2008-26826 ResoRESOLUTION NO. 2008-26826
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO REQUIRE A UNIFORM STANDARD IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM
IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, AND TO
FURTHER INCLUDE WITHIN SAID PROGRAM VOTER PRE-
REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE SECTION 97.041.
WHEREAS, since the fall of 2007, the Miami-Dade County School Board has
implemented a voluntary voter registration drive for students in high schools and alternative
schools throughout Miami-Dade County, allowing School Board Administrators of each affected
school the option of participating in the Program; and
WHEREAS, on May 30, 2008, the Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board
passed its Resolution (attached) requesting that the Miami-Dade County Board of
Commissioners urge the Miami-Dade County School Board to implement a uniform standard of
voter registration programs, requiring all affected schools to participate, thus benefiting all
students who wish to exercise such voting right; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach concur that
the Miami-Dade County School Board voter registration program should not be left to the
administrative discretion of individual school officials, yet rather should be uniform, thereby
allowing full opportunity for students to participate as voters in the election process; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further believe that the School Board's
voter's registration program should be expanded to permit students who have not yet reached
voter age to pre-register on or after a student's 17~' birthday or upon receipt of a valid Florida
driver's license, whichever occurs earlier, in order to allow him/her to vote in any election
occurring on or after that person's 18~' birthday, in accordance with Florida Statute Section
97.041.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that it hereby supports,
encourages and requests that the Miami-Dade County School Board implement a uniform voter
registration program for high school and alternative school students in Miami-Dade County, by
adoption of a Miami-Dade County School Board rule which mandates a voter registration drive
be conducted in all schools at least once a year, which drive should further permit students who
have not yet reached voter age to pre-register to vote in accordance with Florida Statute Section
97.041.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 25th
ATTEST:
a~~~~
ROBERT PARCHER, CITY CLERK
day of June, 2008.
MAY R en~~,~ ~ A$ ~
Matti Herrera Bower r v>~v1r1~'IUK ~~7~~
& E'XECu'rtnu
Requested by Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Commissioner Richard L. St ' ~ f
F:\atto\OLIJ\RESOS\Implementing Equitable Voter's Registration Program.doc ,,.-' ~ ~ 1
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m MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.oov
Office of the City Attorney, Jose Smith, City Attorney, 305-673-7470
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 25, 2008
TO: MAYOR MATTI HERRERA BOWER
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
CITY MANAGER JORGE GO~TZALEZ
FROM: JOSE SMITH ~/'
CITY ATTORN ,,~J
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTI F THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD TO REQUIRE A UNIFORM STANDARD IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM IN HIGH
SCHOOLS AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, AND TO FURTHER INCLUDE
WITHIN SAID PROGRAM VOTER PRE-REGISTRATION PURSUANT TO
FLORIDA STATUTE SECTION 97.041.
Pursuant to the request of Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Commissioner Richard L. Steinberg,
the attached Resolution has been prepared urging the Miami-Dade County School Board to amend its
voluntary voter registration drive for students in Miami-Dade County high schools and alternative
schools so as to require said Program for all affected schools, rather than leaving said Program's
implementation to the individual administrative discretion of school officials. This Resolution further
requests that the School Board's Program be amended to include voter pre-registration of students
(pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 97.041) who have not yet attained voter age.
F:\atto\OLIJICMEMO\Implementing Equitable Voter's Registration Program.doc Agenda Item ~~ ,.,
Date 6 as-as
~IAMI-DADE COUNTY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BOARD
RESOLUTION URGING THE MIAMI-DADE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS TO URGE THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
TO IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM STANDARD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE SCHOOL BOARD'S VOTER'S REGISTRATION PROGRAM IN HIGH
SCHOOLS AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS
WHEREAS: Miami-Dade County Schools conducted a voluntary Voter's Registration
drive in the fall of 2007, in an effort to afford students the opportunity to participate in
Florida's first January Presidential Primary; and
WHEREAS: The School Board's voter's registration program is implemented on a
system based on administrative discretion, where School Board administrator may or may
not choose to participate in the program or require participation; and
WHEREAS: The Miami-Dade .County Equal Opportunity Board believes that the
current system of administrative discretion to participate in the voter's registration
program can foster an atmosphere that Leads to disparate impact to minority communities
throughout Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS: The requirement of a uniform standard in the implementation of the
Miami-Dade County Public School System's voter's registration program in high schools
will attempt to benefit all students who wish to exercise their voting rights:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
BOARD to appeal to the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners to urge the
Miami-Dade County School Board to implement an equitable voter's registration
program by providing to high school students and those at alternative schools who are of
voting age the equal opportunity to register to vote by adoption of a Board Rule of the
School Board of Miami-Dade County which mandates a voter's registration drive be
conducted in all schools at least once a year.
The foregoing resolution was properly motioned, seconded and passed on Apri14, 2008.
THEREUPON declared this resolution passed and adopted this 30`h day of May 2008.
--~.
..-u E Belony, Chairperson
Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board
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