Title
Conduct of Election - Mayor and Council Election and Special Election to Fill the Remainder of the Council District 7 Vacancy Term to be Held on Nov. 5, 2024, Conducted by Maricopa County (Ordinance S-51048)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with Maricopa County to conduct the City of Phoenix Mayor and Council Election and Special Election to fill the remainder of the Council District 7 vacancy term, to be held on Nov. 5, 2024, in conjunction with the State General Election according to State law, and authorizing payment to Maricopa County not to exceed $400,000. Further authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
In August 2018, voters passed Proposition 411, which moved regularly scheduled Mayor and Council elections from August of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years to be part of the State General Election. Maricopa County will conduct the election according to State law applicable to the General Election.
The regularly scheduled Mayor and Council Election and the Special Election to fill the remainder of the Council District 7 vacancy term will be held on Nov. 5, 2024. In this election, qualified registered voters who reside in the City of Phoenix will elect a Mayor and qualified voters residing in Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 will elect Council Members. Qualified voters in Council District 7 will also elect a Council Member to serve out the remainder of the vacancy term ending April 21, 2025. Additionally, qualified registered voters who reside in the City of Phoenix will also consider for their approval or rejection three ballot measures related to the locally controlled expenditure limitation, the City's general plan, and salary increase for Mayor and City Council Members as recommended by the Citizen's Commission on Salaries for Elected City Officials.
This request seeks City Council authorization to permit the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with Maricopa County Elections Department to conduct the Mayor and Council and Special Election to fill the remainder of the Council District 7 vacancy term, by placing the candidate races for Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7; the candidate race for District 7 to fill the remainder of the District 7 vacancy term; and the three City ballot measures on the County ballot for the General Election; to conduct early voting and voting on Election Day; to process and tabulate the ballots; and to provide unofficial results of all ballots tabulated. This item authorizes the County Board of Supervisors to designate voting locations and appoint election board workers for the conduct of the election, as needed.
Voters on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) will receive notification of the election and will automatically be sent a ballot by mail unless the voter requests that a ballot not be mailed. The City will design, print and mail a Publicity Pamphlet, to be paid for by the City. Households with one or more registered voters will receive the Publicity Pamphlet, which contains general information about the election, including key dates related to when early ballots are due and where to find information about voting locations. The pamphlet will include the official title and text of the City ballot measures and any arguments filed supporting or opposing the ballot measures. Several publications and news releases will be provided throughout the election process and shared on a variety of platforms, including print and social media. The estimated total cost of the election including payment to the County and City expenses, is approximately $600,000.
All election information will be provided in English and Spanish and will be available at www.phoenix.gov/elections.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the City Clerk Department.