1. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DECEMBER 11, 2017 ITEM NO
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DECEMBER 11, ITEM NO. 21 ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PLAN TO COMPLY WITH THE CALIFORNIA VOTER PARTICIPATION RIGHTS ACT (CVPRA)

2. OVERVIEW OF CVPRA
Statewide elections in even years for Governor and President – Highest Voter Participation Election Dates
California Voter Participation Rights Act (CVPRA):
Signed by Governor Brown, September 1, 2015
Designed to move local elections to statewide election dates, take advantage of high voter participation (bringing elections to voters)
Prohibits local elections from occurring on any date other than a statewide election date if it results in a “low voter turnout” election
Low Voter Turnout Election – Turnout that is 25% below the average turnout of the last four statewide November general elections within the same voting area

3. PASADENA VOTER TURNOUT
Pasadena local elections are “low voter turnout” elections:
Average City March Election Turnout: %
Average PUSD March Election Turnout: %
Pasadena Average Turnout for Statewide Primary Elections: 31.4%
Pasadena Average Turnout for Statewide General Elections: 63.2%

4. CVPRA COMPLIANCE
Transition to statewide dates (requires a Charter Amendment)
Consolidate with Los Angeles County - Registrar of Voters to conduct local elections:
Ensures election integrity
Increases voter turnout rates in local elections
Eliminates legal issues/liabilities

5. CVPRA COMPLIANCE Other local cities are moving to statewide dates:
Los Angeles*
Inglewood*
Monrovia
San Bernardino*
Signal Hill*
San Marino
Long Beach*
Cerritos*
Whittier
Burbank*
Beverly Hills
Glendale*
Glendora
Culver City*
La Canada-Flintridge
* Indicates Charter City

6. NEXT STEPS
Steps to comply with the CVPRA and transition to statewide election dates:
Adopt a Plan before January 1, 2018 (staff recommendation):
Submit a Charter Amendment for voter approval on June 5, 2018 to comply with CVPRA
Determine election format by mid-January 2018
Primary/runoff format vs. plurality format
If plurality, statewide Primary vs. statewide General
Approve Charter Amendment language, Joint City and School District meeting in mid-February 2018
Adopt resolutions calling June 2018 special election to submit Charter Amendment measures for voter approval, end of February 2018

7. OPPORTUNTIES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Anticipated Future Public Meetings
December 11, 2017 City Council meeting – Adopt City plan to comply
December 14, 2017 Board of Education meeting – Adopt School District plan to comply
January 8, 2018 City Council meeting – City election format determination
January 11, 2018 Board of Education meeting – PUSD election format determination
January 23, 2018 Legislative Policy Committee meeting – Review Charter changes
February 15, 2018 Joint meeting of City and PUSD – Finalize Charter changes
February 26, 2018 City Council meeting – Adopt resolutions calling election
City Clerk Webpage:
Community Forum Video, Prior Agenda Reports and Information, Public Comment Form
Charter Amendment Election
June 5, 2018 – Statewide Gubernatorial Primary election – City to submit Charter Amendments for voter approval

8. NOVEMBER 27, 2017 COMMUNITY FORUM
City Clerk’s Office and League of Women Voters Pasadena Area Community Forum: “The Future of Pasadena Elections”
Approximately members of the public attended
Broadcast live and running on Pasadena Media’s regular programming
Posted online in English (and soon to be in Spanish)
Initial Input Received Via Forum Public Comment Cards:
PREFERRED ELECTION FORMAT
RESPONSES RECEIVED
Continue utilizing Primary and General Election Format (Run-off Elections) on Statewide Election Dates 10
Utilize Plurality Voting – March Statewide Primary 4
Utilize Plurality Voting – November Statewide General 3
Make No Changes 1
Instant Run-off Elections
No Preference Indicated 2

9. QUESTIONS

10. CHARTER AMENDMENT FAILS
City would seek clarification from Courts
Action to Adopt Plan Protects City from Litigation Until 2022
Extend time between City’s Primary and General election for 2019 and 2021 – requires a Charter election
Request County to run City and PUSD elections
Extremely high quoted costs for County to conducting elections on behalf of City and School District
Low voter turnout issues
Potential liability for CVPRA challenge after 2022
Not a long-term solution

11. FLOW CHART

12. PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION FORMAT
Option A: Continue to utilize a Primary and General election format:
March Primary election (odd year) moved to March Primary election (even year)
April General election (odd year) moved to November General election (even year)
A successful candidate must receive a 50%+1 majority, at either:
March Primary election, or
November General election (only the top two candidates appear on ballot)
Current terms of incumbents would be extended by 19 months:
Start of terms moved from May of odd years to December of even years
Extension is necessary on a one-time basis to make transition
Terms cannot be reduced; no time to make changes and hold a Primary and General election format in 2018
March 2019
March 2020
April 2019
November 2020

13. PLURALITY VOTING FORMAT
Option B: Change to single-election, plurality voting:
A candidate is elected by receiving the highest number of votes cast for that race (most votes wins, no runoff required)
If plurality voting, additional question to answer:
March Statewide Primary election, or
November Statewide General election
Extend terms on a one-time basis to transition to statewide election cycle:
11 months if March Primary election; or
19 months if November General election

14. NEW STATE LEGISLATION
Senate Bill 25 (Portantino) Elections: Ballot Order (pending)
Reorders offices on the ballot
Local races and measures
School District races and measures
County races and measures
Statewide races and measures
National races
Aim is to improve voter focus on local races and measures