Title:
Enhancements to Voter Engagement (Commissioner Harden)
Summary
ACTION:
Request a report from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, developed with the Director of Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, making recommendations on actions available to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners to expand access, convenience, and customer service to voting in Mecklenburg County. This report may include and address the following:
1) Input from the citizenry including the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, non-partisan voting advocacy groups, and partisan political groups;
2) All forms of voting including absentee, early, and election day voting;
3) Technological innovations and strategies to reduce wait times and standing like those used in our Community Resource Centers;
4) Baseline metrics for access, convenience, and customer service and set goals;
5) Budget implications for all recommendations;
6) Definitions of access, convenience, and customer service;
7) Space and parking shortages experienced during early voting;
8) Contemporary communication strategies and enhanced voter outreach including real-time wait information;
9) Population growth estimates for Mecklenburg County and strategies to expand access, convenience, and customer service in this growing context.
10) Intensified voter education in light of changing voter id requirements.
Commission Contact: Commissioner Susan B. Harden, Sponsor
Co-sponsors: Commissioners Jerrell and Rodriguez-McDowell
Presentation: Yes (Verbal)
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County funds the critical functions of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. These functions include establishing precinct and voting sites, appointing and training precinct officials, distributing ballots, and maintaining voting equipment. The Board of Elections maintains the voter registration system and conducts voter education. The Board of Elections is an independent board appointed by the State Board of Elections and oversees the hiring of the Director.
The funding of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections by Mecklenburg County secures one of the most sacred elements of Democracy: voting. As our community has absorbed 400,000 residents since 2000 and is predicted to grow another 225,000 by 2027, we must be proactive to ensure proper access to voting. Convenience and customer service is key to high voter turnout. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections is an independent governmental authority and has discretion over the activities of the Board of Elections. This report would be a collaborative and nonpartisan effort to improve access, convenience, and customer service.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A