Elections Commission amends March 11 minutes to include testifier’s barcode detail

The Elections Commission on April 1 voted to amend the March 11 meeting minutes to include a testifier’s exact wording about the Intelligent Mail Barcode and then approved the minutes as amended.

The amendment was offered by Commissioner Dylan to add the line the testifier had requested: “The Intelligent Mail Barcode allows mail processing equipment to automatically count return mail pieces and transmit counts to USPS systems for reporting.” The amendment passed on a roll call (5 yes, 3 no, 1 abstention). After further discussion the commission approved the March 11 minutes as amended by a 6–2–1 vote.

Public testimony leading into the vote focused on how previous minutes had summarized or paraphrased speakers. Multiple testifiers said they wanted specific language preserved. Jennifer, one of the testifiers, told the commission the barcode detail was “a pretty important fact to be left out” and asked that the minutes reflect her precise statement so the record would match her testimony.

Commissioners debated whether factual corrections to minutes require formal votes under Robert’s Rules. Some members argued that a factual correction does not need a vote; others moved to amend and to approve so the record would contain specific text the public had requested. Several commissioners also raised the related issue of whether Deputy Attorney General Ching’s written opinion, previously referenced in a prior meeting, had been properly incorporated in the published minutes; staff and the chair said they would ensure that the written opinion is added to the earlier draft minutes as directed.

The commission’s action leaves the March 11 minutes on the public record with the added language requested by testifiers, and staff were instructed to post updated drafts on the website. The commission moved on to unfinished business after the vote.