Table of Contents - Unified Government of Wyandotte County ...

Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas2012 Amended and 2013 Operating BudgetDepartment OverviewWyandotte County Election OfficeDepartment Overview:The Wyandotte County Election Office conducts fair and honest elections. The integrity of elections isguaranteed by accurately registering voters, providing advance voting, recruiting and training electionworkers, and ensuring that every voting machine or counting board tabulates every legally cast vote.Important Issues: One full-time, one part-time, and 15 temporary positions are unfunded. The Election Officeneeds all of these positions to be funded for the successful execution of the 2012 Presidentialelection. If these positions remain unfunded, it may be impossible to handle the expectedvolume of voters, voter registration applications, and advance ballot applications during 2012. The complexity of the 2012 Presidential election is greater because of new election laws.Preparation for the 2013 primary and general (mayoral) elections begins September 2012. Statutory changes provide expanded voting opportunities, including satellite advance voting.Without adequate funding, satellite advance voting remains unaffordable and unavailable. Voter participation in the November General election is expected to be very high. The numbersof ADA-accessible polling places is at an all-time low. Some wards do not have any facilityavailable which can or will serve as a polling place. ADA standards, coupled with continuingbudget constraints, necessitate a reduction in the numbers of polling places. There is notsufficient funding to properly staff polling places even if they could be found.Federal and state legislation drives the complexity of and need for comprehensive training ofelection workers. Election worker training has increased in quantity, quality, and duration.Training hours have increased because of electronic poll books, voter photo ID, and voterassistance, especially for disabled voters. Expected high turnouts for the 2012 primary and presidential election necessitate greaternumbers of well-trained election workers. The fee paid to election workers has slipped belowthe minimum wage rate. This makes it much more difficult to find or retain good electionworkers. The fee paid must be increased to exceed minimum wage.Highlights:The Election Office conducts a primary and general election annually, and may be required, withno more than 120 days advance notice, to conduct multiple other special elections. Voter education to explain new voter photo identification requirements will expand in relation tothe nearness of Election Day with planned peaks prior to each of the scheduled elections. Proof of citizenship is required for voter registration beginning January 1, 2013.New Initiatives: Voter education to better explain voter options, especially advance voting by mail. Voter outreach to increase voter participation, especially persons with disabilities, persons innursing homes or assisted-living facilities, new citizens, and military and overseas civilians. Planning has begun to explore the feasibility of vote centers to replace polling places.167