City of Litchfield Park
Office of the City Clerk
* 34+
* 48
62+
66+
64+
56+
60+
53+
52+
50+
2508
2508
2214
2236
2363
2325
2691
2664
2832
2892
nt to A. R. S. § 16- 409. B, the City of Park hereby submits its AII- Mail- B t
n Report. The r rt reflects infr"' I" Y'l", tir, n from the 2008 Pri ry and General
ns
July 30, 2008
The Honorable Timothy S. Bee
President of the Senate
1700 W. Washington, Senate Wing
Phoen~, Arizona 85007
RE:
EL
19
19
1998 General
1999 Recall
2000 Primary
2000 General
2002 Primary
2004 Primary
2006 Primary
2006 General
2008 Primary
2008 General
The Honorable James P. Weiers
Speaker of the House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington, House Wing
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
1.
* On- ground elections
214 West Wigwam Boulevard. Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340
Phone ( 623) 935- 5033 • Fax ( 623) 935- 5427 • TDD Number 1- 800- 367- 8939
www. litchfield- park. org
Report to the Legislature
July 30, 2008
Page 2 of 3
2. COST OF ALL- MAlL- BALLOT ELECTION COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL ELECTION
Litchfield Park has conducted their regularly- scheduled Mayor/ City Council elections by AIIMail
Ballot since 2000. In 2008, Maricopa County charged $ 1.72 per registered voter for the
All- Mail- Ballot election. Because of a ballot question in the Primary Election, a pUblicity
pamphlet was required to be mailed to each household, adding another expense. The
publicity pamphlet expense would have been incurred whether the election was on- ground or
by all- mail ballot. In addition to the above expenses, the City's legal advertising costs
increased, and the City did extra advertising via temporary signage. Our costs for 2008 were
larger than previous years, averaging $ 2.40 per registered voter.
Without any adjustment for cost of living or present value fractioning, the average cost for the
previous four on- ground elections was $ 1.55 per registered voter.
3. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OR REFINEMENTS IN THE Ali- MAILBALLOT
PROGRAM
Overall, the election went smoothly. Our candidates, however, find it unsettling to wait
several days after the election before we receive final results. This has been especially true
when unofficial early results show close races. There appears to be no easy solution, since
the count verification process takes several days to complete.
It helps to alert the local postal employees about the upcoming election procedure to ensure
the ballots are treated with appropriate importance.
4. FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF MAIL BALLOT IRREGULARITIES
The Maricopa County Elections Department and the Litchfield Park Staff did everything
possible to assure the electors their right to vote. I would not classify the following as
" irregularities," per se. One resident was temporarily living in another country; that voter was
mailed a ballot, and the ballot was voted and submitted. One married couple signed each
other's affidavit envelopes; they brought their ballots and envelopes to City Hall, and were
issued new envelopes. Two voters did not receive ballots, and came to City Hall to vote.
Two other voters received notification that their signatures were questioned, and they came
to City Hall with that notification. City Staff contacted Maricopa County Elections personnel,
and the matter was successfully cleared up.
5. VOTER SATISFACTION WITH THE PROCESS
Judging from the high level of voter participation and the one complaint received ( see Cons third
bullet), I believe voter satisfaction was excellent.
Cons:
• If residents move out of the city and fail to notify the County Recorder of their change
of address, a ballot is mailed to them at the address on file. The County charges the
City on a per- registered- voter basis, so that is an extra expense for the City.
• If residents move within the jurisdiction and fail to notify the County Recorder of their
change of address, a ballot is mailed to an incorrect address. The resident must then
call for another ballot to be mailed, or come to City Hall to vote.
Report to the Legislature
July 30,2008
Page 3 of 3
• One resident delivered and deposited her ballot at City Hall because she does not
trust the security of a ballot going through the mail.
Pros:
• Mail ballots were much easier for those voting, especially the infirm and those out of
town on Election Day.
• The time span between receiving the ballots and Election Day allowed voters time to
learn more about the candidates and a ballot measure.
• There was a ballot box available at City Hall from the day the ballots were available
through Election Day for those who wanted to deposit their ballots in person.
• Replacement ballots were available at City Hall.
• High level of voter participation.
• The intensity of an " Election Day experience" for City Staff was less stressful; i. e.,
setting up, opening, and closing the polling place; hiring, training and providing meals
for poll workers.
• The Maricopa County Elections Department Staff were readily available to answer
questions.
• The Maricopa County Elections Department Staff made multiple trips to City Hall to
pick up voted ballots, including Election Day after the polls closed.
6. NUMBER OF NON- DELIVERABLE BALLOTS
There were 116 ballots returned to the County Elections Department. Maricopa County sent
a form letter to each of those voters, requesting updated mailing information, and it was
determined that 57 of those voters still resided within the city limits. Ballots were re- mailed
to those 57, and their information was updated in the voter records.
Maricopa County bases their contract charge on the total of registered voters in the
municipality. If City Staff are aware of undeliverable and returned ballots, we can help
research those names and addresses for the County. Therefore, the All- Mail- Ballot Election
provides an opportunity for this City to assist the County in updating their voter registration
rolls and purging names of voters no longer liVing in our jurisdiction.
If you have any questions concerning this report, please contact me at 623- 935- 5033
( phone) or 623- 935- 5427 ( fax)
Sincerely,
JiI~~~
Mary Rose Evans, MMC
City Clerk
cc: Mayor Schoaf and the City Council
Darryl H. Crossman, City Manager
Yvonne Reed, Exec. Asst. to the County Recorder
Susan Goodwin, City Attorney
o104, G:\ CC\ ELE\ LegisElecRpt 2008 Election
mre
