City Council Agenda Report
June 4, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Theresa Devoy, City Clerk
SUBJECT: GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 2024 - RESOLUTION NOS. 24-30 - CALLING ELECTION AND 24-31 - CONSOLIDATION WITH THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY REGISTRAR RECORDER
Background:
The City's General Municipal Election is scheduled for November 5, 2024, and will be consolidated with the Countywide General Election pursuant to State law. There are three seats for Member of City Council up for election. Attachment No. 1 is Resolution No. 24-30, which calls the election.
Consolidated Election
The Los Angeles Country Registrar's Office (Registrar) will administer, manage, and oversee the operational portion of the City’s election including the voting processes, ballot counting, and canvassing the votes pursuant to Elections Code §10418. The City Clerk will continue to serve as the Elections Official, manage the candidates, nomination filing process, Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) filings, creating/publishing official election notices relating to calling an election and nominations, and serve as the liaison between the City and Registrar. Resolution No. 24-31 requests the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approve consolidation of the City’s election with the statewide election administered by the Registrar’s office.
Vote Centers and voting by mail will continue to be the models of voting. Many Vote Centers will be open up to 11 days prior and on Election Day and voters may use any Vote Center to cast their ballots. Vote by Mail ballots will have a ballot and prepaid return postage envelopes, and an extended period for receiving ballots if postmarked by Election Day.
City Council June 4, 2024
Election Resolutions – Resolution Nos. 24-30 and 24-31 Page No. 2 8 7
3 Nomination Period
Prospective registered Norwalk voters interested in running for a seat will be able to make appointments with the City Clerk to receive and file nomination papers. The nomination period will be open from July 15, through 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024 by appointment.
If an incumbent member of the City Council has not filed by the deadline, the nomination period for that office will be extended to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, during which time any eligible person (other than the incumbent) may file nomination documents.
Candidates’ Statements
The submission of a candidate’s statement for inclusion in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet is optional. Pursuant to California Elections Code sections 13307(c)(1)(2) and 13307.7, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office (Registrar) launched an Online Candidate Statement Pilot in Los Angeles County in 2022 that allowed candidates running for County level offices to pay for a candidate statement that would be posted online only and would not be printed in the sample ballot/voter guide. The pilot program was expanded to include cities, school districts, and other local jurisdictions for the March 2024 election cycle, and for a reduced fixed fee of $279, online statements were published in English and Spanish on a dedicated page on the www.lavote.gov website.
In preparation for the November 2024 Election cycle, the Registrar’s Office is making the option available to all local jurisdictions. The candidates will have the option for an online only candidate statement for $279 or traditional printed statement in the sample ballot/voter guide provided they pay for the selection (yet to be determined by the Registrar’s Office). Online candidate statements must follow the same requirements as set forth for traditional printed statements.
New Ballot Processing Center
The Registrar’s new Ballot Processing Center located in the City of Industry will be the Central Counting Place for the election. However, all semi-final results will be released from the Registrar’s headquarters located at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. Semi-final results will also be continuously updated and displayed on the Registrar’s website (www.lavote.net) throughout Election Night and during the Official Canvass.
Fiscal Impact:
The estimate received through the Registrar’s election calculator indicates that the City’s cost to consolidate the election will be approximately $221,000.
Citizens Advised:
A notice of election will be published no later than June 14 in accordance with the California Election Code.
City Council June 4, 2024
Election Resolutions – Resolution Nos. 24-30 and 24-31 Page No. 3 8 7
3 Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt:
a. Resolution No. 24-30, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN
OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES; and
b. Resolution No. 24-31, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY OF NORWALK’S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO §10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 24-30, Calling the Election
2. Resolution No. 24-31, Requesting Consolidation