COUNTY ~ OF .'.' ~ MEMORANDUM ~ Placer· COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER-REGISTRAR OF VOTERS ---------- County of Placer TO: Board of Supervisors DATE: May 14, 2019 FROM: Ryan Ronco, Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters BY: Stephen Aye, Assistant Recorder-Registrar of Voters SUBJECT: Call the Following Election and Authorize the County Clerk to Render Election Services for the June 4, 2019, Senate District 1, Special General Election Action Requested 1. Approve the attached resolution calling for the June 4, 2019 Senate District 1 Special General Election and authorize the County Clerk to render election services. 2. Approve a budget amendment in the amount of $300,000 to pay for election services to administer the Senate District 1, Special General Election. Background Ted Gaines was elected to the State Board of Equalization and resigned from his District 1 State Senate seat on January 7, 2019, following certification of the November 6, 2018 General Election. His resignation created a vacancy in State Senate District 1. Senate District 1 has approximately 150,000 registered voters out of the 237,890 voters in Placer County and includes most of the county excluding Roseville. The District runs through 11 counties (Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou.) On January 16, 2019, Governor Newsom officially called a Special General Election to be held on June 4, 2019 if no candidate received a majority of the votes cast in the March 26, 2019 Special Primary Election. Following certification of the March 26, 2019 Special Primary Election results it was determined that no candidate received a majority of the votes cast, which means that the top two vote-getters will now move onto the Special General Election to be conducted in accordance with the Governor's proclamation and California Elections Code Sections 10700 and 10702- 10706. The candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the June 4, 2019 Special General Election are Kevin Kiley (R) and Brian Dahle (R). The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast across all 11 counties in Senate District 1 will be elected to serve the remainder of the term in the vacant Senate District 1 seat following certification of the June 4, 2019 Special General Election. The term of office will expire on December 7, 2020. Additionally, the results of the June 4, 2019 Special General Election will most likely necessitate the calling of a successor election or elections (primary and general) prior to the end of the current fiscal year. Should Kevin Kiley (State Assembly District 6) receive a majority of the votes cast, his current seat would become vacant, and the election to fill his seat would consist of roughly 187,000 registered voters in Placer County. If Brian Dahle (State Assembly District 6) receives a majority of the votes cast, the successor election(s) to fill his current seat would consist of approximately 36,500 registered voters in Placer County. 1 445,,. The Registrar of Voters is utilizing California Elections Code and all other allowable cost savings measures to minimize the cost of the election(s), in accordance with state and federal law. Due to the size of the district, California Elections Code requires that this election be conducted utilizing polling places. Current law does not contain provisions for the State to reimburse counties for special vacancy elections. This election will require all of the same items that go into a regularly scheduled election that the office conducts, which includes poll worker payroll, ballot and voter information guide printing and postage both to and from the voter. This election will be the second election that counties will be required to pay return postage for all ballots returned by mail. Additionally, this will be the second election following significant postal increases. Fiscal Impact The projected unbudgeted cost for the June 4, 2019, Special General Election is approximately $750,000. The Department has calculated budget savings, including remaining funds from the March 26, 2019 Special Primary Election at approximately $450,000. The remaining $300,000 is not absorbable. Should the election cost less than the estimated $750,000, the savings will revert back to the General Fund. Separately, following certification of the June 4, 2019 Special Election, the cost for the potential successor election(s) will be estimated by staff to determine impacts to the FY 2019-20 Department budget. Attachment Resolution 2 446 Before the· Board of Supervisors County of Placer, State of California In the matter of: A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PLACER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER THE FOLLOWING ELECTION AND Resolution No.: ----- AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY CLERK TO RENDER ELECTION SERVICES FOR THIS SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION, CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 1 TO BE HELD ON JUNE 4, 2019 The following Resolution was duly passed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Placer at a regular meeting held May 14, 2019 by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Noes: Absent: Signed and approved by me after its passage. Chair, Board of Supervisors Attest: Clerk of said Board WHEREAS, Governor Newsom has called a Special General Election to fill a vacancy for State Senate District 1 in the event one candidate did not receive the majority of the votes for the March 26, 2019; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 10700, 10703 and 10704 of the Elections Code, the Governor has issued a proclamation calling for the Election, the county elections official seeks authorization to render specified services. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED by the Placer County Board of Supervisors that Special General Election shall be held on June 4, 2019; and 447 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Placer hereby authorizes the Placer County Registrar of Voters to render any and all necessary election services. 448.