Monterey County Elections

November 3, 2009 CITY/SCHOOL/SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS

The City/School/Special District Elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Voters throughout Monterey County will vote for qualified candidates for local elective offices listed below, as well as local ballot measures. The deadline for local jurisdictions to place any ballot measures before the voters is Friday, August 7, 2009. Any registered voter interested in running for any of the local elective offices listed below should contact the Department at (831) 796-1499 and make an appointment to obtain and file official papers.

Board of Education:
Monterey County Board of Education

Community College Districts:
Hartnell, Monterey Peninsula (Trustee Area 1, currently held by Mr. Jim Tunney, and Trustee Area 2, currently held by Mr. Carl Pohlammer)*, West Hills (one 4-year term in Trustee Area 1 available in Monterey County)

*In early 2009, the Trustees of the Monterey Peninsula College District amended their method of election to allow for future Trustees to be elected by Trustee Area, rather than at large as in the past.

Unified School Districts:
Carmel, Gonzales, Monterey Peninsula, North Monterey County, Pacific, Pacific Grove, Soledad, King City Joint

Union School Districts and Elementary School Districts:
Salinas, Alisal, Bradley, Chualar; Graves, Greenfield, King City, Mission, San Antonio, San Ardo, San Lucas, Santa Rita, Spreckels, Washington, Lagunita, Salinas City

Community Service Districts:
Castroville, Pebble Beach, Spreckels, Santa Lucia

Water and Wastewater Districts:
San Lucas, Monterey Peninsula, San Ardo, Carmel Area Wastewater

Memorial and Recreation Districts:
Greenfield, Spreckels, Carmel Valley Recreation and Park

Fire Protection Districts:
Cachagua, Carmel Valley, Cypress, Gonzales Rural, Greenfield, North County

Town Council
Town of Carmel Valley (all 5 seats will be placed before the voters at the same time as a special measure to incorporate the Town of Carmel Valley)

The boundaries of the proposed new Town encompass approximately 39 square miles, and is generally similar to the County’s Carmel Valley Master Plan area, and includes most of the primary watershed of the Carmel River from Highway 1 to just east of the Carmel Valley Village. There are, however, certain areas that are excluded from the boundaries. Candidates seeking office are required to submit nomination papers in addition to a declaration of candidacy.

Dates to Remember

Candidate Nomination Period – July 13, 2009 – August 7, 2009
Military and Overseas Voter Ballots Available – September 4, 2009
Local Voter Information Pamphlets, Mailing Begins – September 24, 2009
Vote by Mail (Absentee) Ballots, Availability Begins – October 5, 2009
Voter Registration Deadline – October 19, 2009 ( http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm )
Vote by Mail (Absentee) Ballots, Last Day to Request – October 27, 2009
*New Resident/Citizen Registration and Voting – October 20 to October 27, 2009

*This special 7-day registration and voting period is available to only those who become new residents or new citizens after the voter registration deadline, October 19, 2009. New citizens and new residents must come to the Elections Department and obtain a ballot in person.

Important Message to Voters in Monterey County

Monterey County will be issuing paper ballots as the method for voting on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

All polling places will open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.

When voting at their designated polling place on Election Day, voters will be issued a secrecy sleeve and paper ballot to vote. Any voter who wishes or needs to use the touch-screen voting machine to cast their ballot should ask an Election Officer for assistance.

The Monterey County Elections Department has been issuing paper ballots as the main method of voting since the November 2007 local election due to the restrictions on the use of touch-screen voting equipment in California. The restrictions required by the California Secretary of State permit counties to place one touch-screen voting machine at each precinct to comply with the federal 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and allow voters with sight and mobility impairments and/or with limited English-speaking skills to privately and independently cast their ballot.

How to Mark the Paper Ballot used in Monterey County

How to Use the Touch Screen Voting Machine used in Monterey County

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires any jurisdiction using paper ballots as a method of voting to provide information to voters on the consequences of overvoting and how to request a new, or replacement ballot:

Overvote
An overvote occurs when a voter has made more marks on the ballot than the maximum number of votes allowed for any single ballot contest (candidate or ballot measure). Review your ballot prior to casting to ensure you have not overvoted any contests. Overvoted contests are identified by the ballot counting machine and cannot be counted. All other properly marked contests on the ballot will be counted.

Undervote
An undervote occurs when a voter has made fewer marks on a ballot than the maximum number of votes allowed for any ballot contest (candidate or ballot measure), including casting no vote by leaving contests blank. Review your ballot prior to casting to ensure you have not missed any contests. Undervoted ballots will still be counted.

Requesting a New Ballot
At the polls: A voter who overvotes or “spoils” their ballot, or who simply wishes to change their vote, can request a new ballot from an Elections Official.

By Mail: Voters who are voting by mail may enclose their “spoiled” ballot in the blue return envelope, check the box in the upper right corner of the flap indicating they wish a new ballot, then sign, date, and return the envelope. The Department will then send a replacement ballot.