Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Polling Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission backs low-profile police details at polls and warns long ballots ahead
Summary
The commission recommended maintaining one low-profile officer per polling site for the upcoming election and discussed that nine ballot questions will make ballots longer than usual, urging voters to read ahead.
Staff requested the commission's input on police details at polling locations; the city council must authorize those details. Commissioners discussed concerns that police presence can intimidate some voters, particularly immigrants, while others said local officers have been low-profile and helpful.
"Some places they don't want police in them because it'll intimidate people or make them feel, you know, especially immigrants who might have had... bad experience," said a commissioner. Another commissioner responded: "No, they're very low profile. I think they do a great job. They sort of stay in the back and guard the..." The commission endorsed keeping the existing practice—generally one low-profile officer per polling site—and approved a motion to maintain the current approach.
Commissioners also discussed ballot complexity: staff said nine ballot questions currently are scheduled, and under state law each question's summary must be printed on the ballot, producing unusually long ballots. "It's going to be pages. It's going to be the longest we've ever seen," a commissioner said. Members suggested encouraging voters to review the state's mailed materials ahead of time to speed voting.
Next steps: staff will docket the police-detail authorization with the city council as usual and continue voter education about the upcoming long ballot.
