16,158 / 64.8% Yes votes ...... 8,780 / 35.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

s/ David P. Culver Director of Finance City of Santa Cruz

This ballot measure, if adopted by City voters, would add Section 707 to the City of Santa Cruz City Charter and allow the City of Santa Cruz, in its constitutional capacity as a charter city with plenary authority over its municipal affairs, to conduct mail ballot elections under a broader set of circumstances. Specifically the City would be authorized to conduct any local, special or consolidated election by mail when the City Council adopts a resolution authorizing the use of mail ballots for that particular election.

Mail ballot elections, however, would not be authorized when the election in question occurs on the same date as a statewide direct primary election or a statewide general election. Mail ballot elections conducted pursuant to this proposed charter amendment would be required to be conducted in accordance with the applicable procedures set forth in the California Elections Code.

Approved as to form:
s/ John Barisone, City Attorney

Santa Cruz Sentinel

• Santa Cruz voters to decide city housekeeping measures - 10/30/04

This Charter Amendment will provide a more efficient and less costly method of voting in special elections.

This Charter Amendment will allow for the City to conduct special elections by an all mail ballot. Regular municipal elections, held each November in even numbered years, and statewide primary and general elections will still be conducted in staffed precincts.

Unless a fiscal emergency is declared by a unanimous City Council vote, tax elections can only be held at regular municipal elections that include City Council races. This means that tax ballot measures would seldom, if ever, be decided at a mail ballot election. All mail ballot elections in special elections will:

o reduce personnel costs associated with staffing precincts by approximately 20%; o provide a more efficient system for conducting special elections; and o be more convenient for voters, who mail their ballot rather than go to a precinct to vote.

s/ Scott Kennedy, Mayor, City of Santa Cruz
s/ Emily Reilly, former mayor
s/ Mike Rotkin, Vice Mayor

Any local, special, or consolidated election may be conducted wholly by mail provided that the City Council adopts a resolution authorizing the use of mailed ballots for the election; the election does not occur on the same date as a statewide direct primary election or statewide general election, and that it be conducted in accordance with the mail ballot election procedures set forth in the Elections Code of the State of California.