Memorandum 13-146 Election/Canvass Board Report

Memorandum 13-146
TO:  MAYOR WYTHE AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM:  MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
DATE:  OCTOBER 14, 2013
SUBJECT: ELECTION/CANVASS BOARD REPORT

As this election season experience comes to a close I am pleased to report that the 2013 Regular Election went very smoothly.

Absentee/Early Voting in person increased this year, keeping the Clerk’s Office hopping for the two weeks before the election. Deputy City Clerk Renee Krause did a great job of working with a majority of the 144 voters who came to the counter. This is the second year we have had voting by electronic transmission, and there was an increase in voters using the electronic transmission options which include both fax and email.

Election Day began at 6:30 a.m. when Election Judges arrived to receive ballots and equipment, and finish setting up for polls to open at 7:00 a.m.  The day ended around 9:30 p.m. after the night’s results were recorded, voting booths and ballot boxes were packed up, ballot accountably forms balanced with election registers, and ballots, registers, and accu-vote units were secure in the vault.

There were minimal issues with attempted electioneering, as one voter arrived with a plastic bag hanging out of his back pocket, and two bags were found lying on either side of stairs outside. 

I visited Long Term Care at the hospital, so those folks who couldn’t get out to a polling place would still have an opportunity to vote.  That is a very rewarding part of Election Day for me. 

There aren’t enough words of appreciation for the Election Judges who come back year after year to work elections for the City of Homer.  They are truly amazing and are so aware of the significance of the election process that they make the Election Day process pretty darned uneventful until the polls close and the results are reported.

The Canvass Board did a great job reviewing the absentee and election night work so we could get those ballots counted timely for election certification tonight.

Lastly, I would like to recognize Pauline Benson and Charlene Jump for their knowledge, time, and patience as we worked through the first election recount in my time with the City.  It was an interesting learning experience that I am glad is behind us.  It really helped reinforce the extreme importance of all of the steps taken, beginning in July, that show the accountability and the transparency of the City of Homer election process.