PR 23-0896 — Open Polling Places Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020

MURMAYORWSERENROLLED July24,2020ORIGINAL Chairman,CofthesritofColumbiaA 1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NWRESOLUTION Washington,DC23-504 20004IN DearChairmanMendelson:THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA July 28, 2020 To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to require the Board of Elections, for the November 3, 2020, General Election, to operate Vote Centers, operate no fewer than 80 polling places, including one for eligible individuals incarcerated in the Central Detention Facility and Correctional Treatment Facility, mail every registered voter an absentee ballot and postage-paid return envelope, publish and mail a paper voter guide, email registered voters a voter guide and information about the General Election, to require voter registration agencies to promote the Board’s plans for the General Election, and to remove the requirement that the Board post a list of qualified electors registered to vote in libraries and public buildings, and for other purposes.

ncoedfrtecnsdrtinftheouclotheDisotfClubtarete“OpenlinglcesRESOLVED, EmergencyAmendActf220”ndisaccompanyingemeelaainandemoaryeson.BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “General Election Preparations Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2020”.

Thblamendte“ititofColumblctonCodof95”toeureheisrcofClubiaBardSec. oElctonsooertenos hanihtpolnglaesuingheNovber,200,enrleeto, neryvtigad,seal-nblos.DutoemntrtetonsnouagdDsrctesdnstoatcpte alreorcie altsbmil,rfiuetreeveonimainfrceptofhiraltsyteBordof lcins,manDsrcteietscoetoxecsehirosiutoalyrtetdrgttooeinpro.

aldtopenlofhiroligpae.Cosqunly,ititrsdetsereocedowitnuacetaly2. og ns,oreryongor.

aolnglaesoudbeoenial¢44pligpacstoeoend,howevtoecer,tsmyeif(a) htThe olnglaespe.District of Columbia Board of Elections ("Board") is an independent District agency, overseen by a Chairperson and 2 other board members, and is responsible for administering elections in the District.

oeoer,yopnigtemaximunumbeofolnglaeswenuremaximum(b) oerunotandhtlOn ititvtescnexrietercnttuinlrgttooewihutsbtnilJune idane.Adiinll,scalitacngmayeaprpiteypatcd.2, 2020, the District held its Primary Election.

urgthCouncttakimmiatactionthenclolgsain.The Primary Election was significantly affected by the unprecedented public health crisis of COVID-19, which forced the Board to fundamentally overhaul its operations and implement a hybrid in-person voting and mail-in voting plan on short notice.

icrl,(c) eThe eBoard nexperienced ttereuetofheMayorsignificant soperational dand rtechnical ochallenges Aleading PROPOSEDup RESOLUTIONto Sand aduring INTHEthe COUNCILPrimary OFElection, THEsuch DISTRICTas OFensuring COLUMBIA.voters were able to adequately track their mail-in ballot requests, timely and properly sending mail-in ballots, responding to voter inquiries, and outreach and communications to residents.

Todclreheeiseceofanemergenithesettoteneedoamendheitit,These ofColumbiletonCodeof195oreureteDititofColumbiaBoardofissues lctonsooertenolsshanigtyplinglcesurngteNovember,were 02,geerleetin.not resolved by the Board prior to the Primary Election and led to hours-long lines at Vote Centers, an overwhelming number of voters not receiving their requested mail-in ballots, and ultimately, disenfranchisement.

RESOLVED,(d) BYThis THEemergency COUNCILlegislation OFTHEwill DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatbetter hiseoltonmaybeitdashe“OpenoligPlcesEmergencclrtinprepare Rsoutoof200”,the e.2.()TherexssaneedoamendheDsrctofColumbiecinCodeDistrict of955toeuieteDitictofColumbiaBoarlctostooertenoesshn80for olinglcesdrngteNovember,2020enrlelctonthe (b)OnJue2,220,heDsritofColumbiaBoardecinsconducthetGeneral Dsrc'sprimaretin.Election.

(c)PriortoJune2,2020theBoardofElectionsencouragedDuring theuseofearlyvotingthe andal-nblot.However,mansietschoseoxrcsetercnsiutoalyPrimary roecedrgttooten-eroneterbyreerncerbeaueofdeontrtedElection, cncrnsithhemilinalotroes,schasaeqaterakngofhirrqes,the alngorcevehiralotbyil,rrciveonimaioofhirmilinaltbengBoard eeiedbyheBad.opened 20 Vote Centers for in-person voting.

(@TheoadofEetinsidntadqatlypanortelvlofn-esonOn oig,dciednttopenlothirpllnglcesndinatdatcalyedcdtheENROLLED numbefoenpllnglcesnJue2,22.ORIGINAL Election Day, many Vote Centers saw hours-long lines of residents who had not received a mail- in ballot or who preferred to vote in-person.

©)AsarsltfheImportantly, miednumbefplinglcs,isrctoerseremadethe owithursnuacetalylnglns,ihmanytlwatigtooteatminihtteemergency oloinga.legislation increases the number of Vote Centers to no fewer than 80, in order to maximize voter turnout, manage lines, and still maintain social distancing.

£)TonsremaximumterunotadthtalisrctoeshavenWhile neteedpprtntytoxrisehirosittoaligttooeitsncssryhtthemail-in llvoting oadofEecinspeateolsshould han0polngpaesdrigteNovembe,200be eerleeton.promoted and prioritized, the District must be able to accommodate voters who prefer or need to vote in person.

()Mreve,opningnosthan80oligpaeswllntlcofdeceinhe(e) oershtteyaealeoaprpraeysoilyditnethmslvsfrmotesatThe oligpae.emergency legislation also requires the Board to mail every voter a mail-in ballot and a postage-paid return envelope, publish a paper voter guide, and more proactively deploy its email list to arm voters with information about the General Election.

Sc..TheConilofheDsrctfColumbieemiestathe(f) irustncsenmeatdinecin2cosiuteemergenrcmsacesmakintiLastly, eesaryhtteDsritofColumbletonCodef155beamendeorqiethethe ititofColumbiarofletinstopeaenolsemergency han0polnglaesdrnglegislation heNovembe,02,geealeeto.conforms the COVID-19-related legislative changes made in the spring for the Primary and Special Elections to the General Election, in addition to other changes.

Sec.4.Sec.

This3. resolutionshalltakeeffectimmediately.

The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the General Election Preparations Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec.

4.

This resolution shall take effect immediately.