City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 5, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ANGELA MANIGLIA TURNER, GENERAL REGISTRAR AND DIRECTOR
OF ELECTIONS
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Section 2-2-10 (establishment of election districts and voting places) by amending Subsections (p), (t), and (x), all of Chapter 2 (ELECTIONS), Title 2 (GENERAL GOVERNMENT) of The Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended, to amend and reordain Section 12-1-4 (Election of school board members; date and manner of election), all of Chapter 1 (SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BOARD), Title 12 (EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE) of The Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended, and to amend and reordain “The Official Map of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Designating Election Districts and Voting Places,” adopted by Section 2-2-13 (MAP OF ELECTION DISTRICTS AND VOTING PLACES), all of Chapter 2 (ELECTIONS), Title 2 (GENERAL GOVERNMENT) of The Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to:
1) Amend Section 2-2-10 of the Code of the City of Alexandria to reflect the permanent voting location of South Port Apartments Precinct at 435 Ferdinand Day Drive (Tucker School) and rename the precinct to “Tucker - West”.
2) Amend Section 2-2-10 of the Code of the City of Alexandria to correct a typographical error in the address of the Samuel Tucker School Election District.
3) Amend section 2-2-10 of the Code of the City of Alexandria to update the precinct name of “Temple Beth El Synagogue” to “Beth El Hebrew Congregation”, with no change in voting location.
4) Amend 12-1-4 to reflect the above changes to election districts in the list of districts comprising the school board districts.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council schedule this ordinance (Attachment 2) for second reading, public hearing, final passage on Saturday, December 16, 2023.
BACKGROUND: The Alexandria Electoral Board (the “Electoral Board”), a three-member bipartisan board appointed by the Alexandria Circuit Court for staggered three-year terms, is responsible for making recommendations to City Council concerning changes in election district boundaries and the establishment of new election districts and polling places. The Code of Virginia, §24.2-307, gives City Council the statutory authority to make these changes.
Prior to the November 2023 General Election, the management at South Port Apartments declined to continue serving as a voting location. As a result, the voting location was temporarily moved to Tucker School. Voting occurred in a separate space from the voting location for the Tucker School Election District.
DISCUSSION: On November 6, 2023, the Electoral Board voted unanimously to recommend that City Council permanently relocate the voting location for the South Port Apartments Election District (precinct 307) to Tucker School and rename the precinct “Tucker - West”, with no change in precinct boundaries.
Additionally, they unanimously voted to recommend the renaming of precinct 207 from “Temple Beth El Synagogue” to “Beth El Hebrew Congregation” with no change in precinct boundaries or voting location. This recommendation will more accurately reflect the name of the voting location, with the goal of reducing voter confusion.
TIMING OF THE CHANGES: Polling Place changes become effective after the passage of the ordinance and the receipt of a Certification of No Objection by the Office of the Attorney General. The proposed changes would be effective beginning with the receipt of the Certification of No Objection issued by the Office of the Attorney General; or February 19, 2024, whichever is first.
FISCAL IMPACT: The mailing to all affected voters will cost approximately $3,000. Due to the department’s ability to reduce costs associated with other projects, these costs can be accommodated within the current department budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover
2. Proposed Ordinance
3. Map of Proposed Voting Precinct Changes
STAFF:
Jean Kelleher, Interim Deputy City Manager
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Shawn Lassiter, Assistant City Attorney
Members of the Alexandria Electoral Board