HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemoTO: Honorable Mayor and Members
Of the City Commission
9 41'�� A �Z.
FROM: Priscilla A. Thompson, CMC
City Clerk
GC4-002-7
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
DATE : March 10, 2009 FILE:
SUBJECT: Miami -Dade County Supervisor of
Elections request to reschedule
2009 runoff election
REFERENCES: April 2, 2009 Agenda
ENCLOSURES: (5)
We are in receipt of correspondence from Mr. Lester Sola, Supervisor of Elections for
Miami -Dade County, requesting that we change the date of our 2009 Runoff Election
from November 10, 2009 to November 24, 2009. (Exhibit A)
As stated in the City of Miami Charter Sec. 7, "A general municipal election for the
mayor and city commissioners shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November in odd -numbered years. A runoff election for the mayor and city
commissioners shall be held on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in November
in odd -numbered years. The Miami -Dade County Supervisor of Elections is requesting
that we change the date of our scheduled 2009 Runoff Election from November 10, 2009
to November 24, 2009.
In his letter, Mr. Sola states that by changing the date of the Runoff Election the Miami -
Dade County Elections Department can help us meet our shared goals of a thorough,
complete and accurate election process by allowing extra time to:
• Allow time to complete processing the General Election
• Update voter registration records
• Code, proof and test two different voting systems (optical scan and electronic)
• Order, print, process and mail absentee ballots
• Give adequate time to voters to receive and return their absentee ballots
• Hire and train personnel for early voting sites, if applicable, and for Election Day
• Deliver paper ballots and supplies to polling locations
• Reset, reprogram, and retest all election equipment
• Prepare for the state -mandated Logic and Accuracy Test (L&A) and Post Election
Audit.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 100.3605 — Conduct of municipal elections,--- "(2) The
governing body of a municipality may, by ordinance, change the dates for qualifying and
for the election of members of the governing body of the municipality and provide for the
orderly transition of office resulting from such date changes."
The Miami -Dade County Elections Department provided us with an estimate for a
citywide general election and estimates for a citywide runoff election and a District 3
runoff Election. These estimates provide a highest/lowest threshold for costs for these
elections. The Elections Department also provided the estimates for runoff elections in
two scenarios. The first being a runoff election conducted on the same day as Miami
Beach, Homestead and Hialeah (Shared) and the second being a runoff election
conducted on a day not shared with other municipalities (Stand Alone). (Exhibit B)
For early voting costs we also received an estimate of $2,000 per site per day. (Exhibit C)
In the 2005 citywide election, we utilized 10 early voting sites (2 per District) and
conducted early voting for 7 days.
Estimated Cost Scenarios for November 2009 Elections
A discussion item on Mr. Sola's request to change the date of the runoff election from
November 10, 2009 to November 24, 2009 is scheduled for Commission consideration on
the April 2, 2009 Commission Meeting agenda. Mr. Sola, or one of his staff members,
will be in attendance to address questions regarding this issue.
Lastly, you will also find a copy of all polling places within the City of Miami (Exhibit
D) and 2009 election calendar with pertinent dates (Exhibit E).
Please contact me if you have any questions concerning this discussion item.
PAT:dsd
C. Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager
Julie O. Bru, City Attorney
Gail A. Dotson, Assistant City Attorney
2
General Election and a City-
General Election and a
Estimated Costs for the
wide Runoff Election
Single District Runoff
November 2009 Elections
Election
Shared
Stand Alone
Shared
Stand Alone
Early Voting (Generai-10 sites)
$140,000
$140,000
$140,000
$140,000
General Election (shared)
$325,000
$325,000
$325,000
$325,000
Runoff Election
$370,000
$650,000
$107,000
$115,000
Total
$835,000
$1,115,000
$572,000
$580,000
A discussion item on Mr. Sola's request to change the date of the runoff election from
November 10, 2009 to November 24, 2009 is scheduled for Commission consideration on
the April 2, 2009 Commission Meeting agenda. Mr. Sola, or one of his staff members,
will be in attendance to address questions regarding this issue.
Lastly, you will also find a copy of all polling places within the City of Miami (Exhibit
D) and 2009 election calendar with pertinent dates (Exhibit E).
Please contact me if you have any questions concerning this discussion item.
PAT:dsd
C. Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager
Julie O. Bru, City Attorney
Gail A. Dotson, Assistant City Attorney
2