HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetterDear Ms. Thompson:
With the 2008 election year behind us, the Elections Department is looking to refine our procedures
based on the new optical scan voting system. What we have learned this past year is that this
system requires much more preparation time than what was previously required. This, in turn,
requires that your municipality reevaluate when you hold your run-off elections. In order to give this
Department the time that is required to properly prepare for every election and in addition, give your
voters the opportunity to take advantage of absentee voting, I strongly urge you to conduct your
general municipal and run-off elections a minimum of three weeks apart. As you know, there are
many steps involved in preparing for a municipal election. This includes:
• Updating voter registration records
• Coding, proofing and testing two different voting systems (optical scan and electronic)
• Ordering, printing, processing and mailing absentee ballots
• Giving adequate time to voters to receive and return their absentee ballots
• Hiring and training personnel for early voting sites, if applicable, and for Election Day
• Delivering paper ballots and. supplies to early voting sites and polling locations
• Resetting, reprogramming, and retesting all election equipment
• Preparing for the state -mandated Logic and Accuracy Test (L&A) and Post Election Audit
It is a tremendous challenge for this Department to perform all of the procedures stated above in the
timeframe that currently exists between your general municipal and runoff elections. The greatest
concern is in regards to absentee voting. The short time period between elections may prevent
voters from taking advantage of absentee voting and/or being able to successfully return the ballot to
our office by the deadline.
I know we share a common goal to ensure that your elections are thorough, complete, and accurate.
With this in mind, i hope you take this recommendation into consideration and allow a minimum of
three weeks between your general municipal and run-off elections. I would like to remind you that
F.S. 100.3605 stipulates that municipalities have the authority to change the date of their elections, a
right that many municipalities have exercised in the past.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me
directly or Tara Smith, Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections, at 305-499-8509.
Sincerely,
Supervi$or of EledWs
Miami= jade Elections Department Exhibit A
Elections
M® DARE
2700 NW 87th Avenue
P E C E'
Miami, Florida 33172
T 305 -499 -VOTE F 305-499.8547
TTY: 305-499-8480
2009 FEB 13 F
miamidade.gov
February 11, 2009
'RISCILLA A.
CITY "LE
CITY OF HlS ,
Priscilla A. Thompson
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Dr.
Miami, FL 33133
Dear Ms. Thompson:
With the 2008 election year behind us, the Elections Department is looking to refine our procedures
based on the new optical scan voting system. What we have learned this past year is that this
system requires much more preparation time than what was previously required. This, in turn,
requires that your municipality reevaluate when you hold your run-off elections. In order to give this
Department the time that is required to properly prepare for every election and in addition, give your
voters the opportunity to take advantage of absentee voting, I strongly urge you to conduct your
general municipal and run-off elections a minimum of three weeks apart. As you know, there are
many steps involved in preparing for a municipal election. This includes:
• Updating voter registration records
• Coding, proofing and testing two different voting systems (optical scan and electronic)
• Ordering, printing, processing and mailing absentee ballots
• Giving adequate time to voters to receive and return their absentee ballots
• Hiring and training personnel for early voting sites, if applicable, and for Election Day
• Delivering paper ballots and. supplies to early voting sites and polling locations
• Resetting, reprogramming, and retesting all election equipment
• Preparing for the state -mandated Logic and Accuracy Test (L&A) and Post Election Audit
It is a tremendous challenge for this Department to perform all of the procedures stated above in the
timeframe that currently exists between your general municipal and runoff elections. The greatest
concern is in regards to absentee voting. The short time period between elections may prevent
voters from taking advantage of absentee voting and/or being able to successfully return the ballot to
our office by the deadline.
I know we share a common goal to ensure that your elections are thorough, complete, and accurate.
With this in mind, i hope you take this recommendation into consideration and allow a minimum of
three weeks between your general municipal and run-off elections. I would like to remind you that
F.S. 100.3605 stipulates that municipalities have the authority to change the date of their elections, a
right that many municipalities have exercised in the past.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me
directly or Tara Smith, Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections, at 305-499-8509.
Sincerely,
Supervi$or of EledWs
Miami= jade Elections Department Exhibit A