Vote By Mail - June 2018 Election - Background

Article Source: County of San Mateo CA

OFFICE OF ASSESSOR-COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER & ELECTIONS COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

MARK CHURCH - CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER & ASSESSOR-COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER

March 16, 2018

Dear Fellow Voters:

I am pleased to submit to you San Mateo County’s Election Administration Plan (EAP) for the implementation of the California Voter’s Choice Act (Senate Bill 450). This landmark

legislation authorizes 14 counties, including San Mateo, to conduct any election as an All Mailed Ballot/Vote Center Election, commencing January 2018. San Mateo County is proud to be one of the first five counties in the state that will be conducting the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election under the provisions of the California Voter’s Choice Act.

San Mateo County’s EAP is the culmination of an extensive community review and input process spanning over the course of several months. The plan was developed with the goal of providing the public detailed information on the administration of elections under the California Voter’s Choice Act. It also incorporates the County’s Voter Education and Outreach Plan, outlining in detail the County’s voter education and outreach plans to increase accessibility to all voters, particularly voters with disabilities and language minorities.

The EAP was developed in consultation with members of the general public and the County’s Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) and Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC). Additionally, the document incorporates comments received during the course of three public hearings specified by the Act. All of the comments received during the public review process and those comments that were incorporated into the EAP, may be found in the section of the Plan entitled “Public Comments to Draft EAP and Responses.”

The EAP has been formally submitted to the Secretary of State for final approval. The Secretary of State review and approval process will be completed by April 2, 2018. Once approved by the Secretary of State, San Mateo County’s EAP becomes the official plan for the administration of elections under the California Voter’s Choice Act.

I want to personally thank the voters of our county and all of our stakeholders that have participated in the development of the Voter’s Choice Act Election Administration Plan for their dedication and commitment to expanding voting opportunities for all.

Please contact Registration and Elections Division at 650.312.5222 or registrar@smcacre.org should you have any questions regarding the Voter’s Choice Act or our EAP.

Sincerely,

Mark Church

40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402

P 650.312.5222 F 650.312.5348 email registrar@smcacre.org web www.smcacre.org

San Mateo County

California Voter’s Choice Act

Table of Contents

Election Administration Plan

Overview............................................................................................................ 1

Vote by Mail Ballots............................................................................................. 1

Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off Locations............................................................ 2

Vote Centers................................................................................................ 2

Vote Center Formula..................................................................................... 2

Ballot Drop-off Boxes.................................................................................... 3

Voting Technology.............................................................................................. 3

Voter Election Data............................................................................................. 4

Digital “I Voted” Sticker........................................................................................ 4

Fiscal Impact...................................................................................................... 5

Summary........................................................................................................... 5

Voter Education and Outreach Plan

Overview............................................................................................................ 9

Engaging Business.............................................................................................. 9

Community Partners........................................................................................... 9

Individual Voter Network.................................................................................... 10

Non-English Preference Voters.......................................................................... 10

Voters with Disabilities ...................................................................................... 10

Addressing Disparities in Participation................................................................ 11

Direct Voter Contacts........................................................................................ 12

Public Service Announcements.......................................................................... 12

Budget............................................................................................................. 13

Addenda

Proposed Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off Locations

Location of Proposed Vote Centers.............................................................. 19

Ballot Drop-off Box Locations....................................................................... 20

Proposed Vote Center & Ballot Drop-off Locations Map................................. 21

Vote Center Layout (Proposed).......................................................................... 25

Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee & Language Accessibility Advisory Committee

Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee....................................................... 29

Language Accessibility Advisory Committee.................................................. 30

City Election Officials......................................................................................... 33

Community Partners......................................................................................... 37

Community Events............................................................................................ 49

Media Partners................................................................................................. 53

Example: Direct Voter Contact Postcards........................................................... 57

Maps

Public Transit Routes.................................................................................. 63

Areas with Low Vote by Mail Usage.............................................................. 64

Population.................................................................................................. 65

Language Minority Communities.................................................................. 66

Voters with Disabilities................................................................................. 67

Household Vehicle Ownership...................................................................... 68

Areas with Individuals Living in Poverty......................................................... 69

Areas with Eligible Residents Who are Not Yet Registered to Vote................. 70

Public Comments to Draft EAP and Responses.................................................. 73

California Voter’s Choice Act Legislation .......................................................... 173

SAN MATEO COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PLAN OVERVIEW

Senate Bill 450, also known as the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), was signed into law on September 29, 2016, authorizing 14 counties, including San Mateo, to conduct any election as an All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center election commencing in 2018. This legislation was part of a broad collection of election reforms designed to increase voter participation, increase voter engagement, and expand voting options, fundamentally changing how elections will be conducted in San Mateo County and participating jurisdictions.

