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Home My WebLink AboutLetter from George M. Burgess, County Manager ,0' .( MIAMI.. rmmmiiiil ADA Coordioollion Agenda Coortlinollion Anifl'l<lIServiu.... Art in Publit PI,ICt"> Audit and Management Service. Aviation Building Building Cooe COlTlpliarlCf' t1usinessDevt-lopmenl CapilallmprOV('fl'l('nlS Citizens' Independent Trdfl~rtalion Trust Commission on Fthics and Publi(; Trust Communications CommuniI)' Action ^Kency Community & Economic Oevt'lopmenl Community RelJlion~ ConsumerSEorvices Corrections!. Rrhilbilitalion Cultur..IAifairs EIE'Clions EmelllencyM.anagemf'nl Employee Retiltions Empowerment Trust Enterpfi~ Technology $erviCK Environment.ll Rtc'SOU~ M.lnagemE'nt Fair Employment Pradic('S fin<lncE' firE'Rl"'SCut' Ce'll'rill Services Administration HisloricPreservalion HomeIe-ssTruSI Housing Agency Housing Fin.met' Authority Humdn5ervices Indrpendenl Re...;ew Panel Inll'rnational Trade Consor1ium J~nileServices Ml'dicillhaminer ~Iro-Miami Action 1'1,10 Metropolitan Pl.1nning Org,mization P.lrk.lnd Rel;:reation Pl.lnning.lndZoning Polke ProcuremenlManagement Property Apprais.ll Puhlic libr.lry System PublicWorki Safe Nt'ighborhood P,lI'k!i X-.lport Solid Waste Maougemt'nl str.ltegjcBu!ij~!iManage~nt Team Melro Transit Task Force on Urban Economic Revitalizalion Vizcay.l Museum And Gardl'1lS Waler & Sewt'r Office of the County Manager 111 NW , 5t 5treet . 5uite 2910 Miami, Florida 33128-1994 T 305-375-5311 F 305-375-1262 miamidade.gov January 18, 2007 Honorable Richard Steinberg City Commissioner City of Miami Beach 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, Florida 33139 o -i -< o .. f'1 ?J ~ <f> C) ." .." ..., = = -' <- :> :z N ..,... ;:0 fTI o n" < iTi o Dear Commissioner Steinberg: o .., "'" ::II: 9? N U1 I am in receipt of your letter dated December 15, 2006 regarding Resolution 2006-26424 that was recently adopted by the City of Miami Beach Commission. We understand the benefit of technology enhancements that improve voter confidence and share your vision in making improvements to our system that will protect voters' rights and confidence. Before changes can be made to our current system to provide a voter- verifiable paper record, the State of Florida must certify such equipment for use within the state. We remain optimistic that the voter verifiable paper trail issue will be addressed during the 2007 Legislative Session, and we will continue to work with the State of Florida Division of Elections in expanding equipment enhancements. In light of the recent concerns resulting from the Sarasota County ballot issue, Miami-Dade County is diligently following developments in this issue to facilitate our active participation in any rule making the state may undertake in determining uniform ballot layout. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners passed two similar resolutions on December 5, 2006 (enclosed). This legislation requests the state to approve a voter verifiable paper trail for the touchscreen units currently utilized and to expand the language display capability for optical scan readers. I support these measures. and this request IS included in Miami-Dade County's 2007 Legislative Package. Miami-Dade County also supports the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections' proposals for several 2007 legislative changes, including requirements that- voting systems interface with the voter in multiple languages in jurisdictions that meet the language provisions of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. ,--f..- /. . ; -) ,:-; il,(('-V{ ~,.{ l' -L...~ L~.i , '-' tIt;:;: () 7.... l/_ e- '-"''f';' f'l.{ '-fo ..../\L-_...t...L" I...tv",- { t'.. "f. ('V l.-- r _, ~. v' /)411 ...:". :.'