PUBLIC NOTICE: Yolo County Releases Draft Election Administration Plan for Elections Conducted Pursuant to the Voter's Choice Act – 14-Day Public Comment Period Begins

Monday, January 10, 2022

The Yolo County Elections Office plans to fully transition to the new model of election administration under the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA or “Act”). The Elections Office has developed a draft Election Administration Plan (EAP) in English, Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, and Spanish that is now available on our website. Public comment on the draft EAP may be submitted over a 14-day public comment period (until Monday, January 24, 2022).

In 2016, Senate Bill 450 created the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA). The VCA model provides that every voter receives a vote-my-mail ballot and that Vote Centers replace traditional polling locations. Under the polling place model in March of 2020, Yolo County had 96 polling places open for one day (Election Day). During the November 2020 General Election and the September 2021 Recall Election, the Yolo County Elections Office piloted Voter Assistance Centers in anticipation of fully transitioning to the Voter’s Choice Act model in 2022.

In accordance with the Voter’s Choice Act, initial Public Consultation Meetings were held on December 13, 2021. Following the initial Public Consultation Meetings, the Elections Office incorporated community input and has released the draft EAP in English, Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, and Spanish on our website. The EAP provides information to the voters of Yolo County about the VCA. It describes the vote-by-mail (VBM) process, Vote Centers and Ballot Drop Box locations and the technology that will be utilized.

A key component of the EAP is the Outreach Plan which is critical to making the transition and future elections a success. The draft EAP serves as a starting point for public discussions about the County’s transition to the Voter’s Choice Act Model. Public comment on the draft EAP may be submitted over a 14-day public comment period (until Monday, January 24, 2022). Following public review of the draft EAP will lead to an adoption of the Yolo County EAP after a public hearing.

Please email public comments to [email protected] by Monday, January 24, 2022.  Public comments may also be submitted by mail to: Yolo County Elections: 625 Court Street, Room B-05, Woodland, CA 95695.

For more information, visit: www.yoloelections.org. We encourage Yolo County residents to connect with Yolo County ACE – Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections on Facebook: @YoloACE, Instagram: @YoloCoACE, and Twitter: @YoloCoACE to receive the most up to date information.

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