San Mateo County has been at the forefront of conducting All-Mailed Ballot Elections in the State of California, with over 67% of our registered voters choosing to be permanent Vote by Mail voters. The passage of the VCA was influenced by San Mateo County’s successful November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election, conducted under the authority of Assembly Bill 2028. Many of the recommendations and methodologies contained in our AB 2028 Report to the State Legislature and the Secretary of State were incorporated into the VCA.

The County’s Chief Elections Officer is required under the VCA to prepare a draft Election Administration Plan (EAP) and after public comment, an Amended Draft EAP for the administration of elections under the new law. This Amended Draft EAP has been a collaborative effort prepared in consultation with our community partners and stakeholders. It has incorporated many of the recommendations obtained from our public hearings held on October 12, 2017, October 16, 2017, and January 18, 2018, with our language and disability communities and the general public.

With the posting of our Amended Draft EAP, the public was provided a 14-day comment period through March 15, 2018, to comment on the Amended Draft EAP. Upon conclusion of the 14-day comment period, the County’s Final EAP was formally adopted and submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

In an effort to continually improve the VCA elections model, the law requires the Chief Elections Officer to hold additional public hearings within two years of conducting the first election and every four years thereafter, to consider revisions to the EAP.

In the pages that follow, the EAP provides a brief overview of the Vote by Mail ballot process, the proposed locations of the County’s Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-off locations, and elections technology that will be deployed at Vote Centers. Our Voter Education and Outreach Plan is incorporated in the EAP.

VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS

Under the VCA model, all registered voters will be mailed a ballot beginning 29 days before the election, with a postage paid envelope to return the ballot. Voters may request a Vote by Mail ballot in a language other than English. Voters with disabilities, as well as overseas voters, military personnel, and military spouses may take advantage of San Mateo County’s Accessible Vote by Mail System, which allows qualified voters to access and mark their ballot in a screen-readable format on a personal computer. A registered voter may call, email or fax to receive a replacement ballot up till one week prior to Election Day. A replacement ballot can be obtained at a Vote Center during the final week prior to the election. If a person

states that due to a disability, they cannot come to a Vote Center for a replacement ballot, they have several options. They may request the County to deliver a ballot to their home or have an electronic voting machine brought to their home. Voters with disabilities may also use their personal computer to download and mark their ballot through the Accessible Vote by Mail System. Any list of voters with disabilities making a request for a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot will remain confidential.

VOTE CENTER AND BALLOT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

The VCA establishes detailed criteria and formulas for the location of Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-off locations throughout the County. The law requires that Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-off locations be accessible to voters with disabilities, located near population centers, public transportation and near low-income and language minority communities.

Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off locations were selected in consultation with the San Mateo County Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) and the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC). Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software and U.S. Census Data were also utilized to ensure locations are in optimal proximity to voters.

Vote Centers: Vote Centers will operate similar to polling places, allowing voters to cast their ballots in person, whether on paper, at an eSlate or at a Disabled Access Unit. Unlike polling places, however, voters can cast their ballots at any Vote Center countywide. Voters will also be able to register to vote or update their registration at any Vote Center. Voters who have not registered before the close of registration (15 days prior to the election), will be able to complete a Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) at any Vote Center and cast a provisional ballot through Election Day. In addition to these considerations, potential Vote Center locations must have the empty physical space for voting equipment and be available for the election timeframe.

Vote Centers will have a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to the County’s Election Management System (“EMS”), allowing Vote Center staff to verify, in real time, the voting status of each voter.

Vote Centers will be equipped with up to 10 eSlate electronic voting machines, including three Disabled Access Units. All Vote Centers are ADA-compliant, and Elections personnel will be on site to assist voters with specific needs.

Security and contingency plans will be in place to prevent disruption of voting, and to ensure that the election is properly conducted. The Registration & Elections Division is updating its current security and contingency plans to represent the changes in the election model and we will post information on our web site when it is completed.

When Vote Centers are not in operation, the site and equipment will be secured through tested and established security protocols such as tamper-evident seals and secure storage facilities. A sample Vote Center layout diagram is provided in the Addenda.

