Shasta County Municipal Code Ch. 2.07 Elections Commission

An ordinance to rename the "Citizens Election Advisory Committee," (committee) created pursuant to Board Resolution 2023-099, as the "Shasta County Elections Commission," (commission) and to provide the Commission with authority, to the maximum extent allowed and permissible by applicable law, to advise and make recommendations to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors on all elections-related activities in Shasta County. The board desires to foster and maintain the utmost public trust in local elections, strive for fair and transparent elections, increase voter confidence, improve the elections processes using observations, inspections, evaluations, instituting changes, enhancing the voter experience, identifying improvements and reforms, reduce voter fraud, and for other lawful purposes.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § I, 12-5-2023)

A. The commission shall consist of five members appointed by the board, each of whom will be selected by a different supervisor. Members must be of good character and must be registered voters of Shasta County at the time of appointment.

B. Members will serve four-year terms, which shall be concurrent with the term of the supervisor who appointed them. Initial appointees to the committee may serve shorter terms due to this concurrence.

C. A vacancy by other than the expiration of the term shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments are made.

D. Subject to the provisions of the Election Code and applicable law (and pursuant to California Government Code Section 25201), the board hereby appoints the commission members as inspectors, clerks, and judges of election.

E. The selection of chair and vice-chair, respectively, by the members of the then-existing Shasta County Elections Advisory Committee, are hereby ratified. Accordingly, the same chair and vice-chair, respectively, as approved by the committee, shall remain the same unless and until such time as the commission shall vote otherwise or as may otherwise be required by applicable law or commission bylaws.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § II, 12-5-2023)

All members of the committee shall serve without compensation.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § III, 12-5-2023)

A. The commission will serve as a standing board-appointed commission and all commission meetings will be open to the public and subject to the Brown Act. Meeting location and times shall be established in the commission's by-laws.

B. The commission shall meet no more than six times in years wherein a statewide election is held and no more than ten times in years without a statewide election, unless approval for each additional regular meeting or any special meeting is granted in advance by the board of supervisors.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § IV, 12-5-2023; Ord. No. 2025-02, § I, 3-25-2025)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section, no terms or provisions in this section shall authorize, override, usurp, or circumvent any state statute or federal law. In addition, no authority granted to the Shasta County Elections Commission, either express or implied, shall impede or interfere with the elections official in the performance of their duties. Pursuant to Resolution 2023-099, repealed as of the effective date of Ordinance No. SCC 2023-07, the prior name of the five-person body was the Shasta County Elections Advisory Committee. In the event of any conflict between this section and Resolution 2023-099, the terms and provisions of this section shall control. Subject to the foregoing, the Elections Code, and any other applicable law, the commission shall:

A. Make reports and recommendations for future elections to the board of supervisors regarding existing programs, policies, and procedures, in alignment with the law.

B. Have access to places and records necessary to implement their delegated duties.

C. Observe, inspect, and examine elections related records and documents for accuracy and completeness.

D. As necessary, make copies of public records for reporting purposes or make notes based on such records.

E. Tour and observe the elections department and registrar of voter facilities during, before, or after the election period.

F. Ask questions of election officials and receive timely answers.

G. Review how election updates are reported to the public.

H. Conduct in-depth reviews of voter and vote recordkeeping processes.

I. At the direction of the county executive officer, and through the county administrative office, conduct an annual survey of county residents regarding local trust in elections, using unbiased questions to elicit measurable responses and outcomes.

J. Report to the board twice annually at six-month intervals regarding the commission's activities and accomplishments, one such report to include the annual survey and its results.

(Ord. No. 2023-07, § V, 12-5-2023; Ord. No. 2025-02, § I, 3-25-2025)