File #: 2005-0055    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 2/7/2005 In control: Committee of the Whole
On agenda: 4/25/2005 Final action: 4/25/2005
Enactment date: 5/5/2005 Enactment #: 15157
Title: AN ORDINANCE establishing the King County elections oversight committee; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 2.
Sponsors: Jane Hague, Julia Patterson, Carolyn Edmonds, Dow Constantine, Bob Ferguson, Pete von Reichbauer, Reagan Dunn, Larry Phillips, David W. Irons, Kathy Lambert, Steve Hammond
Indexes: Committees, Elections, King County
Code sections: 2 -
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 15157.pdf, 2. 2005-0055 Staff Report for 03-28-05 COW.doc, 3. 2005-0055 Staff Report for 04-11-05 COW.doc
Drafter
Clerk 04/25/2005
title
AN ORDINANCE establishing the King County elections oversight committee; and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 2.
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PREAMBLE:
1. The proper administration of elections is an essential function of county government in Washington state. Public confidence in the conduct of elections and the prompt and accurate counting of ballots are of the utmost importance to our democratic society. Conducting elections requires numerous other important administrative functions, including registering voters, processing filings for candidates and measures, and publishing voters' pamphlets.
2. In the November 2002 general election, the King County elections section failed to mail a significant number of absentee ballots to voters on a timely basis.
3. On February 14, 2003, the metropolitan King County council adopted Ordinance 14570, which was enacted. Its purpose was to strengthen the management and oversight of the elections section. The ordinance requires council confirmation of the position of director of the King County records, elections and licensing services division and the position of superintendent of elections.
4. In March 2003, the council hired an elections consultant, a former county elections manager, to conduct an independent review of county elections.
5. On April 22, 2003, the council's elections consultant produced a final report for the council thoroughly reviewing county elections procedures. The report made short and long-term recommendations for improving the election process in King County.
6. Additional problems occurred during the April 22 and May 20, 2003, special elections.
7. On July 14, 2003, the council adopted Ordinance 14711 establishing the King County citizens' election oversight committee, which was enacted. The citizens' oversight committee was charged with looking at procedural issues that had been identified in the 2002 and 2003 elections, to identify the causes of the problems, ...

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