Vote Center Formula: Vote Centers will open sequentially, with greater numbers of Vote Centers in operation as the election draws nearer. The County will continue its practice of opening three Vote Centers in South San Francisco, San Mateo and Redwood City, 29 days before the election. A 29-day Vote Center has been added to the City of East Palo Alto.

Additional Vote Centers will open 10 days before the election, and all Vote Centers will be in full operation beginning the third day before the election.

The VCA has established the following formula for determining the locations of Vote Centers throughout the County. These numbers are based on an estimate of 390,000 registered voters for the June 2018 Election:

Days before Election Day

Number of Registered

Voters Per Vote Center

Vote Centers

Accessible to the Public

10

50,000

8

3

10,000

39

All Vote Centers will be open at least eight hours per day starting 10 days before the Election, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. including weekends and holidays, and open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Plans are for each Vote Center to be staffed by three to four Vote Center Representatives (VCRs). The County will endeavor to recruit at least one Spanish-speaking and one Chinese-speaking election worker in each Vote Center to provide language assistance. If a Vote Center is in, or adjacent to, a precinct with other language requirements, the County will endeavor to recruit a VCR fluent in the language or provide alternative methods of effective language assistance.

Ballot Drop-off Boxes: At least one Ballot Drop-off box is required for every 15,000 registered voters in the County for a projected total of 26 Ballot Drop-off boxes for the June 5, 2018 Election. These Ballot Drop-off boxes will be available no less than 28 days before Election Day and open during regular business hours. A Ballot Drop-off box outside the Registration & Election Division, at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, and additional sites in Daly City, East Palo Alto and Pescadero, will be open twenty-four hours a day.

Each of the 20 City and Town Halls in San Mateo County will have a locked ballot box available for dropping off ballots during their regular business hours. The Burlingame and East Palo Alto Libraries will have secure drop-boxes inside their facilities. Half Moon Bay Library will tentatively have one as well. Voters may also drop off a voted ballot at a Vote Center, Post Office or USPS mailbox.

A list of proposed Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off locations, along with a Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off location map, are included in the Addenda. Vote Center and/or Ballot Drop-off locations are subject to change.

VOTING TECHNOLOGY

The County’s voting technology is comprised of two main components, voter registration and voting tabulation. These two systems are completely separated. The voting tabulation system is a closed system and does not have any connection to the internet.

The County will deploy our existing Hart InterCivic Electronic Voting System and eSlate voting machines at all Vote Centers during the June 5, 2018 Election. Each voting machine has a Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). A paper record is printed before a voter finishes casting his/her ballot. The voter verifies that the paper records matches his/her electronic ballot. The paper record is kept with the voting machine.

At each Vote Center, a network of computers will be linked to the County’s Election Management System (EMS) through a secure VPN connection. These computers will not have access to other websites or to email for security purposes. The County’s EMS is connected to the voter registration database administered by the State of California, VoteCal. This will provide access to voter registration data, enabling Vote Center staff to determine the registration and voter status of every voter in real time. This secure system was successfully deployed in the November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election.

On-demand ballot printing printers will be used for the first time in County elections to provide voters with specific ballot styles for their voting precincts. Additionally, on-demand ballot printing printers minimize the purchase and printing of extra ballots that are needed to accommodate different ballot styles.

VOTER ELECTION DATA

With the implementation of the VCA model, the county will maintain, in an electronic format, a continuously updated index of voters who have done any of the following at a Vote Center:

• Registered to vote or updated their registration
• Received and voted a provisional or replacement ballot
• Voted a ballot using equipment at the Vote Center

Beginning no later than 10 days before the election this information will be available pursuant to the terms of Section 7 of the VCA.

The conversion to an All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center model will increase requests for information about whether registered voters have voted early or returned a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot during the period leading up to Election Day. This information is often requested during each election cycle by campaigns and other entities to contact voters about the upcoming election.

To fulfill these requests, the County will provide electronic access to a countywide Vote by Mail-Early Voting Cumulative Vote Report to candidates and campaigns daily, beginning at least 10 days prior to the election. Candidates and campaigns can subscribe to the updates to receive access.

Campaigns wanting VBM data tailored to their area would pay the Registration & Elections Division’s usual fee for the data.

DIGITAL “I VOTED” STICKER

One the most popular items requested from the voting public on Election Day is our “I Voted” sticker which proudly recognizes that the voter has participated in the election. “I Voted” stickers are so popular that many of our permanent VBM voters drop their ballots off at polling places just to obtain their stickers.

