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IV.6. Approve Resolution Supporting Early Voting ProcessMarch 3, 2} l _ Council Re ort 2{ 1 -026 Approve Resolution Supporting Legislation .Establishing an Early Voting Process for Voters in Minnesota Proposed Action Staff recommends adaption of the fallowing motion: love_ Approval of Resolution 2015-02 Resolution in Support of Legislation Establishing an Early Voting Process for Voters in Minnesota. Approval of this motion will support legislation establishing early voting 15 days prior to Election Day through 5 p.m. on the third day before the election. Overview Staff recommends supporting legislation that would establish early voting 15 days prior to Election Day through 5 p.m. on the third day before the election. This option would allow Hopkins voters casting ballets at City Hall prior to Election Lay to place the ballots into a ballot counter. The process would be a better service to our voters and save taxpayer dollars. True early voting would be a better service for our voters than our current system. Cinder the current system, voters who submit a ballot early are treated differently from voters who vote on Election Day. Because absentee voters do not have the opportunity to place the ballot directly into a ballot counter, they are not notified if they have made an error in filling out the ballot, such as fillingin too many ovals for a race or making a stray mark that may prevent the ballot counter from counting their vote as intended. If a voter on Election Day makes a mistake, the ballot counter alerts the voter to the error and the voter has the opportunity to correct it. Absentee voters never get this opportunity. Primary Issues to Consider- * How will early voting benefit the voters? Supporting Information * Draft Resolution 2015-020 • League of Minnesota Cities Policy: Early Voting • Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Association Handouts Amy Domeier, City Clerk Financial Impact: Budgeted: YN Source: Related Documents ClP, ERS', etc.): Notes: How will early voting benefit the voters? voter could place their ballot directly into the counter and be confident their ballot was counted. In the 2014 General election, up to 2% ofabsentee ballon in Hennepin County had errors or marks that were difficult for the ballot counter to read. Another issue is rejected absentee ballots. Because of the amount and complexity of paperwork associated with absentee ballots, a voter sometimes misses a step and their absentee ballot must be rejected by the absentee ballot board. In the 2014 State General election, 275 in- person absentee voters in Hennepin County had a ballot rejected. Many of these voters were able to submit a replacement ballot, but this is a problem that no one would have had to handle ander true early voting. CITY of HOPKINS ENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2015-020 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION ESTA LISHIN AN EARLY VOTING PROFESS FOR. VOTERS IN MINNESOTA WHEREAS, Minnesota law currently provides for no -excuse absentee voting by mail and in --person; and WHEREAS, with in-person absentee voting, the voter must place their voted ballot in series of envelopesthat is processed at a later date by election officials; arra WHEREAS, early voting would allow a voter to place their voted ballot directly into the ballot tabulator, thereby reducing the risk of voter errors and reducing administrative costs involved with in-person absentee voting; and WHEREAS, a process will still be provided for voters to request to submit an absentee ballot by mail; NOW THEREFORE RE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins supports legislation establishing an early voting process for voters in the State of Minnesota. RE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by establishing an early voting process, taxpayer dollars will be saved and a better service 'ill be provided to Minnesota voters. ADOPTED by the City of Hopkins on this, the 3ra day of March, 2015. Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayon ATTEST: Any Domeier, City Clerk o� LEAGUEOF MINNESOTA CITIES 2015 LMC City Policies Early Voting CONNECTING &INNOVATING SINCE 1913 . ;,v : Minnesota now allows no -excuse absentee voting by mail and in-person and man Minnesotans consider the current in-person absentee voting system "early voting" though there are significant administrative differences between the two voting systems. After the voter has completed their absentee ballot, it is placed in a sealed envelope to be processed by elections administrators after the voter has left. Early voting allows the in-person voter the same experience as voting in thief- polling place on Electron Day by inserting their ballot into a ballot tabulator. If necessary, the voter is then able to correct mistakes made by the voter when marking the ballot such as party cross-over voting in a primary election or over -voting. These mistakes can be discovered by the ballot tabulator, the same as on