Ordinance 2008-308 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A +-I-'/"~.t j, '-",,0 ,,\..1. ~ t.l..."~ ~ I I ~ '- If ~ ~ '\ P " ~emorandum __ Agenda Item No. 12(B)1 Date: February 5, 2008 To: From: Honorable Bruno A. Barreiro, Chairperson and Members, Boa:~ Commlsslonsrs George M. Burgess ~~ County Manager _ ~ Report on the Feasibility of Consolidating Municipal Elections Subject: This Information Is provided in response to Resolution R-1135-07 adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on October 2, 2007, requesting the feaSibility and advisability of consolidating municipal elections onto one day or conducting municipal elections In conjunction with countywide elections. The Elections Department was charged with reviewing the current elections calendar and Identifying whether the consolidation of municipal elections would result In a more efficient use of public resources and higher voter participation. This is a topic that the Supervisor of Elections had previously discussed with my staff as It was believed that a consolidation was beneficial from both an operational standpoint as well as for the voters of Miami-Dade County. Upon passage of R-1135-07, a more comprehensive review of this Issue was undertaken, and It was found that the con.ol/datlon of munIcIpal electlona la both feasIble and de.lrable. However, municipal charter amendments will be necessary in order to move election dates, thus cooperation from each municipality will be necessary. Backaround Miami-Dade Is the only county In the State of Florida with an unconsolidated elections calendar, Each of the County's 35 municipalities' election dates Is set by the municipality's charter without Input from the County. Currently, their elections take place on varIous dates throughout both even and odd years. There are only a handful of municipalities that share the same date. Other counties require municipalities to hold their elections In conjunction with each other. For example, Broward County's municipal elections are consolidated and held on the same day In either February or March in odd years and in March In even years. Palm Beach County's municipal elections are consolidated and held on the same day In March in odd years with no municipal elections In even years. In vast comparison, the Miami-Dade Elections Department conducts approximately 30 elections per year. In 2007, July was the only month In which an election did not take place. Consolidating municipal elections In Miami-Dade County Is both feasible and desirable, and can be accomplished In two ways - consolidating onto one day not In conjunction with a countywide election or consolidating In conjunction with a countywide election. Both scenarios will result In a cost savings to the municipality for services provided by the Elections Department and a cost savings to the County for Elections personnel. Of most Importance Is the Increased voter participation that will be realized, which Is a direct benefit to both the municipalities and the County. It Is too common that Important local Issues are decided upon by a small minority of the electorate. Even If the municipal races or Issues are Impacted as a result of their placement towards the end of the ballot, the number of voters deciding an Issue will be significantly higher than In "stand-alone" elections. There are three scenarios for conducting a municipal election: Option 1: Stand-alone election In this option, the election date Is unique to the municipality. The costs Incurred by each muniCipality to hold a stand-alone election are the actual costs Incurred by the Elections Department. One hundred percent of the costs associated with election-related services such as ballot programming, /