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úÎÐÐÔÉÉØØðØÐÎËÜÏÙÈÐ TO: CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE DATE: DECEMBER 19, 2011 FROM: CITY CLERK SUBJECT: RUNOFF ELECTIONS BACKGROUND: At the meeting of November 28, 2011, the Charter Review Committee requested staff to prepare Charter language to provide for Mayor and City Council run-off elections sixty days following the general election. Elections Code Section 1100 provides that no election shall be held on any day other than a Tuesday, nor shall any election be held on the day before, the day of, or the day after, a state holiday. The draft language prepared is specific to avoid any confusion on the precise calendar date elections will be held and to comply with Elections Code Section 1100. For detailed information, please refer to the information contained in the attached correspondence from the Registrar of Voters. A summary of issues is presented below. City Council Elections The attached draft amendment to Charter Section 400(c) provides for City Council runoff elections to be held on the last Tuesday in August of odd-numbered years. Following City Council June general elections, the Registrar of Voters certifies election results within a few days. There is sufficient time to accommodate recounts, if any, and preparation and distribution of run-off election materials for an August election, if held late in the month. The last Tuesday is preferred as other jurisdictions conduct elections that same day and some cost savings and efficiencies may be realized. Voters will participate in elections in June, August, and November. Mayor Elections The general election for Mayor is held in June of Presidential election years.Certification of election results usually requires the full 28 days provided for in the Elections Code. Allowing for possible recounts and preparation and mailing of ballots, it is impractical to conduct a runoff election in August. The attached draft amendment to Charter Section 400(d) provides for Mayor runoff elections to be held on the second Tuesday following the first Monday in September of Presidential election years to provide sufficient time to comply with all Elections Code procedures and avoid conflict with the Labor Day holiday. Charter amendments approved by voters on June 5, 2012, will not be effective until filed by the Secretary of State’s Office. The filing will likely be recorded in early August 2012. Therefore, any change in the Mayor runoff election date could not be effective until the 2016 election cycle as election preparations will be well underway. The draft language for Charter Section 400(j)