Given the popularity of the “I Voted” sticker, our County will be developing a digital “I Voted” sticker that can be copied and pasted on the voters’ social media pages and included in their online digital signatures. This will allow voters to proudly let the world know that they are active voters and voted in the election. The digital “I Voted” sticker will also recognize the years of voting a voter has participated in previous elections. A distinctive banner will be developed indicating the number of consecutive years voters have been registered in San Mateo County. This will proudly distinguish voters for their years of participation in the democratic process.

The digital “I Voted” sticker will be accessible via the “Check my Registration/Access my Election Materials/View My Voter Information Pamphlet/Track My Ballot” link at www.smcacre.org.

FISCAL IMPACT

The fiscal impact of the VCA and related legislative mandates is unknown at this time.

The June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be the first of its kind, both in terms of the new All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center model and the new election laws which will be fully implemented for the June 2018 election. The combined effect of these new laws coming online at the same time in a major Gubernatorial Primary Election may increase election costs for counties statewide. On the positive side, the VCA over time, should have the effect of mitigating many of the additional costs associated with these new legislative mandates. One of our principal concerns impacting election costs, will be the implementation of Senate Bill 415 (SB 415), the California Voter Participation Rights Act. SB 415 moved jurisdictions holding odd-numbered year elections to even-numbered year elections by 2020. This will result in a significant increase in the number of jurisdictions that will participate in the

November 2018 Election. This change will lead to considerably larger even-numbered year elections, resulting in larger sample ballot pamphlets, longer and more complex official ballots, and more ballot styles.

AB 1436 Conditional Voter Registration Law and AB 1461 DMV New Motor Voter Law, will increase voter registration and the total number of voters turning out at the polls. The influx of new voters will add additional costs to the administration of elections.

Additionally, the VCA itself will incur startup expenses that may increase election expenditures in the short-term. Vote Centers will be open longer and staffed by County employees at higher hourly rates than traditional poll workers. VCRs will also require additional training to manage the complexity and technology requirements of Vote Centers. Creating multiple secure connections between Vote Centers and the County’s voter registration database will result in increased expenditures due to new equipment, set up, testing, and support. We anticipate that these costs will eventually be off-set by a significant reduction in the number of voting

machines, labor and capital expenses. Future elections will also require less outreach and voter education, as voters will be more familiar with the new election model, further lowering expenditures.

SUMMARY

The California Voter’s Choice Act is landmark legislation that will fundamentally change the way elections are conducted in the State of California. San Mateo County’s successful experience with the November 3, 2015 Countywide Local Consolidated All-Mailed Ballot Election provides us the unique foundation to successfully administer elections under the VCA’s All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center election model. Successful implementation of this new method of conducting elections provides numerous benefits and opportunities to the County’s voters and participating jurisdictions. School districts, municipalities and special districts, benefit through increased efficiencies and reduced billable costs resulting from the new All-Mailed Ballot/Vote Center election model. The new election model will have the positive effect of increasing voter participation, providing greater accessibility to voters with disabilities, improving our voting systems and technology, and strengthening our elections infrastructure security.

San Mateo County looks forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation with the successful implementation of the California Voter’s Choice Act.

VOTER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PLAN - OVERVIEW

The California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) requires the County to develop a Voter Education and Outreach Plan that informs voters on all aspects of the VCA, including Vote Center and Ballot Drop-off locations, and information specific to voters with disabilities and non-English preference voters. Public meetings will be held with community organizations and individuals that advocate on behalf of or provide services to these groups. The County will hold multiple public education workshops, with translators available for Spanish, Chinese, Filipino and Korean language speakers. All public events hosted by the County will be ADA accessible.

The County worked with its Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) and Language Accessibility Advisory Committee (LAAC) to develop the Voter Education and Outreach Plan, which will be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office for review and approval.

Similar to our community outreach and public awareness efforts in advance of the November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election, the County will reach out to community organizations, agencies, schools and other groups to raise awareness of the new election model. This will be combined with a broad media campaign using direct mail, news media (including student newspapers), social media (such as Facebook and Twitter), and public access media to announce the implementation of the VCA. The campaign will promote the toll-free voter assistance hotline, 888-SMC-VOTE (888.762.8683) inform voters how to obtain their ballot in an accessible format, and provide multilingual services and accessibility to persons with hearing disabilities.

The Registration & Elections Division will reach out to organizations hosting community events and community organizations found in the Addenda. The community events and community partners list will evolve as new ones are added and/or changed.

