For Immediate Release
Registrar of Voters announces public meetings on Election Administration Plan
May 10, 2023
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office announced today that it is planning to hold four public meetings in the coming weeks to provide feedback or answer questions about the new draft Election Administration Plan, which is a document informing voters how elections will be conducted under the Voter’s Choice Act. The draft Election Administration Plan is now available online by going to socovotes.com and clicking on the View New Draft Election Administration Plan link.
The primary purpose of these meetings is for the Registrar of Voters Office to solicit and receive feedback on the updated plan and ways the Registrar of Voters Office can make voting more friendly and accessible. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to look over the new plan and attend any of the four meetings to ask questions and/or offer suggestions. Comments may also be sent by email to rov-info@sonoma-county.org.
Meeting dates, times, locations and other relevant information are listed below. Three of the meetings will be conducted virtually by Zoom and one will be held in person. Although two of the meetings feature topics of interest, with one addressing voters with disabilities, and one designed to assist voters with limited English proficiency, anyone is welcome to attend any of the meetings.
To join a virtual meeting, go to the link provided, click the “Launch Meeting” button, and, if necessary, enter the appropriate passcode and/or Webinar ID. All virtual meetings will have a Spanish interpreter available, and the May 25 meeting will also have Khmer, Tagalog and Vietnamese interpretation available.
May 24 virtual meeting on Zoom
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Featured Topic - Voters with disabilities
Spanish interpretation will be available
https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/94121216346?pwd=WUNjZjVJNkMyRElLL1gxa3VTem9NZz09
Webinar ID: 941 2121 6346
Passcode: 281855
May 25 meeting on Zoom
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Featured Topic - Voters with limited English proficiency
Khmer, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese interpretation will be available
https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/94416119257?pwd=Q2dkekZ2WTNmdWUyU1NVWVBIaWtLUT09wil
Webinar ID: 944 1611 9257
Passcode: 316502
June 3 meeting on Zoom
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Featured Topic - General discussion of Election Administration Plan
Spanish interpretation will be available
https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/93668320413?pwd=cjgvM0JLQmNzMHBLYVBTMmpFK0hmQT09
Webinar ID: 936 6832 0413
Passcode: 837014
June 6 meeting in person
10:30 a.m. to noon
Featured Topic - General discussion of Election Administration Plan
Spanish interpretation will be available
Location/Link: Human Resources Training Room
575 Administration Drive, Suite 117C
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Background
California law requires counties conducting elections under the Voter’s Choice Act election model – which Sonoma County adopted last year – to periodically review and update their Election Administration Plans.
The Voters Choice Act election model is a more streamlined method of conducting elections that expands voters’ options for when, where and how they may cast their ballots. Some of the key characteristics that distinguish it from prior election models are as follows:
- In-person voting takes place at vote centers, not traditional polling places. Some of the benefits of the former over the latter include:
- Vote centers are open multiple days, not just on Election Day (except in smaller special elections).
- A registered voter can obtain the correct ballot at any vote center in the county; they are not assigned to one specific location.
- Vote centers feature a slew of additional voter services, some of which were previously only available at the main Registrar of Voters Office. These services include conditional, or same-day voter registration, address changes, language assistance, and accessible ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities or anybody else who wishes to use them.
- Additional official ballot drop boxes throughout the county.
For more information about these meetings, the Election Administration Plan, or anything else voting or election related, visit SoCoVotes.com, click the “Voter’s Choice Act” option in the menu at the left followed by the Election Administration Plan option that appears. You may also call (707) 565-6800 (Toll-Free: [800] 750-VOTE [8683]; TDD: [800] 565-6888]), email rov-info@sonoma-county.org, or visit the Registrar of Voters Office in person at 435 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa. The office is open regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays).
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Contact Information:
Wendy Hudson
Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters
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