Speakers and Events Committee

Recommendations 2

• R1

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  – The Registrar of Voters The Registrar should continue to use this system. Resulting information should be evaluated in order to be better prepared for upcoming elections.
• R2

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  – The Registrar of Voters The Registrar of Voters should correct the website to verify voter registration with a link under the “Voter & Election Information” menu at the left of the front page, in addition to the icon near the top of the front page. The results of the voter registration status query should show party affiliation in addition to the validity of registration. 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report 401 Exhibit I PROVISIONAL BALLOT OVERVIEW This page and the information in the following two tables were provided to us by the Registrar of Voters. According to California Election Code (secs. 14310, 14311) registered voters whose voter registration or Vote By Mail status cannot be determined may vote a provisional ballot on Election Day. Provisional voters are voters who typically move to a different residence address within the same county and fail to reregister to vote or who otherwise fail to notify the county elections official and who attempt to vote at a polling location. They may also be voters whose Vote By Mail status cannot be determined. Provisional voters may vote at polling locations, county election offices, or at designated central locations if they fill out and sign a provisional ballot envelope and provide proof of residency such as a driver’s license or an item containing their name and current address. A government issued photo ID is not required. Assigned precincts for registered voters are determined by a voter's residence as referenced on their voter registration form. All voters who choose to vote at the polls are encouraged to visit their assigned precinct polling place location. However, voters who choose to vote at a location other than their assigned precinct may vote a provisional ballot. All polling place staff are trained to notify voters of their voting options, including their eligibility to vote a provisional ballot. After a provisional ballot is voted a voter's registration status must be determined at Election Headquarters before the provisional ballot is counted and added to the overall election tally. If a voter's registration status cannot be determined his/her provisional ballot is not counted. The Election Code was amended by the State Assembly in 2003. Prior to that time, most provisional ballot races were not counted- The current Election Code allows provisional voters whose registration status can be verified and who vote outside of their precinct location but within their assigned electoral jurisdictions (such as school board or state assembly districts) to have their vote counted. Votes for statewide or presidential candidates and ballot measures will also be counted if they are cast outside of a voter's electoral jurisdiction. To facilitate this process, staff at the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office segregate all provisional ballot envelopes to determine the registration status and precincts of provisional voters. Then, staff determines the eligible contests in those precincts and the contests marked on the ballot. If a contest or contests on a voted ballot do not represent those contests offered on the precinct ballot, the ballot is remade to include only those votes cast that correspond with those contests offered in the precinct. Then, eligible ballots are counted and added to the final tally. All provisional ballot envelopes are marked and entered into the system as "count". 402 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report Exhibit I 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report 403 404 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report