Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the annual reporting of information on elections to the council; and adding a new section to K.C.C. chapter 2.18.
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PREAMBLE:
The proper administration of elections is a paramount duty of King County.
The county has invested significant resources in new technology, staff training, management, and oversight structures to ensure that county elections are open, fair and accurate.
Accuracy in reconciling returned ballots is essential for the electorate to have confidence in the county's administration of elections.
The council has oversight responsibilities for elections as well as all other county functions.
Information on the cost of elections, voter turnout and the accuracy of elections as measured by ballot reconciliation statistics are three important measures that reflect how well elections are administered and provide accountability and transparency of elections operations for the council and for the public.
It is essential for the council to review elections information and data on a regular basis in order to perform its oversight function and help ensure the proper administration of elections.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
NEW SECTION. SECTION 1. There is hereby added to K.C.C. chapter 2.18 a new section to read as follows:
A. The director of elections shall, each year, provide to the county council a report that contains information on elections. The report shall include:
1. Detailed costs of conducting and administering special, primary and general elections in the county. The format for this information shall be the same as the department of elections uses to tabulate costs for which it invoices jurisdictions for the costs of running and administering elections. The time series for the cost of elections shall be the most-recent ten years of data ending with a general election;
2. Voter turnout data for the most-recent ten years for all special, primary and general elections. The turnout data shall include the number of voters credited with voting as well as the percentage of active registered voters who were credited with voting; and
3. Accuracy data as measured by ballot reconciliation figures including, but not limited to, those required by Washington state law to be reported to the Secretary of State. The time series for the accuracy data shall begin with the general election of 2005 and continue until there is a decade of data. When there is more than ten years of accuracy data, only the most-recent ten years shall be reported.
4. Information about developing trends in the elections department, which incorporates ongoing reforms, and whereby staff and management are continuously looking for improvements to the administration of elections operations.
B. The director of elections shall transmit to the council the report required by subsection A. of this section by March 31 of each year, filed in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers and the lead staff for the government accountability and oversight committee or its successor.