Drafter

Clerk 08/22/24

Title

AN ORDINANCE relating to the citizens' elections oversight committee; and amending Ordinance 15453, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C.2.53.021 and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 2.16.

Body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     NEW SECTION.  SECTION 1.  There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 2.16, a new section to read as follows:

                       A.  At least twenty-eight days before any election, the department of elections shall request from the citizens' elections oversight committee a list of committee members designated as observers.

                       B.  At least a reasonable time before any election, the department of elections shall notify the citizens' elections oversight committee of when ballot processing will begin and shall request observers from the committee for the processing of ballots at the counting center.  The absence of observers from the committee will not prevent the processing of ballots.

                     C.  The department of elections shall notify the citizens' elections oversight committee of opportunities to observe official logic and accuracy tests for each vote tallying system to be used at elections.

                       D.  The department of elections shall notify the citizens' elections oversight committee of opportunities to observe recounts.

                     SECTION 2.  Ordinance 15453, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C.2.53.021 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                       A.  Committee membership shall include:

                       1.  One representative ((from)) sponsored by a nonpartisan organization active in King County that evaluates candidates and ballot measures, such as the Municipal League;

                       2.  One representative ((from)) sponsored by a nonpartisan organization active in King County that provides elections information to the public, such as the League of Women Voters;

                       3.  One representative from the disability community;

                       4.  One ((jurisdictional)) representative ((from)) sponsored by either a junior taxing district or a city with a population of under twenty thousand;

                       5.  One representative of the Chinese-speaking community;

                       6.  One representative of the Vietnamese-speaking community;

                       7.  One representative of the Spanish-speaking community;

                       8.  One representative from the Korean-speaking community;

                       9.  One representative from each of any other language minority community for which the Director of the Bureau of the Census determines by publication in the Federal Register that King County is required to provide minority language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act;

                       10.  Two King County registered voters who are not representatives of any of the groups listed in subsection A.1. through 9. and 11. through 16. of this section;

                       11.  One representative from the King County Democratic Party;

                       12.  One representative from the King County Republican Party;

                       13.  One ex officio, nonvoting representative from the Office of the Secretary of State;

                       14.  One representative ((from)) sponsored by an academic institution ((who)) and has knowledge of elections;

                       15.  One representative who has experience in technology; and

                       16.  One representative ((from)) sponsored by a nonpartisan organization in King County that promotes equality and the advancement of ((blacks)) Black or African Americans, such as the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

                     B.  The process for filling vacancies on the committee is:

                       1.  The chair of the council shall notify councilmembers of vacancies on the committee and shall direct council staff to develop a job description and list of qualifications for committee members, as well as an application form;

                       2.  ((The open)) Except those positions for the representative from the King County Democratic Party and the representative from the King County Republican Party, vacant positions shall be advertised at a minimum in the county's newspaper of record;

                       3.  The chair of the council shall direct council staff to develop administrative procedures for accepting applications.  All applications shall be forwarded to all county councilmembers.  Applications shall also be forwarded to the citizens' elections oversight committee for review and the committee may provide feedback to the employment and administration committee;

                       4.  The employment and administration committee shall review applications, and may interview applicants.  By majority vote, the employment and administration committee shall appoint members to the citizen oversight committee; and

                       5.  Appointments shall be confirmed or rejected by the full council by motion.

                     C.  When the Director of the Bureau of the Census determines by publication in the Federal Register that King County is no longer required to provide minority language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act to a language minority community, the term of the committee member representing that community expires and committee membership representing that community is no longer required.

                     D.  Members should have, but not limited to:

                       1.  A working knowledge of local or state government elections operations and management, demography, technology and organizational management;

                       2.  A strong commitment to an accountable, transparent, well-managed and efficient elections operation in King County; and

                       3.  A willingness to commit the time necessary to attend committee meetings and activities.

                     E.  Committee members shall not hold elective public office or be a candidate for election to public office, other than as a precinct committee officer.

                     F.  Except for the ex officio member, members shall serve three-year terms.  The ex officio member serves at the pleasure of the member's office.  Any other members that may be added as required by Ordinance 17273 and under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act shall serve three-year terms that begin on the date of appointments to the committee and expire December 31, three years after the appointments.

                     G.  Except for the ex officio position, members are required to reside in King County.  However, members, who during their tenures on the committee temporarily live outside the United States but maintain King County as their residences, may continue to serve on the committee during their temporary absences from the county.

                     H.  The representative from the King County Democratic Party and the representative from the King County Republican Party are not eligible to serve as the chair of the committee.