Drafter
Clerk 07/29/2004
Title
A MOTION adopting a work plan to implement recommendations of the King County citizens' election oversight committee.
Body
WHEREAS, public trust and confidence in our electoral process is of paramount importance, and
WHEREAS, the administration of elections is recognized as a core function of county government, and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the historically close presidential election in 2000, national concern for the integrity of elections increased significantly, and
WHEREAS, delays in the mailing of absentee ballots in the 2002 reneral election and similar issues in special elections held in 2003 caused further public concern in King County, and
WHEREAS, these events undermined public confidence in the electoral process, and
WHEREAS, the King County executive and the metropolitan King County council asked the office of the Secretary of State to review King County election procedures and report findings regarding election problems and made recommendations for improvements, and
WHEREAS, the metropolitan King County council hired an independent consultant to critique the county's election procedures and make recommendations for improvements, and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan King County Council passed Ordinance 14711 creating the King County citizens' elections oversight committee with the charge to examine county elections practices and procedures and to make recommendations for improvements, and
WHEREAS, the executive has appointed and the council has confirmed a new manager of records, elections and licensing services and a new superintendent of elections, and
WHEREAS, the manager and the superintendent have worked diligently to implement the majority of recommendations made by the office of the Secretary of State, the council's consultant and the citizens' elections oversight committee, and
WHEREAS, there remain recommendations that require further study, require changes in state law, require new funding or require more time for implementation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The Elections Work Plan, Attachment A to this motion, is hereby adopted;
B. The manager of records, elections and licensing services shall file quarterly reports with the clerk of the council for distribution to the chair of the labor, operations and technology committee, or its successor, and the chair of the council, on progress in completing the Elections Work Plan. The reports are due thirty days following March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year until December 31, 2005.
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