NEIGHBORHOOD POLITICS-I am happy to report that the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners approved the online voting contract with Everyone Counts on Monday. If you weren't able to attend or listen to the meeting, you can watch our recorded live stream of the Commission meeting here.
Please remember that the Commission approval only provides the option of having online voting in addition to their regular polling location. Neighborhood Councils will still have the next few months to decide whether they want online voting for the 2016 elections via a stipulation worksheet that will be sent today to all Neighborhood Councils.
I really think that online voting will have a positive impact on the Neighborhood Council system in making it easier to connect with all stakeholders both before and after the election. Voting is a big topic throughout the nation from Oregon's automatic voter registration to President Obama's suggestion of mandatory voting. Internationally, the UK is looking at online voting after studies showed it would increase engagement with the youth and particularly, young women.
I'm proud that Neighborhood Councils continue to be the leaders in innovative civic engagement worldwide.
Big thanks to Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and the LANCC Election Task Force for first having the vision of online voting in 2010!
It's been a long journey to get here with many miles more to come, but I really appreciate the leadership of the Commission in supporting us in this endeavor for the growth of the Neighborhood Council system.
(Grayce Liu is the General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. She can be reached at: [email protected])
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 25
Pub: Mar 24, 2015
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