Agenda

Return

C. 17

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kristin Connelly, Clerk-Recorder
Date:	March 21, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Presentation - Graduates of the Certified Election Observer Program

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/21/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Tommy Gong, 925-335-7898

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 21, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RECOGNIZE the graduating members of the County's Certified Election Observer Program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

In effort to increase transparency and provide greater understanding of the election process, the Clerk-Recorder-Election department implemented its Certified Election Observer program during 2023. Unlike typical election observers who visit to observe a particular activity, this program is aimed at providing an overall view of the entire election process from voter registration to final certification, with “behind the scenes” access and the ability to ask questions to learn about what it takes to conduct an election.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Certified Election Observer program is a comprehensive, rigorous program that includes multiple online and four in-person sessions during the election. The course curriculum includes topics essential to understanding the statutory laws, procedures, and coordination required to conduct an election: election security, voter registration/list maintenance, poll worker training, in-person voting, vote by mail ballot processing, voting system testing and audits, ballot counting and adjudication, the canvass of the vote, provisional ballots, balancing and reconciliation processes, and certification of the election. Members were issued a “passport” of election activities to observe and received "passport stamps" as they completed the activities.

We recognize Patty Mitchell, Demnlus Johnson, Julie Mobley, Valency Fox, Shelly Mannoni, and Paul Fadelli for participating and becoming graduates of the program. They will be ambassadors for the Elections Division as we continue our mission to build public trust in elections. The Elections Division will continue the program for the 2024 Presidential elections.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

We will fail to recognize these members of the community that have volunteered their time to learn about the election process.