REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 27, 2020
FROM
BOB PAGE, Registrar of Voters, Registrar of Voters
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Revenue Agreement with the Center for Tech and Civic Life for COVID-19-Related Election Expenses
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Grant Revenue Agreement with the Center for Tech and Civic Life, for the reimbursement in the amount not to exceed $1,770,450.75 for election expenses related to ensuring a safe and efficient 2020 Presidential General Election.
(Presenter: Bob Page, Registrar of Voters, 387-2100)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Registrar of Voters’ 2020-21 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Acceptance of the grant award from the Center for Tech and Civic Life (Center) will assist the Registrar of Voters (ROV) with financing the increased costs to conduct the 2020 Presidential General Election during the COVID-19 pandemic. The added measures being implemented for this election will provide voters in the county with options for voting safely and securely.
The Center received a $250 million donation from Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan to grant to state and local election officials. The Center’s allocation of grant funds is based on the voting age population and other demographic data of the county. No local match is required.
The grant may be used by ROV to fund existing election expenses to ensure safe, efficient Election Day administration; expand voter education and outreach efforts; recruit and train poll workers; and support early in-person voting and vote by mail activities.
For this election, the State required that ROV mail a ballot to all active registered voters, provide voters with contact-free options for casting a voted mail ballot, and offer safe voting locations for those voters who prefer to vote in person.
The COVID-19 safety measures being used at ROV’s office, early vote sites, and polling places include:
• Election workers will be provided with disposable facemasks, plastic face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.
• Election workers will clean high-touch surfaces throughout the days of voting.
• Election workers have been trained to implement six-foot social distancing guidance in voting locations.
• Voters who arrive without a facemask will be offered one. If a voter refuses to wear a facemask, the other voters present will be offered plastic face shields for extra protection.
On September 4, 2020, ROV was notified of the grant funds and filing period opened on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 through October 1, 2020. On September 24, 2020, the County Chief Executive Officer approved and ROV submitted a grant application to the Center.
On September 25, 2020, the Center notified ROV it would receive a grant award totaling $1,770,450.75.
PROCUREMENT
N/A.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Deputy County Counsel, 387-4310) on October 8, 2020; Finance (Elias Duenas, Finance Analyst, 387-4052) on October 9, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 9, 2020.