..~.. ( Honorable Richard Steinberg City Commissioner City of Miami Beach Page Two One of the primary goals of the Elections Department is active community outreach, Events are held throughout the County to familiarize voters with the touchscreen unit. Voters also playa major role in ensuring their vote is cast correctly. When voters are familiar with the system and are able to use the machine properly, confidence is inherently increased. I am happy to report that a recent survey of registered voters confirms that confidence in our current system is growing. Thank you for your input. I believe we have a shared goal in making the residents of Miami-Dade County feel secure that every vote is cast and accurately counted. I look forward to working with you further in this matter. Sincerely, George ~ County Manager Enclosures c: Honorable David Dermer, Mayor, City of Miami Beach Honorable Saul Gross, Vice Mayor, City of Miami Beach Honorable Matti Herrera Bower, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach Honorable Simon Cruz, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach Honorable Michael Gongora, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach Honorable Jerry Libbin, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach .fjoiJ,.orable:B,pbeD.!:..archer:--qty Clerk, City.oflVlianii;Beach~ Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager, City of Miami Beach Jose Smith, City Attorney, City of Miami Beach Alina T. Hudak, Assistant County Manager, Miami-Dade County Lester Sola, Supervisor of Elections, Miami-Dade County Joe Rasco, Director, Intergovernmental Affairs MEMORANDUM AgendaItem.No. U(A)(3) TO: Honorablo CbaimuIn Joe It.. MarIiDoz and MClllbcrs, Board ofCoont.y COllIIIIiBaiOllln DATE: Doo=bec 5, %006 FROM: MumIy It.. Gree.nboog County Attorney SUB.JIC'J:: Resolnllon requesting 1he State 10 approve a Vl!ta" vmifiablo paper trai! tor touchscreen votinJ I)'SlaDS The ~JeSOlulion waS ~ IIIIll pl~ on 1IIe IIpIda at1hexequcst otCo.lDllliuioDl:r Cul05 It.. Gimenez. Mmray County ~ MAGljIs .. :MEMORANDUM ~ TO: Honol'llhle Nulinnon JoeA. Marti1u:z DAm:lleClemlm' 5. 2OtI6 . and Meul1lers. Bopid of County CommiB8ioners .( FROM: . S~CT: Aa=daItem.No. 11,(A)(3) Please u~ IlIIY ftemt eIu!cked. "4-Day Rule" ("3-D.)' llaJe" ter com~lbfl) appli&:allle ifJwed Ii _b ioeqmetI between fInt readfug and pullJic be8rbIg. of meta UoUflcaUoll ~ mu'."rlpalllflldlls requimI,tltll' to PllbJlc hetdug ',' Decreases rvmluel or lIlereallll U]lClIdlturelwlth01!t bIl~2 budgat Budpt n;qulred Stafemeat effiaeallmpad ~1Iir'ed . Bid ~"er reqidmlg CO~lYMaD.gei'l1tTfftea. reeolDlllfudctiou . . ~ Approved Veto Ovmida Mavor . .Ageoda Item No. U (A)(3) 11.05-06 REsOI.trrION NO. . R-j393-06 OFFICIAL FILl! COPY ClERK OF THE BOARD OF COUNlYCOMMlSSJONERs MIAMIoDADE~RORIDA RESOLtTrION REQtmSTING THE STArn TO APPROVE A VO'l'liR VERIFIABIJl PAPllR TRAIL FOR TOUCftSCRlmN VOTING SYSTEMS AND ExPANDING TIm LANGUAGE DISPLAY CAPAB1LlTYFOR OPTICAL SCAN.READERs WIIEREAS, plll'll\lant to SectlClll 2.06 of the Miami-Dade CoUllt.Y Home Rule ChartDr, the CountyfolJows th& provislOllS ofthc SbtteOIectiOD Jaws; lIIId WlIEm:AS. State election law prohibits tho \ISO ofany c1=rome \'\lting equipmenl that has lIot bcea approved bythc Stale; IIQd WHElIEAS, the Stale lw DOl yet approved the use of illY dlMce wbich would provide B paper tmiI lilt touchsorecn voting equ/tnnm,t or any optical scan reader with tl'ilillpl diaplll)' capabi1Ity; and WHEREAS. tbl$ Boan! bolilmS that the lIB! of a verifiabJO peper tIIlJ fbr toucblcreen voting would ...1Mm"" wter confidence in elecImIlic votiDg and WHEREAS. this Bean! beHllVC'I that bcoause Ib.e ba!Iots in Millllli-Dade CoUllty are in EngIi9b, Spanish, and Creole, the optical SCII\ readers 8hcnUd be """'''1''''l1 to provide. tn1;"8l~ display capability, NOW. TR1l!D1I1IORB, U rr RBSOLVED BY TBE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSJONERS OF MIAMI-DAnE COUN'l'Y.FLOlUDA. that: Section t. This Board b8reby requcs1S.that thc Dlvition ofE1eetlons of the SecreIIay of Stale's office be IlI:lC01mIged to approve the lIBe of a verifiable paper trai1 system. that Is I.... '. . oompatlble with the County's iVolrOlllc Yll!ing ~te.m and to approve ~ thc IIBO of an optjI:al scan reader with lriliDgual display wpability. 