HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-Packet 05-29-07_Presentation, Discussion and Direction Concerning _10
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Brit Fontenot, City Clerk
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Presentation, Discussion and Direction Concerning Mail Ballots for 2007
Municipal Elections
MEETING DATE: May 29, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Listen to the presentation by, and conduct discussions with, Charlotte Mills,
Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder and Elections Administrator. Consider public comment. Consider
directing staff to prepare a resolution notifying the Gallatin County Election Administrator of the City’s
desire to conduct the 2007 municipal primary election (if held) and the 2007 municipal general election
by mail ballot in accordance with 13-19-202 Montana Code Annotated. Any resolution concerning the
aforementioned primary election mail ballot must be approved by the City Commission not later than
Monday, July 2, 2007 in order to make a timely filing with the Montana Secretary of State.
BACKGROUND: Ms. Mills has contacted the City Clerk’s office on several occasions to gauge the
interest of the Bozeman City Commission on exclusively mail ballots for the 2007 municipal elections.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Not determined at this time.
ALTERNATIVES: As directed by the Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Brit Fontenot, City Clerk Chris Kukulski, City Manager
Attachments: (1) MCA 13-19-202, (2) Example of Mail Ballot Resolution, (3) Cost Analysis
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2005 Montana Code Annotated
13-19-202. Initiation by governing body. (1) A political subdivision may, by
resolution of the governing body addressed to the election administrator, request that a
particular election be conducted under the provisions of this chapter.
(2) No later than 70 days before election day, the governing body shall transmit its
request to the election administrator, who shall determine whether it is economically and
administratively feasible to conduct the requested election by mail ballot.
(3) Except as provided in 13-19-204, the decision to conduct an election under the
provisions of this chapter is within the sole discretion of the election administrator.
(4) Within 5 days after receiving a request, the election administrator shall respond in
writing, stating that the request is either granted or denied for reasons specified. If
granted, the election administrator shall prepare a plan as provided in 13-19-205.
History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 196, L. 1985.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 7221
A RESOLUTION OF THE MISSOULA CITY COUNCIL NOTIFYING THE MISSOULA COUNTY
ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CITY’S DESIRE TO CONDUCT THE 2007 CITY
PRIMARY (IF HELD) AND GENERAL ELECTION BY MAIL BALLOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
13-19-202 MONTANA CODE ANNOTATED (MCA).
WHEREAS, voter turnout in Missoula municipal elections has been low; and
WHEREAS, state law provides a method for conducting mail ballot elections for local elections;
and
WHEREAS, mail ballot elections statistically increase voter turnout in elections; and
WHEREAS, the City of Missoula may hold a Primary Election on September 11, 2007, as
required by 13-1-107 (2) MCA; and
WHEREAS, Section 13-14-115 (2)(a) MCA provides that the election administrator of the political
subdivision may determine that a primary election need not be held if:
(i) the number of candidates for an office exceeds three times the number to be
elected to that office in no more than one-half of the offices on the ballot; and
(ii) the number of candidates in excess of three times the number to be elected is
not more than one for any office on the ballot.
(b) If the election administrator determines that a primary election need not be held pursuant
to subsection (2)(a), the administrator shall give notice to the governing body that a
primary election will not be held; and
WHEREAS, Section 13-14-115(3) MCA states a governing body may require that a primary
election be held if it passes a resolution not more than 10 days after the close of filing by
candidates for election stating that a primary election must be held; and
WHEREAS, the City of Missoula will hold a General Election on November 6, 2007, as required
by 13-1-104 (2) MCA; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 13-19-104 MCA, such elections can be conducted by a mail ballot
election; and the Missoula County Election Administrator has determined that a mail ballot
election conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 13, Chapter 19, Parts 1-3, MCA is in
the best interests of the City and the electors thereof, and pursuant to 13-19-202 MCA the City of
Missoula may notify the County Election Administrator of its intent to conduct a mail ballot
election; and
WHEREAS, the Election Administrator shall prepare a written plan, including a timetable, for the
conduct of the elections and shall submit it to the Secretary of State at least 60 days prior to the
date set for the election in accordance with 13-19-205 MCA; and
WHEREAS, an official ballot will be mailed to every qualified elector of the City of Missoula, with
the goal of increasing voter participation in the municipal elections for 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Election Administrator will have at least four drop off sites within the city limits for
electors who wish to mark their ballot at a polling site and deposit their ballot with the election
judges at that polling site; and
WHEREAS, the Election Administrator will have ADA accessible marking devices for the disabled
to mark their ballot in privacy at the drop off polling sites; and
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WHEREAS, for any election conducted by mail ballots must be mailed no sooner than the 25th
day and no later than the 15th day before Election Day and all ballots must be mailed the same
day in accordance with 13-19-207 MCA.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Missoula hereby
notifies the Missoula County Election Administrator of the city’s desire to conduct the 2007 city
primary (if held) and general election by mail ballot in accordance with 13-19-202 Montana Code
Annotated (MCA).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of the City of Missoula hereby notifies the
Missoula County Election Administrator that ballots should be mailed 21 days before the election.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, except as provided in 13-19-204 MCA, the decision to
conduct an election under the provisions of 13-19-202 MCA is within the sole discretion of the
Election Administrator.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a certified copy
of this resolution to the Missoula County Election Administrator in accordance with the provisions
of 13-19-202 MCA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT within 5 days of receiving this request, the Election
Administrator shall respond to the Missoula City Clerk in writing, state that this request is either
granted or denied for reasons specified. If granted, the Election Administrator shall prepare a
plan as provided in 13-19-205 MCA.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of April, 2007.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
/s/ Martha L. Rehbein /s/ John Engen
Martha L. Rehbein John Engen
City Clerk Mayor
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Municipal General 2007
Estimated Cost Comparison
Mail Ballot vs Polling Place Election
Mail Ballot
Polling
Place
Quantity Unit Price
Chronicle - Close of Registration 3 $60.000 $180.00 $180.00
Chronicle - Notice of Election 3 $144.000 $432.00 $432.00
Postage Mail Ballot 19500 $0.425 $8,287.50
Postage Permanent Absentees 2500 $0.425 $1,062.50
Envelopes Mail Ballot 19500 $0.335 $6,532.50
Envelopes Permanent Absentees 2500 $0.335 $837.50
Labels Mail Ballot 19500 $0.015 $292.50
Labels (2500x3) Permanent Absentees 7500 $0.015 $112.50
Ballots 19500 $0.210 $4,095.00 $4,095.00
Labor for Mail Ballot 19500 $0.360 $7,020.00
Labor for Absentees 2500 $0.360 $900.00
Labor Count Center Election Night $700.00 $2,500.00
Polling Place Rental 1 $250.000 $0.00 $250.00
Registers & supplies $300.00
Polling Place Judges $0.00$13,623.00
Automark Testing & set up $0.00 $680.00
Programming & Ballot Layout $3,000.00 $3,000.00
Total Election Cost $30,539.50$27,972.50
Turn Out
2001 28%
2003 49%
2005 16%
Anticipated Turn Out from Mail Ballot 45-55%
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