Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWS Item 02 - City Officer Election IFTip'"I'"III 'ill !1 MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER MEETING DATE: JANUARY 17, 2012 SUBJECT: 2012 CITY OFFICER ELECTION — COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CENTER BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Staff conducted a walk-through of the CAC reviewing the facility for use during the City Officer Election. If Council chooses, the south entrance (or the north entrance) of the CAC can be designated as a "Voter Entrance" during early voting and on election day providing voter parking within the 100 foot distance marker. Citizens will still have the option of entering the polling location through the building's main entrance on the west side. If the north side is selected as an additional entrance, certain parking spaces on the north and west sides of the CAC will have "Voter Parking Only" signs at each parking space. If the south side is selected, certain parking spaces on the west side and the south side will have "Voter Parking Only" signs at each parking space. There would be signs at the north and west entrances to the parking lot directing traffic to the reserved voter parking. The 100 foot distance markers prohibiting electioneering will have a painted line from applicable entrances (west and north or south) on the grass, sidewalk and in the parking lot. Each individual that picks up a candidate packet will meet personally with the City Secretary and review the packet relative to political sign placement and electioneering at the CAC. The attached exhibits are included in candidate's packets to assist them in complying with City and State laws/regulations regarding political signs and electioneering. There will be a notice posted on the City's website and other communication venues notifying citizens of the reserved voter parking on the south and west sides of the CAC. LHljcb Attachments 01/12/12 3:04 PM CITY OF GRAPEVINE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE INFORMATION 2012 During the election voting period from early voting through election day, we try to provide sufficient information to all of you regarding the proper election and campaign processes. The following is a list of important things to remember for the early voting and election day polling location: 1. All early voting is conducted at the Grapevine Community Activities Center, 1175 Municipal Way, in the lobby area: April 30 — May 4 8 a.m. — 5 p.m. Monday— Friday May 5 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. Saturday May 6 11 a.m. —4 p.m. Sunday May 7 — May 8 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. Monday—Tuesday REMEMBER: The Community Activities Center is a multi-use facility and not everyone utilizing the parking lot is there to vote. 2. During early voting and election day voting, no electioneering or loitering is allowed within the 100' distance markers located outside of the building or inside the building. If you are voting or conducting business at the Community Activities Center, you should remember to remove all campaigning materials, i.e., badges, hats, shirts, jackets, etc., before entering the above referenced areas. Electioneering regulations are to be followed, or the election judges can have candidates and their workers removed by the Grapevine Police from the polling location, both inside and outside, if they are within the 100' distance markers. 3. Election Day voting is conducted at the Grapevine Community Activities Center, 1175 Municipal Way. May 12, 2012 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. 4. All Political advertising, should be prepared in accordance with the Texas Election Code and can only be distributed outside of the 100' distance 0AElectionWay 2012Candidate information 01/2012 markers (signs and the red line painted on the -grass, sidewalk and pavement). 5. All political signs must adhere to the City's sign ordinance, which has been provided to you in your candidate's packet. Political signs may be placed in the right-of-way on the beginning of the first day of the early voting period. They shall be removed within three days after the election. The City also has a restriction that no political signs can be posted within the right-of-way in any designated Historical District, on City-owned property such as City_ parks, fire stations, police stations, library, City Hall, etc. Remember this also pertains to magnetic signs placed on vehicles that are parked on City- owned property. 6. The following is a list of the ONLY people allowed inside the polling place (early votinglelection day): a. Persons admitted to provide assistance to or to interpret for a voter who is entitled to assistance or to an interpreter. b. Election judges and clerks C. Poll watchers - can be authorized by candidate(s) during early and election day voting, the watcher must be a registered voter and Grapevine resident d. Interpreters e. Peace officers appointed by the presiding judge to preserve order f. Those people admitted to vote g. Children under 18 years old who are accompanying a parent who is admitted to vote 7. It is a Class C Misdemeanor for a candidate to be present in a polling place during early voting or on election g2y, unless the candidate is voting, assisting a voter, or conducting official business within the building in which the polling place is located. If a candidate is in the building for one of these reasons, he or she will not violate Election Code Section 61.001, if they are not en-gaped in campaign activity, and are not within plain view or hearing of persons waiting to vote or persons voting. 