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DATE: |
October 22, 2024 |
17 |
SUBJECT
Title
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS - MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO SPECIAL DISTRICT BOARDS AND COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUPS AND POST VACANCIES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Special district and community planning group elections are consolidated with the November 5, 2024, Statewide General Election. When the number of candidates for office on a special district board or community planning group does not exceed the number of positions to be filled, the Board of Supervisors (Board) must appoint the candidates for these offices in lieu of conducting an election. When there are fewer candidates than the number of positions available, the Board also has the responsibility to fill the vacancies by appointing individuals who are nominated by the Supervisors of the applicable districts. (See Elections Code Section 10515; and Board of Supervisors policies A-77 (Appointments to Fill Vacancies and Cancellation of Election where Insufficient Nominations Filed Prior to Uniform District Election and Citizen Planning Group Election) and I-1 (Planning and Sponsor Group Policies and Procedures).)
Today’s action requests the Board to appoint nominees to designated positions and to accept the list of remaining vacancies requiring appointments pursuant to Elections Code Section 10515.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Appoint the nominees to designated positions in the specific special districts and community planning groups in which there are candidates, but the number of candidates equals or is less than the number of positions to be filled (Attachment A).
2. Accept the list of vacancies requiring appointment and direct the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancy listings and notify the special districts and the community planning groups of these vacancies (Attachment B).
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
A person’s vote can influence policy and who represents them in government, which in turn impacts their environment, health, and quality of life. The Registrar of Voters’ conduct of a fair, accurate, and transparent election allows all eligible citizens to have a part in matters that affect them.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
A person’s vote has a direct influence on the sustainability of their neighborhood, community, and local region. By voting, San Diego residents have a direct impact on their health, equity, the economy, and environment. With the County’s implementation of the vote center model, all active registered voters receive a ballot in the mail as required by current law. This increases accessibility by providing voters with the opportunity to consider the method that is most convenient for them to return their ballot and has the possibility of reducing vehicles miles traveled to cast their vote. In addition, voters have the option of receiving voter information guides electronically to reduce paper waste. The recommended action today aligns with the Governance lens of sustainability and the County of San Diego Sustainability Goal of providing just and equitable access to County services.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with these recommendations. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Board is being asked to take action on two categories of appointments:
1. Appointments when the number of candidates does not exceed the number of positions (Attachment A): In this circumstance, State law (Elections Code Section 10515) and Board Policies A-77 (Appointments to Fill Vacancies and Cancellation of Election where Insufficient Nominations Filed Prior to Uniform District Election and Citizen Planning Group Election) and I-1 (Planning and Sponsor Group Policies and Procedures) require that no election be held, and that the Board of Supervisors appoint the nominees to the special district boards and community planning groups. Elections Code Section 10515 and Board Policy A-77 require the Board of Supervisors to make these appointments prior to the Monday before the first Friday in December.
Attachment A is a list of special district and community planning group candidates by Supervisorial District for those offices in which the number of candidates equals or is less than the number of positions to be filled. The Board is requested to appoint these candidates. Even after the Board makes these appointments, some of these special districts and planning groups will still have vacancies because there are still insufficient nominees to fill all the vacant seats. These vacancies will be filled pursuant to the process described immediately below.
2. Appointments when there are no candidates for the vacancies (Attachment B): In this circumstance, the Board of Supervisors has the responsibility to select and appoint qualified individuals to fill vacancies on special district boards and community planning groups. Elections Code Section 10515, and Board Policies A-77 and I-1 state that if no person is nominated to the office, the supervising authority (the Board of Supervisors) shall appoint any person who is qualified on the date when the election would have been held.
Attachment B is a list of special district and community planning group board vacancies in which there are no candidates for the vacancies, listed by Supervisorial District.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s action supports the values represented in the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Community Strategic Initiative by conducting voting processes with the highest level of professional election standards, accountability, security and transparency.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - The list of nominees for appointment to Special Districts and Community Planning Areas.
Attachment B - The list of vacancies in Special Districts and Community Planning Areas requiring appointments.