Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Subject: Appropriation Transfer Request for Voter Education and Outreach
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $450,000 for the FY 2019-20 Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Budget for appropriation related to the Voter Choice Act (SB 450) reporting, education, and outreach for FY 2019-20 including the March 2020 Presidential Primary Election.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) requires the County to develop a Voter Education and Outreach Plan that informs voters on all aspects of the VCA, including Vote Center and Ballot Drop Box locations, and information specific to voters with disabilities and non-English preference voters.
An essential component of the Voter’s Choice Act is the requirement that all participating counties institute a comprehensive Voter Education and Outreach Plan to increase voter participation and accessibility to the electoral process. The Registration & Elections Division remains committed to the spirit of the Voter Education and Outreach objectives and strategies contained within this plan. Statutory required expenditures will continue to be performed, as mandated.
On November 12, 2019 the Board authorized the appropriation of $450,000 for FY 2019-20 for Voter Education and Outreach for the March 2020 Presidential Primary Election. $150,000 of these funds were allocated by the Elections Division to a partnership with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). Under this program, SVCF identified and provided county funds to qualified nonprofit organizations to provide community outreach and engagement services in San Mateo County. Grantee organizations provided voter awareness and participation services focused on lower turnout precincts and groups within San Mateo County, including but not limited to people of color, immigrants, low-income communities, and non-fluent English speakers. SVCF were tasked with developing, executing, and administering contracts with qualified nonprofit organizations, provide training, and conduct oversight of their activities. The Registration & Elections Division closely monitored these activities and will receive a final evaluation of the overall collective impact and assessment of individual interventions, along with recommendations for future election outreach activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this ATR will appropriate $450,000 to fund the FY 2019-20 Voter Choice Act (SB 450) reporting, education, and outreach costs.