ENGAGING BUSINESSES

The County will promote the SOS’s nonpartisan Democracy at Work program through social media. The Democracy at Work program provides the opportunity for businesses, government agencies and nonprofits to partner with the SOS to encourage greater civic participation through initiatives designed to increase voter registration and voter turnout among employees and the voting public.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The Registration & Elections Division has provided information about the new voting model to more than 200 Community Partners to assist in voter outreach. Election representatives are attending community events, making presentations to organizations, and training interested individuals and groups to assist with education and outreach. Upcoming community events, community partners, and city election official contacts can be found in the Addenda. These lists will evolve as new events and partners are added and/or changed. Additions are welcome to these lists. The list will be updated on www.smcacre.org.

The County has added college organizations, veterans and other advocacy groups to its list of community partners. Community partners may assist in simple ways such as placing a flyer in an office, including an article in an organizational newsletter or on a website, or have an Elections representative present information on the VCA to clients, members, and/or residents. Educational tools, including a presentation, flyer, and frequently asked questions, will be available to download from the County’s Election website or copies available from the Division’s Tower Road location. An online toolkit will include messages, graphics, and other resources which can be customized for various needs.

County representatives will continue to visit local high schools to register and pre-register students and educate them about the VCA election model. While colleges in the county will not be in regular session during the voting period for the June 5, 2018 Election, the Registration & Elections Division will provide information in advance to interested campus organizations.

INDIVIDUAL VOTER NETWORK

Outreach and education activities are not limited to organizations. Individual voters may serve as part of a support network to alert the Registration & Elections Division to barriers to voting and provide solutions to ensure widespread awareness to the new voting model. The Division is developing a contact form on its website for this purpose and will provide office contact information at Vote Centers to receive comments.

Voters attending County educational workshops will be offered badges to wear with a statement such as, “Ask me about San Mateo County’s Voter’s Choices – choosing when, where and how to vote.”

In the future, the Registration & Elections Division may create a Voter Participation Committee to focus on confronting barriers to voting and solutions to ensure widespread voter turnout.

NON-ENGLISH PREFERENCE VOTERS

As part of its outreach efforts, the County will continue and expand its outreach to voters who prefer to use a language other than English.

A news release, distributed to all media serving San Mateo County residents, will announce the toll-free voter assistance hotline, which will provide multilingual services. Additionally, advertisements in Spanish, Chinese, Filipino and Korean media will be purchased to promote the assistance hotline.

Vote Centers which require language assistance have been identified by the California Secretary of State through U.S. Census data. Additional identification will be through the public input process, including input provided by the County’s LAAC.

Media partners, including non-English language media, are in the Addenda. The County has incorporated additional media partners from public comments to the Draft EAP.

VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES

The County has a long-standing commitment to working with voters with disabilities to increase accessibility in the democratic process. The Registration & Elections Division website, www.smcacre.org, provides information and resources for voters with disabilities, including details on eSlate Disabled Access Units, the Accessible Vote by Mail System, the ADA Accessible requirements for Vote Centers and the VAAC. The County also provides information on these resources to convalescent hospitals, Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Vista Center for the Blind, Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities, San Francisco Independent Living Resource Center and Peninsula Volunteers – Meals on Wheels.

A press release, distributed to all media serving San Mateo County residents, will announce the toll-free voter assistance hotline, which will provide accessibility to persons with hearing disabilities.

Voters with disabilities may request the County to deliver a ballot to their home or have an electronic voting machine brought to their home. Voters with disabilities may also use their personal computer to download and mark their ballot through the Accessible Vote by Mail System. Vote Center staff may also bring a paper ballot replacement or the eSlate Disabled Access Unit to a car for curbside voting.

Most Vote Centers can be reached via Sam Trans, San Mateo County’s bus service. Persons with disabilities who cannot independently use regular SamTrans bus service, some or all of the time, have access to paratransit. The San Mateo County Transit District provides paratransit using Redi-Wheels on the bayside of the county and RediCoast on the coastside. Riders may call to reserve a trip from one to seven days in advance. The Registration & Elections Division is working with the Paratransit Coordinator to expand voting opportunities for serving persons with disabilities.

A voter with disabilities may contact the Registration & Elections Division to arrange and pay for transportation services to provide a round-trip ride (within the county) if they are unable to reserve a trip through paratransit to the closest Vote Center.

