Assembly passes Wolk bill to allow Solano County test of "vote centers"

Bipartisan support for pilot project for more efficient, accessible polling locations

SACRAMENTO–The State Assembly joined today in a bipartisan 63-11 vote to pass legislation by Assemblywoman Wolk (D-Davis) to allow Solano County to test more efficient voting centers.

Assembly Bill 3024 would allow Solano County to establish “vote centers” in lieu of precinct polling places as a one-year pilot project during the 2009 local elections. These centers are polling places where any registered voter in the county holding the election may vote, regardless of the precinct in which the voter lives.

“These vote centers would enable a voter that lives in Fairfield and works in Vacaville to vote on their lunch break or on their way home from work, and that’s just one of many advantages,” said Wolk. “These centers would provide greater access to polling places for the disabled, faster turnaround and more accessible parking.”

Other advantages to vote centers are more permanent, well-known locations with more specialized and better-trained poll workers, greater accessibility for disabled voters, faster and more accurate voter check-in, and better oversight by election officials.

Earlier this month, Deborah Seiler, the Election Manager with the Solano County Registrar of Voters, testified that voting centers could help “the enfranchisement of voters.”

“We’re excited about this proposal, because it has the potential to offer something for everybody,” Seiler said. “Currently, voters don’t necessarily know where to vote, because we unfortunately have to change their polling places from time to time. One of the objectives of this proposal is to make polling locations stable, so the voters will have a sense of certainty about where to go to vote."

“I think this is an excellent program,” said Assemblymember Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco), who spoke in support of the bill on the Assembly Floor. “Let’s give it a shot.”

Colorado’s Larimer County has used the “vote center” system three times, reporting voter satisfaction, increased turnout, and improved accessibility of polling places, among other advantages. During the November 2004 general election, the county’s third time using the system, it experienced a 93.5 percent turnout—with less than a 30 minute wait-time.

“This bill enables Solano County to test voting centers that have been shown to improve voter participation, something that this state and country desperately need. Neighborhood precinct voting is a longstanding tradition in California, but this new approach may prove to be more efficient and better for voters. Times changes, and we need to keep up,” concluded Wolk.

The bill, which now moves to the State Senate, is supported by the Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, Solano County, and the California Council for the Blind.