Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2009-2010
• Agency Response
Response to:
AND THE VOTE GOES TO...
Response Form Grand Jury Report Title: and the Vote Goes to .... 2009-2010 Mendocino County Election Report Report*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 25 findings
F1
Voters stated there was a lack of candidate statements in the pre-election sample ballot pamphlet for the November 2009 election. The Registrar stated that many candidates chose not to include a statement in accordance with Election Code §13307.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Voters stated there was a lack of candidate statements in the pre-election sample ballot pamphlet for the November 2009 election. The Registrar stated that many candidates chose not to include a statement in accordance with Election Code §13307.
F2
Voters stated they had insufficient information due to the lack of candidate statements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Voters stated they had insufficient information due to the lack of candidate statements.
F3
The complainant's information was incorrect. California election code states that the candidate statement appears in the sample ballot pamphlet and does not appear on the official ballot.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The complainant's information was incorrect. California election code states that the candidate statement appears in the sample ballot pamphlet and does not appear on the official ballot.
F4
Candidates may make a statement of not more than 200 words to be placed in the pre- election sample ballot pamphlet.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Candidates may make a statement of not more than 200 words to be placed in the pre- election sample ballot pamphlet.
F5
There is a fee for a candidate to place a statement in the sample ballot pamphlet. The fee is determined by the actual cost of printing, handling, and translating the candidate's statement. Counties may not collect fees in excess of the actual cost (Election Code §10012).
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
There is a fee for a candidate to place a statement in the sample ballot pamphlet. The fee is determined by the actual cost of printing, handling, and translating the candidate's statement. Counties may not collect fees in excess of the actual cost (Election Code §10012).
F6
For County Supervisor's office, a deposit of $300 towards the fee is due at the time of filing for English and $700 for a Spanish-translated version of the candidate's statement. For a county-wide office, the deposit for the fee is $700 for English and $1,500 for Spanish.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
For County Supervisor's office, a deposit of $300 towards the fee is due at the time of filing for English and $700 for a Spanish-translated version of the candidate's statement. For a county-wide office, the deposit for the fee is $700 for English and $1,500 for Spanish.
F7
The actual cost may exceed the deposit. The County has not always collected the actual costs from candidates,
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The actual cost may exceed the deposit. The County has not always collected the actual costs from candidates,
F8
Instructional information given to volunteer election officers was delivered in a professional manner and the volunteers were cooperative in their reception of instructions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Instructional information given to volunteer election officers was delivered in a professional manner and the volunteers were cooperative in their reception of instructions.
F9
The process of delivering ballots and equipment on election night was consistent and efficient. Employees of the Registrar worked into the night and returned the following morning to perform their assigned tasks.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The process of delivering ballots and equipment on election night was consistent and efficient. Employees of the Registrar worked into the night and returned the following morning to perform their assigned tasks.
F10
All registered voters can request a mail-in ballot. All mail-in ballots may be returned to the Registrar's office at any time including Election Day, until 8 p.m.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
All registered voters can request a mail-in ballot. All mail-in ballots may be returned to the Registrar's office at any time including Election Day, until 8 p.m.
F11
Voters, who live in a precinct that has less than 250 registered voters, may vote by a mail-in ballot or hand-carry the ballot to a polling location on Election Day. The Registrar may establish a ballot drop-off location in rural areas.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Voters, who live in a precinct that has less than 250 registered voters, may vote by a mail-in ballot or hand-carry the ballot to a polling location on Election Day. The Registrar may establish a ballot drop-off location in rural areas.
F12
The GJ learned that the increase in the percentage of mail-in ballots has reduced the expense of an election. The cost of establishing a polling place far exceeds the cost of mail-in ballots.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
The GJ learned that the increase in the percentage of mail-in ballots has reduced the expense of an election. The cost of establishing a polling place far exceeds the cost of mail-in ballots.
F13
The Registrar can begin to send mail-in-ballots 29 days in advance of Election Day. Findings-2010 Primary Election
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
The Registrar can begin to send mail-in-ballots 29 days in advance of Election Day.
F14
The Registar has contracted with the same private vendor for the past eight years. The vendor is responsible for translating, press-checking, printing, and mailing the primary election sample ballot pamphlet.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
The Registar has contracted with the same private vendor for the past eight years. The vendor is responsible for translating, press-checking, printing, and mailing the primary election sample ballot pamphlet.
F15
County staff proof read the pdf (computer) files before sending them to the vendor.
Related Recommendations (1)
R15
County staff proof read the pdf (computer) files before sending them to the vendor.
F16
On the sample ballot pamphlet, numerous typographical errors, spacing anomalies, and content omissions were reported to the Registrar's office by the general public.
Related Recommendations (1)
R16
On the sample ballot pamphlet, numerous typographical errors, spacing anomalies, and content omissions were reported to the Registrar's office by the general public.
F17
The Registrar responded immediately by radio and press releases. There was no immediate posting on the County website.
Related Recommendations (1)
R17
The Registrar responded immediately by radio and press releases. There was no immediate posting on the County website.
F18
All 24 different sample ballot pamphlets were mailed directly by the vendor with only a cursory County press-check.
Related Recommendations (1)
R18
All 24 different sample ballot pamphlets were mailed directly by the vendor with only a cursory County press-check.
F19
The delay in reprinting may result in mail-in ballots being received before accurate sample ballot pamphlets.
Related Recommendations (1)
R19
The delay in reprinting may result in mail-in ballots being received before accurate sample ballot pamphlets.
F20
There will be no additional costs to the County or the candidates for the corrected sample ballots pamphlets.
Related Recommendations (1)
R20
There will be no additional costs to the County or the candidates for the corrected sample ballots pamphlets.
F21
Six temporary employees were observed preparing the corrected sample ballot pamphlets for re-mailing.
Related Recommendations (1)
R21
Six temporary employees were observed preparing the corrected sample ballot pamphlets for re-mailing.
F22
An administrative decision was made to mail only one corrected sample ballot pamphlet to each household.
Related Recommendations (1)
R22
An administrative decision was made to mail only one corrected sample ballot pamphlet to each household.
F23
Some voters received incorrect party affiliation on the official ballot resulting in their receiving an incorrect primary election ballot and having to take corrective action.
Related Recommendations (1)
R23
Some voters received incorrect party affiliation on the official ballot resulting in their receiving an incorrect primary election ballot and having to take corrective action.
F24
The official ballots are produced by a State certified vendor and mailed by the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R24
The official ballots are produced by a State certified vendor and mailed by the County.
F25
Candidates' statements are not posted on the Registrar of Voters' website.
Related Recommendations (1)
R25
Candidates' statements are not posted on the Registrar of Voters' website. Recommendations The Grand Jury recommends that:
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.