14-Election dates use of electronic voting machinesCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
Originating Department:
Presented By:
Agenda Item No.:
07/08/2011
Council Date:
City Clerk
Janice Ellis
14.
07/25/2011
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Not an action item
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Elections
BACKGROUND:
I recently attended a meeting put on by the Secretary of State and TML at the City of Allen regarding
SB 100. SB 100 was passed during the 82°d Texas Legislative Session and could potentially impact many
city elections. The biggest change is that County Elections Administrators will no longer be required to
enter into a contract to furnish election services for an election held on the second Saturday in May in
even-numbered years. The reason for the change is that the primary runoff election date for State
primary races has been moved from April to the fourth Tuesday in May (primary elections are held in
even-numbered years). This creates overlapping election deadlines/dates with the primary runoff and
our general municipal election. In turn, there is the possibility of a shortage of federally mandated direct
recording electronic machines, which is required to be accessible at each polling place, pursuant to the
Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
At the meeting, municipalities discussed the following three options: 1) Purchase electronic voting
machines and conduct our own election; 2) Move City Council elections to November; and 3) Conduct
municipal elections only in odd-numbered years.
Discussion and options are still in the early stages. In the upcoming months, we anticipate that we will
be receiving additional information from TML and the Secretary of State Elections Division.
There is no action to be taken as this time.
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City of Paris Revised 2/04/08
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