Election Day. Election results are not known until the palls close on Election Day. Additionally, no -excuse absentee voting has led to a significant increase in in-person absentee balloting forcing cities administering in-person absentee balloting to operate city halls as polling places beginning 46 days before Election Day, though the absentee ballots cannot be processed until seven days before Election Day. An early voting system eliminates many of the administrative costs of the current absentee ballet procedures. Many states have implemented actual early voting procedures for in-person voting and found them to be a cost-effective and efficient method to serve the voters. Response: The League of Minnesota Cities supports the adoption of l+ gill tion establishing ars coaly voting process. Questions? Contacl,4nn Linclstroinr r shnc.oi (651) (' �-� � �. 145 UNIVERSITY SIT AVE. VEST Pi -i - (651) 281-1200 FAX- (651) 281-1299 T. PAUL, MN 55103-2044 TOLL FREE. (810) 925-1122 SEB. WWW.L, 1 .0R ju Voters arrive at designated Early Voting polling place, County Auditor's office or Municipal Clerk office. If registration is incorrect or nonexistent.., Voter provides name and address n the same manner as Election Day. If the voter makes an error on the ballot... At the direction of the Election. Official, voter inserts ballot into the spoiled ballot envelope in the some manner as Election Day. I Election Official gives ballot to the voter and directs voter to a voting booth in the some manner as Election Day. Election Official uses SVRS to verify voter's registration status. Voter signs the Roster or Voter Certificate in the same manner as Election Day. Voter completes Voter Registration Application VRA) in the same manner as Election Day. Election Official views proof of residency and records it on the Voter Registration Application in the some manner as Election Day. MN Statewide Voter Registration a Systern Election Official gives Election Official Voter places their own voter a replacement updates record in ballot directly into the ballot and directs them SVRS while the voter secured ballot tabulator to a voting booth in the marks their ballot, in the same manner as some manner as Election Day.` Election Day. rolli6olv The voter leaves and may not cast another ballot. *NOTE: Voting results will not be examined or calculated until after the closing of the polls on Election Day. Produced by the Mil Clerks and Finance Officer Association (MCFOAj www.mcfoo.org Qbsentep. Voting • The Voter's Experience in the 2014 Elections Through the insertion of the ballot into the ballot tabulator Updated 211 712 0 1 5 Voting with an Absentee Ballot In Person 0 0 If registration is incorrect or nonexistent... — AM _ 4 W__ Aiiai -- Voter appears Election Official Election Official prints Election Official Voter completes in person, uses SVRS to labels from SVRS, directs voter to a and signs Voter completes and verify voter's assembles absentee voting booth. Registration submits an registration voting packet, and Application absentee ballot status. gives it to the voter. (VRA) appllcation Wo If there is no label, Voter places manilla Voter marks the Voter places signed voter writes name and secrecy envelope inside ballot, folds it and VRA, in empty address on the signature envelope (with seals it into the manila signature envelope, signature envelope. the VRA if appropriate) secrecy envelope. leaves it unsealed and seals it. and sets it aside. If registration is incorrect or nonexistent... Voter records MN driver's Election Official prints their If the signature envelope license/MN ID number or last name and title on the contains a VRA. the Election four digits of their social signature envelope and Official must record proof of security number on the signs their name. voter's residency as outlined signature envelope- by state statutes- A�" V Allill AS Board accepts or rejects Absentee Ballot Election Official secures Electron Official uses the voter's ballot using (AB)Board opens signature envelope with SVRS to document criteria set forth by state locked box and voter's ballot'; Voter that the voter's ballot statutes and secures baltot' removes ballot for goes home has been received. processing_` WAW 4 - it a ' r Am Ata Board uses AB Board opens AB Board opens AB Board inserts voters ballot into the SVRS to record signature envelopes and manila ballot tabulator. If an error is that the voter's removes manila secrecy envelopes, discovered, the AB Board processes it ballot has been envelopes as permitted removes ballots as it is. The voter does not have an accepted or by state statutes.' and flattens the opportunity to correct it. rejected-" folds.* The Absentee Ballot Board has additi,. ias that, for the purpose of summarizing the voting process from the perspective of the voter, have not been included. " Voters whose ballot was rejected will he notified by the Absentee Ballot Board and a new ballot packet will be mailed to them. Produced by the MN Clerks and rinance Officers Association (MCFOA)