odd to even-numbered years. Notice of the City's requested change was submitted to the Board of Supervisors via a letter dated March 16, 2017. The Resolution would move the City's next election, currently scheduled for November 2017, to November 2018. Current councilmembers up for reelection in 2017 and 2019 would have their terms extended by 12 months.
Under Section 10403.5(a)(1), the Chief Elections Officer shall submit to the Board of Supervis...
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