3 ApuIa 1tcm. No. 11 (M (3) Pap No. 2 ~3 ... . , Plmlda Secm.tlIly otState, tho ~ of the PlorldaDlvWoo 6fElecti-.1lId die tMft\ba:s Df Tho Clu of this JJo8ld ICIIlJl .. cdtled copy of tlIia moIutlon to the the MiIllDi-Dadc Iesilladvlo ""''''lII1. The 1bIDJoiqRlOlullon_lIflOIIlIOred by CoamriaaIour CarIoaA l'J-Mmd 01fmdbyCnlftm\lItiOlltr Carlot A. G1menez. wlJomoveclltudoptlon. TlIt;IIII)IImWJ18 seconded byCoIllllllniOll<< lIl>beca SoB.. _ ..lhnows: and 1lpOII blllng put to a vote, tho ~ Joe A. MarlIne2, ChIitnIan aye DmnI.s C. MIllS, Viee-C!h.l""'UI aye BIlIIIO A. Bmelro aye JOIa "Pepo" Diu aye _ AudnlyM. ~_ aye CadoIA. Gfmeoez aye . s.IIyA.HC)'JIIan."e BatbaraJ.JoaJan aye Dou;iz1 D. Ron., ay.. .NatlMlha Scijas aye ltaty SIlnlMOD aylt Rebeca Sosa aye S..... Jari....ll. SIJP\V aye The ~ th~ doollllal !be I'DIOlatloa dIdy JlIQCIl8lld. adopted tbfs ~ day of DeoClll1la', 2006. 1bJa roaoIution 8IIalI beI:ome d'ect!VO IeII (10) cIaya . Iha _ of ill lIdop1ion unless VellIed by Iha MIIyor. III:Id it mood, lI&al1 become cflilctiw 0Illy upOD aa uvezrIdo bythlt .Boanl Approved by CoUllty A!lumey II 10 fbnn and.lepl sufllclllDey. MDnlly A. C3rccabq MlAMJ.))ADB COtINTY.lllORlDA BY D'S BOAllD OIl COUNTY COMMIsSIONERs r MEMORANDUM Amen~e4 AseMaItelnNo. U(A)(4) TO: . }lonorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez and Members, Board ofCo\lllty CommlssiOllerll DATE: December'S,2006 FROM: Mumy A. On!ellberg Connty Attorney R'1394-06 SVBJECTi Resolution ~ lbe County Manager to make a recommlllldutiQn r/llllll'lliDi the use oftoucbscreen voting Tho al:eclmpanyina I'08OIuIlon WIlS ~ and placed M the agenda at the I\lq11eSt ofCommlsslonlll' Carlos A.. ~eacz and CommiisiDllet' Barb... J. Jordan. MIIIJllyA. County MAGljls I . MEM9RANDUM (Rmsed) 0 TO: HmIonble n..I-.roe A. ~ DATE: 0a..uIIIbel. 5, 2006 and Members, Boatd ofCollDty CommlaaiQnm C nOM: A. Colmty Amen\!ed 8UBJECT: AgeodaIfemNo. 11(11.)(4) PI..e DO" u.rltcal, eb~lI. ......nay Rillei' (""J-Dl, Roi.It,. I!/lllIlIIltte..) applicable lfn.lled IS weeb ~ btt?.... lntmdblg 11I11 pllblc bearing . '4 fteb nOCUlcauOli to ~paI nfIldllll required prior 10 pabJk: llCllriq . DII!CraIa M'III_ OTI.aauNsGp~ WItlau~ ........,budget BtId2et I'tquJred Statemftto'a-JlIlIpact ~ . . DId ",.sv... reqaJdDg Cowlq Mlml.ler'a wrttll!llncallUlleJldatloll . . Onlfnuce oc:rtlllllll lID" IIoanl reqlllret cldaIIecJ CoIInty :M-ter'. report tor public JIeu1Qg . HO"lIbepllla ftt!III (110 pIlIIer lIed11GllI'lllpdrtd) No CIIIIIIlIlttee rmew -2 ~ed VlllO OVlllrido ~r AJntmdcd Apda llcm No. t.l(AX4) t2-OS-06 . ~FIl!GOJlV 'OFCOUNlY~~=~ MIAMHMDe.SOUPlJY, Flllr..i.W pRlUlurt'fON NO. 1394-Gti MSOLUl'ION PnmcrlNO TBB COUN"lY MANAGBR TO .MAD A RECOMMBNDATION TO '1mS BOARD ltEOAJU)1N(j nm USE OF TOUCHSCREBN VOTING wrm: . A VElUFIABLB PAPBR T1lA1L, UPON A1IPROVAL BY nm STATE..ANI) OPTICAL SCAN READERS WITH ENHANCED TRJL1NOUAL DISPLAY CAPABILn'Y, UPON APPROVAL DYmESTATB WJIEREAs, this BoIRI baa req\IIllIted the Sl8te to "l'I"vyu the 1lIfI of Wling equ.IpmenI !ImI would provide a w:rifiablo pape:r tl8iI lbr 1oIIcbs~ voting 1I1ld. the 11!le of optbl SOlIII . readm with trlllllglW dllplay CBpahUlty; IIlId WHERL\S, in IIlIlidpJlion of the Statc'sllllimaWy appmVlllg the lID of eltbBr or both of these, tllIbRncemenls, 1hiI sOMiI WIlWd JiG tho COIl8idercd ~~"'.'