* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Dixon, Councilmember Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Emergency Resolution - Baltimore City Board of Elections - Election Day Glitches
FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore City Director of Elections and the President of the Baltimore City Board of Elections to report to the City Council on the systemic problems that led to polling place difficulties that prevented, discouraged, or delayed the participation of Baltimore City residents in the electoral process on primary election day, to identify the cause of election day glitches, and to present a comprehensive plan for remedies to address human or mechanical errors to ensure that similar, other, or additional problems will not plague the upcoming general election of November 7, 2006.
Body
Recitals
Although the old election day joke in Baltimore is "vote early and often", neither one was possible on this September 12, 2006, primary election day, the first because it is illegal to vote more than once in the same election and the second because some polling places opened more than 3 hours late, thwarting the intent of workers who planned to vote before leaving to go to their jobs because they would be unable to make it to their designated polling place before closing time.
By 11:00 a.m., the major newspapers in town were reporting problems at the polls - "tardy election judges in Baltimore caused delays at dozens of polling places this morning prompting some candidates to call for extended hours..." reported one, and "in Baltimore, a number of polling places opened as much as an hour late because some judges did not show up on time and others had trouble getting into the facilities..." reported the other.
Officials at the Baltimore City Board of Elections were quoted as explaining some of the election day problems as, in addition to late arrivals, poll workers being unfamiliar with several pieces of new voting equipment used for the first time in this election. Although poll workers go through a 3-hour training course, not enough of the new electronic check-in system, called e-poll book, was available to train everyone.
By the end of primary election day, it was determined that major mistakes affected the electoral process in the whole state of Maryland as equipment malfunctioned, or disappeared, vote totals were not transmitted on time, volunteers did not know how to turn on and operated the state's new elections equipment, and election judges were tardy or did not show up at their assigned polling places.
In response to the election day fiasco, the Maryland State Election's Administrator ordered Baltimore City, and Montgomery, Prince Georges, and Anne Arundel counties to immediately draft plans to remedy the myriad problems that afflicted Tuesday's elections by implementing a 10 point remedy plan that, reportedly, includes the firing of tardy election judges, a refresher training session for all election judges, and specific assignments for each qualified poll worker.
The right of citizens to participate in the electoral process is a precious one, and for some it is a legacy hard won with the blood or our forefathers. To cause anyone to forfeit this right to democratic participation because of human or mechanical failing is unconscionable. Maryland voters should be able to focus on making informed decisions, without the added concern that the voting process is flawed or compromised.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body requests the Baltimore City Director of Elections and the President of the Baltimore City Board of Elections to report to the City Council on the systemic problems that led to polling place difficulties that prevented, discouraged, or delayed the participation of Baltimore City residents in the electoral process on primary election day, to identify the cause of election day glitches, and to present a comprehensive plan for remedies to address human or mechanical errors to ensure that similar, other, or additional problems will not plague the upcoming general election of November 7, 2006.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Baltimore City Director of Elections is requested to present the remedy plan for Baltimore City polling places at the hearing of this Resolution.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Honorable Members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, the Honorable Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the Chair and Administrator of the Maryland State Board of Elections, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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