REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE FOLLOWING:
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 5, 2025
FROM
JOANI FINWALL, Registrar of Voters
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Ordinances Relating to the Employee Poll Worker Program for the County, County Service Area 70, and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Acting as the governing body of San Bernardino County:
a. Consider proposed ordinance relating to County employees serving as election workers.
b. Make alterations, if necessary, to proposed ordinance.
c. Approve introduction of proposed ordinance.
• An ordinance of San Bernardino County, State of California, to amend Section 13.0617 of the San Bernardino County Code, relating to the County employee poll worker program.
d. SCHEDULE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025, on the Consent Calendar.
2. Acting as the governing body of the County Service Area 70:
a. Consider proposed ordinance relating to employees serving as election workers.
b. Make alterations, if necessary, to proposed ordinance.
c. Approve introduction of proposed ordinance.
• An ordinance of San Bernardino County, State of California, acting as the governing body of Board Governed County Service Area 70 relating to the employee poll worker program.
d. SCHEDULE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025, on the Consent Calendar.
3. Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
a. Consider proposed ordinance relating to employees serving as election workers.
b. Make alterations, if necessary, to proposed ordinance.
c. Approve introduction of proposed ordinance.
• An ordinance of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District relating to the employee poll worker program.
d. SCHEDULE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025, on the Consent Calendar.
(Presenter: Joani Finwall, Registrar of Voters, 387-2100)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item may require Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The possible incremental increase to the total cost of election workers caused by the recommended ordinances will depend on the number and compensation level of the County employees and employees of other Board of Supervisors/Directors (Board) governed entities who serve and what role they are assigned to fill in polling places. The County employee poll worker program (Program) will continue to be administered by existing Registrar of Voters (ROV) staff. Approval of any potential adjustments to the ROV 2025-26 budget is not requested at this time but will be included in a future countywide budget report presented to the Board for approval, if needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
County employees are an important source of volunteer election workers who help residents exercise their right to vote at polling places, which total more than 400 during countywide elections. The recommended ordinances are intended to increase the number of employees participating and in turn improve the services provided to voters.
On February 28, 2006 (Item No. 41), the County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 3970, establishing the Program. Through the Program, County employees were paid their regular County compensation without having to use their leave balances for Election Day, as well as a daily stipend of $100 to $250 depending on the election worker position they filled. Employees interested in participating in the Program were expected to complete required election worker training outside their normal work schedule, without pay by attending evening or weekend classes.
On December 17, 2019 (Item No. 79), the Board adopted Ordinance No. 4372, adding section 13.0617 to the County Code relating to County employees serving as election workers, Ordinance No. FPD 19-02, and Ordinance No. SD 19-04, amending the Program by:
1) Expanding it to employees of County Service Area 70 and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District;
2) Expanding the definition of employee to include regular employees, Public Service Employees, extra-help and recurrent employees, and contract employees; and
3) Changing the method of financially compensating employees who volunteer as poll workers.
The recommended ordinances would add new ordinances to replace those that expired in January 2025, with no new expiration date.
ROV’s goal is to continue to recruit one to two County employees to work in each polling place, one of which would serve as supervisor to improve the professional management of the polling places.
In order to participate in the Program, each employee must get their supervisor’s approval to serve as a poll worker in order to ensure departments still have sufficient resources to provide vital services. The Program provides employees a chance to gain valuable leadership and supervisorial experience in an environment outside their office or work site.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Aaron Gest, and Richard Luczak, Deputies County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 24, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Elias Duenas, 387-4378, and Ivan Ramirez, 387-4020, Administrative Analysts, and Amanda Trussell, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4773) on July 17, 2025.