LTC 155-2004 Miami-Dade County Elections Department-Request to Change the City of Miami Beach's Election Runoff Period From Two (2) Weeks To Four (4) Weeks CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. 55-20o,,
To:
From:
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez 0_~,
City Manager
Miami-Dade County Elections Department - Request To Change the City
Of Miami Beach's Election Runoff Period From Two (2) Weeks To Four
(4) Weeks
Date: June 25, 2004
Attached is a letter from Constance A. Kaplan, Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections,
requesting the City of Miami Beach to change the runoff election period from two (2) weeks to four
(4) weeks.
The present two (2) week election runoff period is established in the City Charter, Article Ii, Section
2.01. Typically a referendum is required to amend the City Charter. The City's Legal Depar[ment
has reviewed the current Florida Statutes (100.3605(2)) and has opined that the City Commission, if
it so desires, may change the date of the runoff election by ordinance.
The municipalities who conduct their elections on the same cycle as Miami Beach are Hialeah and
Miami. The City Clerk will be contacting those municipalities to determine their positions with
regards to this request.
Please notify me if a discussion item or referral item should be placed on the July 7th Commission
Agenda.
Cc: Murray Dubbin, City Attorney
Jean Olin, Deputy City Attorney
Attachment
JMG\i~EP~
F:\CLER\CLER\FORMS\election runoff date.ltc.docF:\CLER\CLER\FORMS\election runoff date,Itc.doc
ELECTIONS
CONSTANCE A. KAPLAN
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
2700 N.W. 87TH AVENUE
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33172
June 4, 2004
PHONE: (305) 499-8502
FAX: (305) 499-8501
EMAIL: ckaplan@miamidade.gov
WEBSITE: http://elections.miamidade.gov
Mr. Robert E. Parcher, City Clerk
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Dear Mr. Parcher,
On March 25, 2004 1 advised you that the Elections Department would require at
least three weeks between a primary and regular or runoff election. After more extensive
review and consideration, we now realize that four (4) weeks between elections is
essential to ensure thorough, complete and accurate election administration. I want to
emphasize that this decision is primarily for the benefit of your municipality and to
ensure that we can administer the kind of elections you deserve.
To further clarify, let me explain some of the procedures that must be completed
during this short time fame:
1. Voter registration records must be updated.
2. Two different voting systems (optical scan and electronic) must be coded,
proofed and tested.
3. Absentee ballots must be printed and mailed, which requires a minimum
of seven (7) business day.
4. Voters must be given adequate time to receive and return their absentee
ballots.
5. Arrangements must be finalized and personnel hired and trained to staff
early voting sites, if applicable.
6. Election equipment must be reset, reprogrammed and retested.
7. Voting equipment must be secured for a minimum often (10) days
following an election.
r'fl
DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON YOU!
June 4, 2004
Page 2
It is essential to the integrity of every election that our office not be asked to
compromise our standards by conducting elections without adequate preparation time.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or
require any additional information.
Ver, y' truly yours,
Constance A. Kaplan
Supervisor of Elections
CAY/tm
c: George M. Burgess, County Manager Alina Hudak, Assistant County Manger
Murray A. Greenberg, First Assistant County Attorney
Susan Torres, Assistant County Attorney
Jeff Ehrlich, Assistant County Attorney