DATE:
October 19, 2021
21
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
IMPLEMENTATION OF VOTER'S CHOICE ACT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY BEGINNING IN 2022 (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
San Diego County's current model to conduct elections is a traditional polling place model, in which voters must cast their ballot in person at an assigned polling place unless they have requested their ballot by mail. Additionally, if a voter chooses to go to a polling place other than their assigned poll or if they wish to vote in-person and do not have their mail-in ballot to deliver to a poll worker they will need to vote provisionally. The processing of provisional ballots during the post-election canvass is extremely labor-intensive and depending on the number of provisional ballots it can take two weeks or more to process, delaying the final results of the election. However, there is a favorable alternative in the law that allows counties to move from the traditional polling place model to a one-stop vote center model under the California Voter's Choice Act (VCA).
The VCA vote center model provides voters with more flexible and convenient options for casting their ballot and streamlines election day events for election administrators. Vote centers provide a place for voters to cast a ballot in person and provide voters with additional related services. Under the VCA vote center model, all active registered voters are automatically mailed a ballot which they can return by mail or drop off at any designated drop-off location or vote center. Voters who do not want to vote via mail can take their ballot and vote at any vote center established within the county. Because vote centers nearly eliminate the need to cast a provisional ballot, this reduces the post-election administrative tasks required to certify each election. At vote centers, voters have access to replacement ballots, can use language assistance and translated materials, and are able to register to vote. Vote center...
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