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<br />WS – #6 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 6 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: June 1, 2020 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Julie Bartell, City Clerk <br /> <br />Re: 2020 Election Update <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The City will be administering two additional elections this year, the State Primary on <br />August 11th and the State (Presidential) General on November 3rd. The pandemic <br />situation, as it currently exists and its unpredictable future, are requiring special attention <br />to election planning. <br /> <br />There are resources that assist cities in preparing for the elections. Legislation was <br />approved at the state level that guides some of our planning. Anoka County Elections <br />also provides guidance and training resources. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) <br />provides specific recommendations on polling places. <br /> <br />Update on City Plans <br /> <br />Absentee Voting at City Hall (46 days prior to each election) <br />We are in the process of preparing our city hall facilities to receive AB voters beginning <br />June 26. In order to move people through the voting process safely, we plan on using <br />the entry hallway and the council chambers if necessary. Note that we’ve been advised <br />to encourage people to vote by mail or in person AB so we will be providing information <br />through the website, newsletter, North Metro TV, etc. The county will be sending a <br />postcard with AB voting options to every registered voter. <br /> <br />Polling Places – I’ve confirmed availability for our private building polling locations and <br />we will be preparing a separate layout and movement plan for each precinct. The new <br />legislation prohibits the use of school facilities as polling places “when no other public or <br />private location is reasonably available…” Our Precinct 7 polling location is Rice Lake <br />Elementary School and we will continue to use that facility this year. We are required <br />to ensure that contact between students and voters is minimized and will be meeting with <br />school district staff to develop a plan. <br /> <br />Equipment – We plan to use Plexiglas shields for all tables where poll workers meet the <br />public. We have a prototype for a shield that we plan to produce in house with the help <br />of the Public Works staff. The Secretary of State’s office will be providing basic <br />protective supply items (masks, hand sanitizer and dispensers, disinfectant) for all polling