ADDRESSING DISPARITIES IN PARTICIPATION

Citizens may register to vote online directly at registertovote.ca.gov or can access the state voter registration website through a link from the County Elections’ website, www.smcacre.org. Citizens may pick up a voter registration form at the Registration & Elections Division, City Halls, libraries and post offices throughout the County. County agencies serving low-income households and individuals with disabilities provide voter registration forms to their clients. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Secretary of State are working to establish a new California Motor Voter Program as defined by AB 1461. This new program, during DMV transactions, will automatically register any person who is qualified to vote unless that person opts out of registration. This is expected to begin in April 2018. Also, the Registration & Elections Division will mail a registration form upon request.

The Secretary of State provides National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) resources and training to County agencies serving low-income residents and individuals with disabilities. These agencies include, but are not limited to: CalFresh CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), In-Home Supportive Services, Covered California, California’s health benefit exchange, Department of Rehabilitation-Vocational Services, Independent Living Centers, Department of Developmental Services Regional Centers, Offices contracting with the Office of Deaf Access, State and County mental and behavioral health departments, and private practitioners providing services under contract with those departments. The County will provide additional information and training on request to coordinators and staff at agencies.

The draft EAP included six of eight core service agencies providing safety net services to San Mateo County residents (Coastside Hope, El Concilio of San Mateo County, Fair Oaks Community Center, Pacifica Resource Center, Puente de la Costa Sur, and Samaritan House). The amended draft EAP adds the Daly City Community Service Center and YMCA Community Resource Center.

The County regularly provides information on voting rights and elections to the Sheriff’s Office to share with inmates in the county’s correctional facilities. Information will also be given to the Service League of San Mateo County for inmates and to the Service League and the David E. Lewis Community Reentry Center for former inmates.

The San Mateo County Transit District offers free community shuttles in Brisbane, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, San Carlos, San Mateo and South San Francisco. As part of the Get Up & Go program, the Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC) operates a low-cost door-to-door, wheelchair-accessible bus and car service for older adults who do not drive. Community members can use the online searchable database www.onecalloneclick.org, maintained by the nonprofit OUTREACH, to locate services and chat with a live person or call OUTREACH Mobility Managers at 408-436-2865 for one-on-one service.

A Roving Voting set-up will be deployed to Pescadero and La Honda to address geographically remote areas where a fixed site is not needed for the small population. This will not be a full-fledged Vote Center due to logistics. The Registration & Elections Division will provide additional information on the capabilities in a press release and on our website.

DIRECT VOTER CONTACTS

Direct contact from the County to voters was the most effective method to inform voters about the November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election.

Three postcards are planned to inform voters of the new election model, in addition to information in the Sample Ballot & Official Voter Information Pamphlet and the Vote by Mail Ballot. The first mailing will inform all registered voters of the new voting model. The second mailing will be to voters who have not previously received their ballot by mail to alert them to the upcoming ballot mailing and provide Vote Center information. The third mailing, in the final days before the election, will be to voters who have not mailed in their ballot to remind them to do so, providing information on obtaining a replacement ballot and on Vote Center locations.

Examples of postcards from the November 3, 2015 All-Mailed Ballot Election are included in the Addenda to the Plan.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) script for TV will be distributed with the request for visuals or closed-captioning for voters who are deaf or hard of hearing. A radio script will include a request to stations to post the information on their companion websites to assist in reaching those voters.

Artwork will be available from the County for print and online PSAs, and for government and community partners to use in their social media and newsletters. Print PSAs will be accompanied by a request to post the announcement on any affiliated websites with audio for the blind and visually impaired.

The County will provide Spanish, Chinese, Filipino and Korean language media outlets serving San Mateo County with scripts for PSAs. The scripts will inform voters of the upcoming election and promote the toll-free voter assistance hotline. Artwork will also be available.

BUDGET

The June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election has been allocated $241,000 for voter education and outreach. Additionally, the Registration & Elections Division will provide in-house support for the preparation of graphic and outreach materials, public presentations and community outreach events.

The budget will allow the purchase of advertisements in newspapers, television, radio and social media. A portion of these funds will be allocated to language translation and braille production. The outreach budget does not include printing and postage costs for direct mailings to registered voters. Additional funds in the amount of $200,000 will need to be added to the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election budget for this purpose.

In addition, The Voter’s Choice California coalition has offered grants to community-based organizations to enlist their support in VCA outreach programs. Information regarding the Voter’s Choice California coalition and their grant programs may be obtained at https://voterschoice.org/

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Robert Riechel

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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Mateo County CA

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