CONSENT- Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk
Title
ELECTION JUDGE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE 2014 ELECTIONS
Background
Pursuant to Minnesota election law and City Charter, Council must appoint election judges, set their salary, and schedule a special meeting to canvass the August 12, 2014, Primary election results. Staff is also requesting authority to appoint election judges during the time preceding the election.
To date staff has recruited 210 Blaine/Anoka County residents to serve as election judges for both the 2014 Primary and General elections. Election judges are scheduled to work a full shift which is 6 a.m. to approximately 9 p.m. for the Primary election and until approximately 10 p.m. for the General election. We have many new judges again this year and are currently recruiting additional judges for both the Primary and General elections.
Election judges are scheduled to attend mandatory election judge training in late July presented by Anoka County election staff. Most judges have been given their work assignments for both August and November.
State Statute and City Charter require that election judges be appointed by the Council at least 25 days prior to the election. Staff is requesting that Council authorize the City Clerk to make appointments and substitutions as necessary should the need arise in the 25 days prior to the election. Election law allows for emergency appointments on Election Day.
Staff proposes no change to the 2014 election judge hourly salary, which would remain at $10.00 per hour for Head and Assistant Head Judges and $9.00 per hour for Precinct and Student Election Judges.
Council is required to canvass the results of the Primary election on the third day after the Primary, which would be Friday, August 15. The meeting can be scheduled at any time. The meeting will be brief and at least four Councilmembers must attend.
Recommendation
a. Adopt the proposed Resolution approving the appointment of proposed election judges and authorizing the City Clerk to appoint and assign election judges during the 25 days preceding the election if substitutions are necessary;
b. Approve the hourly salary for election judges at $10.00 per hour for Head and Assistant Head Judges and $9.00 per hour for Precinct and Student Election Judges;
c. Schedule a special meeting to canvass the results of the Primary Election for Friday, August 15, 2014, at a specified time.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Council is required by Minnesota Statutes Section
204B.21, Sec. 2, and Chapter 4, Nominations and Elections, Section 4.05 of the City Charter, to officially approve the appointment of election judges; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby adopts the judges listed on Exhibit A, hereto attached, as the official election judges for the 2014 Elections; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk is hereby authorized to appoint and assign election judges during the 25 days preceding the election if additions or substitutions are necessary in order to fill vacancies and meet party balances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Blaine that the names listed on Exhibit A, hereto attached, are the official Election Judges for the City of Blaine, 2014 Elections.