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4.
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| City Council Regular Meeting |
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| BACKGROUND |
The attached Resolution calls the November 3, 2020 Joint and Schertz General Election to elect Councilmembers in Places 3, 4 and 5, for a three-year term to begin November 2020 and ending November 2023.
The City Secretary’s office took the lead to begin working with the different entities about the future of election in our jurisdictions, many of which are in more than one County. Discussions have revolved around these entities to sign agreements each with Comal, Bexar, and Guadalupe counties for their respective elections. By holding elections this way, many benefits are realized:
- Entities will divide the costs proportionately thereby creating a savings to each entity
- Utilize common Early Voting and Election Day poll locations/Vote Centers (Comal/Guadalupe)
- Utilize common voting equipment
- Utilize common voting clerks (Comal/Guadalupe)
- Reduce Voter confusion and difficulty by opening up several locations in our three counties during early voting and during election day
- Utilization of Vote Centers for Comal, Bexar and Guadalupe County on election day.
On election night, the City Secretary will take the unofficial results from the counties and tally the results for posting at City Hall on their outside bulletin board and on the City website.
Action on this item will authorize staff to finalize agreements with all three counties and their respective Election Administrators/County Clerk to conduct our City election, as well as finalize a Joint Elections Contracts with other entities. Due to COVID-19, the Counties have yet to finalize their early voting and election day locations. (A draft to the resolution (Exhibit A) is attached. The City Secretary, once she receives the final early voting and election day locations for the Counties will provide a written update to Council as well as post these locations on our website as well as outside on our city bulletin board.
The City Secretary has posted notice of filing for application for place on the November 3, 2020 Schertz General Election ballot information on the city’s website, bulletin board, and in the Schertz magazine. The first day to file for place on the November 3, 2020 Schertz General Election ballot is Saturday, July 18, 2020, but since City Offices are closed the date moves to Monday, July 20, 2020, and the last day to file for place on the November 3, 2020, Schertz General Election ballot is Monday, August 17, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. Candidate packets are available on line and it is encouraged that those interested view the information, the packet can also be obtained in the City Secretary's office, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building #2.
Comal County, Bexar County, and Guadalupe County will meet with their Commissioners court to approve their early voting locations and election day vote center locations. All Counties will be utilizing Vote Center Locations on election day. This means that any Comal County, Bexar County, or Guadalupe County registered voter can vote at any of their County Election Day Locations, regardless of the precinct in which they reside.
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| GOAL |
| To successfully call the November 3, 2020, Schertz General Election and execute appropriate documents with the County Clerk of Comal County and the Election Administrators of Bexar and Guadalupe Counties to conduct our election. |
| COMMUNITY BENEFIT |
| To hold joint elections with the various entities for the November 3, 2020, Schertz General and Joint Elections and other Special Elections with the Comal County Clerk, the Election Administrators of Bexar and Guadalupe Counties thus utilizing several common early voting and election day vote centers for all our registered voters. This will also save the tax payers money as the different entities also holding elections during this time will share costs. |
| SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION |
| It is recommended Council approve Resolution No. 20-R-67 calling the November 3, 2020, City of Schertz Joint General Election and approving contracts with the Comal County Clerk and the Elections Administrators of Guadalupe and Bexar County to conduct the election and approving joint election agreements. |
| FISCAL IMPACT |
Estimated Costs are:
$ 3,000 to $3,500 Bexar County
$ 3,000 Comal County
$28,490 for Guadalupe County
*Total $34,990
Estimated cost for publication of election notice both in English and Spanish is $6, 000 - (last years cost was $5,714.75). Total estimated cost $40,990 for the election.
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| RECOMMENDATION |
It is recommended Council approve Resolution No. 20-R-67 calling the November 3, 2020, City of Schertz Joint General Election and approving contracts with the Comal County Clerk and the Elections Administrators of Guadalupe and Bexar County to conduct the election and approving joint election agreements.
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