~OD of !he MluIager IIIld ~ S1IpcrvIS\lI: of~OIII ~ to WbIch ofthe8a methods ofvollna would be preforablll, all llIcton cDlllldered, for the voters of Miami-Dade CoUll1y; Ill1d WBERBAS. ifoilhar orboth oftba8c II1llIhods ofvotlng WOUld belDlborizod fOr \180 in the 2008 J'resldenlla1 elealio.n. this Boud WOI1l4li1ao 10 implemcat. upon appr..~~ by thIa Board, one o1'thcae l!bbaoeed w!iDg JIlCIhods ibr til!!t dCdiOD, NoW, TllEREPO),tE, BE rr mi!oLvim BY TIlE BOARD OF COUNTY . . . . COMMlSSIONEU'OFMlAMI-DADJ: COmmr, FLORIDA, t!lIIt the Cmmty~. ill . llOIIS1I!tatIon with tho SllpOII'Y!aor of E1~ ~ 10 this Board, whmt. all Iha !lllmmt . inllnmauon Is available, tho btibllity ofimplemendng tha lI!a of~ ~tiaa ""I4.......tt with paper trails or the use of enhaDoed oplic:alllCllll teadelallritb IIiliDpd ~ capability. ..3 Amended Agc.uda IIem No. H(AX4) Page No.2 . fhe.~ingresolutiOJl_ 8pO.IISOl'ed by CommissiOllcrCarlos A. Gimenez aDd . . .~i~Batainl J. Jorden IlIId o1JIlRd by CommIs~Carlos A. G:lIIlenez . who moved lIS adoplioa. ThcmoliOD WU ~ by CommiAiODlll' Donrd.s C. Moss' and uptlI1 beiog put to .a vote.. WIC was 8$lbnOWJ: Joe A. Martinez, ~ aye . Delmis C. Moss, VlCt>-CIairman aye' Bruuo A. DllIfeIro aye loce "Pepe" Diaz . aye AudreyM.EcImonson aye Carl08A. Gimenez aye Sally A. Heyman aye 131Ubara J. Jordan aye DOttin D. 'R.olle aye Natacha Scijaa /lye It.aty SOft'lll.SCJQ aye &:beea S~ aye . Sen. Javier D. Souto aye The ~ theteupon dec1arcd lbo mo.hUiori dulypasaed 8IId adopttd this 5'" ~ of December, 2006. 1'bl3 n:aolutlon IbaII become cfIilclivc'~ (10) clays a1blr the date arits 'adoPtlon l11Iless vetoed by the Mayor, ami if ~ sbaU become c1fcctIve only ~ an DYenidc by this 1I00I11. ApprovedbyColmtyAttorncyas / /1~ J to 1ilnn BDd legal suftlcilllll:y. V L1L....tv'<{ Mmmy A. Greeoberg y . ( CITY OF MIAMI BEACH f--'.',-,-, 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRI,<>~ ~_: \,; MIAMI BEACH. F'LORIDA 33 J 39 ,. " . 'j ....... t);:c ,-~:~ .;~; 1: RICHARD L. STEINBERG COMMISSIONER --',"'.1"" " December 15, 2006 Miami-Dade County Manager's Office County Manage~ M. Burgess (;,""'0") e Stephen P. Clark Center 111 N. W. 151 Street, Suite 291 0 Miami, FL 33128-1992 Please find attached Resolution 2006-26424 adopted at the City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting of December 6, 2006 regarding renewing the City of Miami Beach's request, previously addressed in City Resolution 2003-25340, that the Miami- Dade County Manager ensure that there i:'l.a ...~ter-verifie.2..P!'!p_eL!.E:r;;or9-..ofevery ballot cast and further requestingtv1ii3mi-DadeCounty~ana-lhe Stafe' of Florida ensure that e'acfipage of a future election ballot . will be limited to one race or question per ballot page. On behalf of the Miami Beach Commission, I urge Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida to re-establish voter confidence in the election process by adopting the measures mentioned in City Resolution 2006-26424. The Resolution has been distributed to the Miami-Dade County Mayor, Commission, Manager, Clerk and Supervisor of Elections as well as the Miami-Dade Delegation, Florida Speaker of the House, Florida Senate President, Florida Secretary of State, and Governor. Respectfully submitted, .