8. Please remember the election workers are not allowed to give the names of voters who have or have not voted in the election. a. A Public Information Request may be filed with the City Secretary for a list of citizens who voted in last year's election. 0AElectionWay 2012Candidate)information 0112012 b. A current list of registered voters may be obtained from the Tarrant County Elections Administration, 2700 Premier Street, Fort worth, Texas, 817- 83'1-8683. C. During early voting, a list of citizens who voted the previous day, will be available the next business day and may be obtained by filing a Public Information Request with the City Secretary's Office or can be viewed on the City Council's web page at www.grapevinetexas.gov. d. On election day, the election judges are required to post information about the number of voters who have voted at two-hour intervals beginning at 9:30 a.m. and this notice will be posted at the voter entrance to the polling location. 9. Qualifications for applying for a ballot by mail: a. 65 years of age or older b. Disability— unable to go to polling place C. Confinement in jail d. Expected absence from the county during clerk's regular office hours for the remainder of the early voting in person period. The ballot must be mailed to an address outside the county. e. The application must be received by the early voting clerk no later than May 4, 2012. 10. Once the polls have closed, election results Printed at the polling location are not public information on election night based upon Election Code Section 66.057,_ until the election records are delivered to the general custodian of election records [the Tarrant County Elections Office]. The unofficial results will be posted on the City's website and the City Secretary will notify the candidates by phone. The results are not official until the City Council canvasses the vote on May 22, 2012 (if there are provisional ballots to be counted). 11. The winners will sign a Statement of Elected Officer as required by the Texas Constitution as the first part of the Oath of Office before the officer may be allowed to take the oral part of the Oath of Office. 12. May 22, 2012 - Council considers the resolution canvassing the election. 13. June 5, 2012 - Oath of Office administered to elected officers, if applicable. 0:1EIectfon\May 2012Candidate information 0112012 14. June 30, 2012— Run-off election, if applicable. 15. Number of registered voters — December 2011 —27,009 16. Number of citizens who voted in the May 14, 2011 City Officer Election Regular Election Early Votes 4,281 Election Day Votes 1,673 Total 5,954 Please take the opportunity to distribute this information to your campaign workers. By following these guidelines, the election process will run very smoothly. If further information is needed regarding the election process, please contact the City Secretary's Office at 817-410-3182. 0AElecfionWlay 2012Candidate lInformation 0312012 ELECTION DAY Please share this information with your campaign workers Election results printed at the polling location are not public information on election night until the election records are delivered to the general custodian of election records (Tarrant County Elections Office). No political signs can be placed within the Community Activities Center (CAC) property. REMEMBER: The CAC is a multi-use facility and not everyone utilizing the parking lot is there to vote. There will be reserved "voter only parking" spaces (with towing enforced) at the CAC. Those spaces will be monitored by the CAC staff. No electioneering may take place within the 100 foot distance marker of the door of the polling location, or within the polling place. It is a crime to do so and it is a Class C misdemeanor. There will be a red painted line outlining the 100 foot distance from the voter entrance to the polling place on the grass, sidewalk and parking lot. Candidates and their campaign workers must not cross this line to electioneer. The Election Judge may appoint special peace officers, as needed, to preserve order. Election Code, Sec. 32.075(b) The Election Judge has the power of a District Court Judge while serving at the polling place, including power to issue arrest warrants. Election Code, Sec. 32.075(c). The Election Judge enforces electioneering inside the polling location and the 100 foot distance markers. If you must enter the polling place for a restroom break, be sure to remove any political pins, buttons, hats, or cover your t-shirts. Cell phones and recording devices are prohibited within the polling location, except for employees of the CAC. May 12, 2012 Election Day Media is prohibited inside the polling location. The number of voters that vote on election day will be posted at the voter entrance that is visible from outside the polling location every two hours beginning at 9:30 a.m. People not allowed in the polling location during early voting, or on election day: Candidates - unless voting or assisting a voter Bystanders - loitering Election results will be posted on the front page of the City's website as soon as made available by Tarrant County. May 12, 2012 Election Day