District Of Columbia 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill CER25-0308 Introduced / Bill

Filed 12/12/2024

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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Anita Bonds  3 
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Councilmember Christina Henderson C ouncilmember Janeese Lewis George 8 
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 13 
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Councilmember Zachary Parker 	Councilmember Matthew Frumin 18 
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 27 
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 30 
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To recognize and honor the Election Workers who volunteer to serve at the Vote Centers, 34 
ensuring that every resident of the District of Columbia can cast their vote safely, securely, independently, 35 
and with confidence that their vote is being counted. 36 
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 WHEREAS, Election Workers in the District of Columbia serve voters by setting up Vote Center 38 
locations, orienting voters, verifying registration information, issuing ballots, and instructing voters on 39 
election procedures and the use of voting equipment;  40 
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 WHEREAS, Election Workers in recent years have navigated temporary safety precautions 42 
including new policies on cleaning, distancing, and masking; 43 
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WHEREAS, in the General Election held November 3, 2020, 2,407 volunteers risked exposure to 45 
COVID-19 to ensure DC residents were able to cast their vote during the state of emergency caused by 46 
the pandemic; 47 
 48  WHEREAS, in recent elections, Election Workers have also had to contend with an escalation in 49 
threats against their personal safety amidst nationwide concerns about election security;  50 
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WHEREAS, in the June 4, 2024 Primary Election, a total of 1,341 individuals over the age of 16 52 
volunteered at 75 Vote Centers across the District; 53 
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 WHEREAS, on the subsequent N ovember 5, 2024 General Election, an additional total of 1631 55 
individuals over the age of 16 volunteered at 75 Vote Centers across the District; 56 
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 WHEREAS, volunteers do substantial work preparing for the elections, including helping voters 58 
register, setting up Vote Centers, readying mailed-in ballots for the Agilis sorting and processing system, 59 
and answering general questions about voting procedures; 60 
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 WHEREAS, volunteers worked in two- to three-hour shifts the day prior to Election Day and 62 
working in the field during Early Voting; 63 
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 WHEREAS, volunteers worked in 15-hour shifts on Election Day, ensuring the Vote Centers 65 
were open from 6am to 9pm to allow all residents ample opportunity to vote; 66 
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 WHEREAS, volunteers who serve as Registration Clerk, Ballot Clerk, or Voter Assistance Clerk 68 
complete a four-hour training to become qualified on voting systems and procedures; 69 
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 WHEREAS, volunteers who serve as Site Coordinator complete a full-day training program to be 71 
proficient at running a Vote Center; 72 
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 WHEREAS, the Board of Elections held 290 training sessions in 2024 for the Primary and 74 
General Elections; 75 
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WHEREAS, 20 District high school students volunteered to work either a four-hour or eight-hour 77 
shift on June 4th, 2024, and 60 District high school students volunteered for a shift on November 5, 2024; 78 
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WHEREAS, Election Workers help ensure individuals with disabilities are able to cast their 80 
ballots privately and independently by honoring the mandate set forth in the Americans with Disabilities 81 
Act; 82 
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WHEREAS, Election Workers are dedicated to supporting neutrality in elections in the District of 84 
Columbia by abstaining from endorsing any candidate or expressing their personal views of any issue 85 
during their time of service; 86 
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WHEREAS, serving as an Election Worker offers every District of Columbia resident, from high 88 
school students to senior citizens, the opportunity to engage with their community, participate directly in 89 
our democracy; and fulfill their civic duty; 90 
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 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTR ICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 92 
may be cited as the “District of Columbia Election Worker Recognition Resolution of 2024”.  93 
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 Sec. 2.  The Council of the District of Columbia hereby recognizes Election Workers for their 95 
work to support a straightforward election experience and their commitment to ensuring that every 96 
resident in the District of Columbia is afforded the opportunity to cast their ballot. 97 
 98   Sec. 3.  This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 99 
District of Columbia Register. 100