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MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Diane C. Fridley, Registrar of Voters
DATE: March 7, 2017
SUBJECT: Approve Resolution for Lake County Board of Education's request to change their election cycle for their Board of Directors in November of odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, and direct staff to send proper notification to all districts within Lake County.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On September 1, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 415 into law; adding Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 14050) to Division 14 of the Elections Code known as the "California Voter Participation Rights Act". The new law requires districts with regularly scheduled odd-year elections which have experienced "significant decrease in voter turnout" in the last regularly scheduled election to adopt a plan to transition to even-numbered year general elections no later than January 1, 2018. Significant decrease in voter turnout is described as voter turnout at least 25% less than the average turnout of previous four statewide general elections.
The County of Lake's average turnout for the previous four statewide general elections (2016, 2014, 2012, and 2010) is 65%; in comparison, the turnout for the regularly scheduled 2015 election for the school and special districts that went to election was 23%, the difference in turnout is 42%. Voter turnout for odd year elections in comparison to even year elections consistently yields a difference greater than 25%. It is my understanding that all of school and special districts within Lake County will be required to adopt a resolution to initiate the transition to even-numbered year board elections, no later than January 1, 2018.
Currently, the Lake County Board of Education elects their board of trustees in November of odd-numbered years and in order to change from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, the governing board of the Board of Education must follow the process set forth in Elections Code S...
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