I. Introduction

a.These election procedures and planning template meet the minimum requirements to conduct Neighborhood Council Board Member Elections pursuant to City Council policy and other standardized Election Procedures that may be issued by the City Clerk.

II. The Election

a.The election will be a Prepared Ballot Election with a Vote-By-Mail (VBM) component. In this election, candidates shall file for candidacy prior to the election and will then be included on a printed ballot that is distributed to the voters prior to Election Day and then returned to the election official via U.S. Postal Service, private courier or hand delivery or at the polling location(s) on election day.

b.Proxy voting will not be allowed for this election.

c.Voters may cast their ballots on the following date, time and location:
Saturday, June 21, 2008 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
3300 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90010

d.The polling location for the election is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

e.If a disabled voter is unable to access the polling location, curbside voting will be provided as an option for that individual.

III. Neighborhood Council Boundaries

a.The following are the boundaries of the Neighborhood Council:

North

1. Melrose Avenue and Highway 101 (between Wilton and Vermont)
2. 6th Street (between Vermont and Hoover/LaFayette Park)

South

1. Olympic Blvd (between Wilton Place and Western Avenue)
2. 11th Street (between Western Avenue and Normandie)
3. Olympic Blvd (between Normandie and Vermont)
4. 7th Street (between Vermont Avenue and Hoover Street/LaFayette Park Place)

West

1. One-half block of block or at the alley west of Western Avenue between Melrose and 11th Street.
2. Wilton between 6th and 7th Streets.

East

1. Vermont Avenue (between Highway 101 and 6th Street)
2. LaFayette Park Place (between 6th Street and Sunset Place)
3. Vermont Avenue (between 7th Street and Olympic Blvd)
4. Elden (between 7th Street and Sunset Place)
5. Normandie Avenue (between Olympic Blvd and 11th Street)

b.The following are the voting districts (if applicable) of the Neighborhood Council:

Sub-District 1:

Alley west of Western, Melrose, 101, Vermont, and Beverly

Sub-District 2:

Alley west of Western, Beverly, Vermont, 3rd, Normandie, and 4th

Sub-District 3:

Alley west of Western, 4th, Normandie, 3rd, Vermont, 6th, LaFayette Park, Wilshire, Normandie, and 6th

Sub-District 4:

Wilton, 6th, Normandie, Wilshire, LaFayette Park, Hoover, Sunset Place, Wilshire Place, 7th, Vermont, James M. Wood, Berendo, 8th, Serrano, and James M. Wood and alley west of Western

Sub-District 5:

Alley west of Western, James M. Wood, Serrano, 8th, Berendo, James M. Wood, Vermont, Olympic, Normandie and 11th

IV. Definition of stakeholder

a.The following is the Neighborhood Council's definition of stakeholder: Individuals who live, work, own property, conduct business and also those who declare a stake in the neighborhood and affirm the factual basis for it.

b.Voting age requirement. In order to cast a ballot in the election, a stakeholder must be at least years of age on the date of the election. (Unless bylaws dictate a different age, the default minimum age will be 12 years of age.)

c.All persons or other entities that meet the criteria for the definition of stakeholder as outlined in the Neighborhood Council's bylaws and in Article IV, Section A of these election procedures shall be eligible to vote in the election, either at the polls or by utilizing the Vote-By-Mail option.

d.Stakeholders cannot be denied the opportunity to vote for a candidate for member of the governing board for whom they are eligible to vote.

e.Stakeholders cannot be denied the opportunity to run for a board seat for which they hold stakeholder status.

V. THE STAKEHOLDER VERIFICATION PROCESS & ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

a.A voter may cast a provisional ballot if the voter's eligibility to vote in the election cannot be determined in favor of the voter at the time the voter attempts to cast his or her ballot. Where the issuance of a provisional ballot is required, the following process will be followed:

VI. PROVISIONAL VOTING

a.Voters will verify their stakeholder status through written self-affirmation. Stakeholder status may also be established by means of stating an interest based on a factual basis.

i. The only acceptable basis for challenging a voter's right to vote at the polling site will be that the person is not a stakeholder as defined by the Neighborhood Council bylaws.

ii. If a voter is challenged on the basis that they are not a stakeholder eligible to vote in the election, the voter may produce any of the documentation outlined in these election procedures at which time the voter will be issued a regular ballot.

iii. Where a City Clerk, Election Division Inspector deems it necessary, the voter will be offered the opportunity to vote a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will be the same as a regular ballot, except that prior to placement in the ballot box, the provisional ballot will be placed inside a provisional envelope. On the outside of the envelope the voter will provide:
    1. The voter's name.
    2. The voter's address.
    3. The voter's stakeholder status.
    4. The voter's contact number(s).

iv. When a voter casts a provisional ballot, the voter will be issued instructions that explain what steps the voter must take to qualify the provisional ba llot including documentation required to be submitted, where the documentation is to be submitted, and a contact number to request assistance or seek additional information. The deadline for submission of acceptable documentation shall be three (3) days after the election.

b.The City Clerk, Election Division will be responsible for the verification of provisional ballots.

VII. THE CITY CLERK, ELECTION DIVISION

a.The City Clerk, Election Division may utilize the staff, material, equipment and facility resources of the Neighborhood Council or the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to assist them in carrying out the election administration duties, provided, however, that the following conditions are met:

1. That none of the candidates for the governing board participate in any way in the handling/counting of ballots, voter/candidate registration/verification, and/or assisting voters engaged in the act of voting in translating the voting material or explaining the voting process.
2. Written procedures must be developed that specify the roles and responsibilities of all parties participating in the administration of the election.
3. The City Clerk, Election Division must maintain the ultimate authority and responsibility for the administration of the election.

b.The City Clerk, Election Division shall be responsible for the following duties:

1. Writing and revising the election procedures.
2. Processing of candidates including verification of eligibility.
3. Processing of voters including verification of eligibility as applicable.
4. Overseeing and approving the preparation of the ballot to be used in the election.
5. Distributing and receiving ballots from the voters including Vote-By-Mail.
6. Verifying any provisional ballots.
7. Counting the ballots.
8. Auditing the election results.
9. Issuing the final certified election results.
10. Supporting the Election Monitoring Review Panel.
11. Providing any and all required information and documentation for the Election Challenge process.
12. Securing and submitting all election materials for records retention in accordance with the bylaws and these election procedures.