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LAFCO hears staff study on boosting voter turnout; VoteCal, same‑day registration and technology examined
Summary
LAFCO received a staff presentation by Enrique Aguilar summarizing legal constraints and possible reforms to increase turnout, including online registration rules, VoteCal integration, potential same‑day registration, and state‑level reforms like automatic registration and vote‑by‑mail changes.
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission reviewed a staff draft report on ways the city might increase voter participation, hearing a presentation from policy research intern Enrique Aguilar on current rules, possible reforms and outreach strategies.
Aguilar summarized what California law allows and what would require state or charter changes. He noted online voter registration in California (implemented in 2012) requires identification such as a California driver’s license or identification card number, the last four digits of a social security number and a date of birth. He described San Francisco’s early in‑person voting schedule at City Hall (beginning 29 days before Election Day, including the last two weekends) and described state activity on VoteCal, automatic voter registration and vote‑by‑mail pilots.
On reforms that would require legislative or charter action, Aguilar said remote internet voting presents current security and anonymity problems: “Remote internet voting could make casting a ballot possible through an internet connected device from any location. Nonetheless potential security threats and the lack of anonymity with remote internet voting make it impossible to implement with current technology in California.” He also reviewed proposals broader than city authority, including lowering the voting age to 16 and non‑citizen voting in local elections (noting examples elsewhere such as Takoma Park, Md.).
Commissioner Cynthia Cruz asked for clarification that felons can vote in California once they are off parole. Aguilar confirmed that restoring voting rights while people remain incarcerated would require state-level action; he said two states (Vermont and Maine) currently allow incarcerated voting.
Jason Fried said staff will collect comments on the draft and incorporate state legislative developments before presenting a final report: staff asked for comment submissions and expect to present a revised final report at a future meeting unless substantial changes are received.
Public commenters and community representatives praised the report and stressed outreach to youth and underrepresented communities; staff and commissioners discussed whether increased Elections Department resources could expand outreach.