~-'- ~-- Richard L. Steinberg, Commissioner RLS/mt Cc: Mayor and City Commission Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager Jose Smith, City Attorney Robert Parcher, City Clerk , RESOLUTION NO. 2006-261124 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RELATING TO ELECTIONS; RENEWING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH'S REQUEST PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED IN CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2003-25340 THAT THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MANAGER ENSURE, REGARDLESS OF VOTING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, THAT THERE IS A VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER RECORD OF EVERY BALLOT CAST PRODUCED, AS AN ELEMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY, SAID PAPER RECORD TO HAVE MANUAL AUDIT CAPACITY TO BE AVAILABLE AS AN ADDITIONAL RECORD FOR ANY RE-COUNT CONDUCTED, AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTERS TO CORRECT ANY ERROR. BEFORE A PERMANENT VOTE IS RECORDED, AND FURTHER REQUESTING MlAMI- DADE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO ENSURE THAT EACH PAGE OF A FUTURE ELECTION BALLOT WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE RACE OR QUESTION THEREON IN ORDER TO AVOID VOTER CONFUSION AND REINFORCE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS. WHEREAS, the Miami Beach City Commission is committed to protecting the rights of voters in Miami-Dade County, to re-establish voter confidence in the process, and,to improve upon past election voting procedures; and WHEREAS, accordingly, in City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2003-25340, the Miami Beach City Commission requested that the Miami-Dade County Manager ensure production of voter-verified paper records of every balIot cast not later than the 2004 General Election, consistent with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ("HAVA") requirement of a permanent paper record with a manual audit capacity; and WHEREAS, as of this past November 2006 elcction season, the implementation of permanent paper records of every ballot cast has not been implemented, thus further eroding voter confidence in the election process; and WHEREAS, in Washington, D.C., Congress is expected to push legislation requiring that a voter be given a chance to verify a paper record of his or her balIot before casting it. Similar "paper trail" proposed legislation is expected to be discussed at the State level in Tallahassee, Florida, supported by Governor-elect Charlie Crist and new State House Speaker Marco Rubio; and WHEREAS, in order further to ensure voter confidence in the election process', only one race or question should be placed on each ballot page in order to avoid voter confusion. I In this past November's 13th Congressional district race. nearly 15% of the ballots cast on electronic voting machines in Sarasota County showed no votes. Sarasota County's Election Supervisor, Kathy Dent, has acknowledged that the ballot layout may have caused some voters to overlook voting for this race. -'.~.- ( , . NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA THAT IT HEREBY REQUESTS AND ENCOURAGES MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER RECORD OF EVERY BALLOT CAST PRODUCED AS AN ELEMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY, WITH MANUAL AUDIT CAPACITY TO BE AVAILABLE AS AN OFFICIAL RECORD FOR ANY RECOUNT CONDUCTED, AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTERS TO CORRECT ANY ERROR BEFORE A PERMANENT VOTE IS RECORDED, AND FURTHER REQUESTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO ENSURE THAT EACH PAGE OF A FUTURE . ELECTION BALLOT WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE RACE OR QUESTION THEREON IN ORDER TO AVOID VOTER CONFUSION AND REINFORCE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage. PASSED AND ADOPTED this ~ day of December 2006. ArrEST: ~o PM~ CITY CLERK Robert Parcher . Requested by Commissioner Richard L. Steinberg APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUTION ~ F-\aUn\QUJ\ELECTION\RESO\PAPER TRAil AUDIT HI F.CT10NS doc ---