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Board of Elections

Orange County · Board of Elections
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Regular meeting Elections and districtsBudget and appropriations

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved Early Voting Buffer Zone Modification Approved unanimously
  2. Approved Adoption of Absentee Meeting Conduct Policy Approved unanimously
  3. Approved Absentee Ballot Review and Canvass Approved 59 civilian, 443 overseas and 14 military ballots; disapproved 3 civilian ballots

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Orange County's Board of Elections meets weekly through absentee season to decide which mailed, military and overseas ballots count toward the November general election. Each session includes a bipartisan review of ballot envelopes, with any flagged for a problem set aside for a board vote to approve or reject.

This meeting also took up how early voting sites handle campaigning near the polls and a written policy for how the board runs its own absentee sessions.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The board approved 59 civilian absentee ballots, 443 overseas ballots and 14 military ballots, all by unanimous vote after a bipartisan review of the envelopes. It rejected 3 civilian ballots for incomplete witness information; the county had already contacted those voters and reissued their ballot packages. Staff then ran the approved ballots through the DS850 tabulator, bringing the ballot count to 516, and sealed them in a security envelope under a seal the board signed.

The board also voted to limit the campaigning zone at early voting sites to service animals only, and adopted a written conduct policy for its own absentee meetings. Director Rachel Raper reported 112,541 registered voters, up 2,170 since early September, and said the board's budget has sufficient funds for its work. No one signed up for public comment.

How the votes went

Every vote was unanimous: approving the September 3 and September 17 minutes; disapproving 3 civilian absentee ballots for incomplete witness information; approving 59 civilian, 443 overseas and 14 military absentee ballots; limiting the early-voting campaign zone to service animals; and adopting the board's absentee meeting conduct policy.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (9)

Procedural · 5Resolution · 2Staff or committee report · 1Other · 1
  1. Call to Order
    Procedural
    Chair Jamie Cox called the meeting to order.
  2. Public Comment
    Procedural
    The chair opened the floor for public comment. No one came forward to speak.
  3. Approval of Board Minutes
    Procedural
    The board approved the minutes of its September 3 and September 17, 2024 meetings as submitted.
    Approved unanimously
  4. Director's Report
    Staff or committee report Budget and appropriationsElections and districts
    Director Rachel Raper reported sufficient funds in the board's budget, a total of 112,541 registered voters (up 2,170 since September 3), and gave a count of absentee ballots cast to date.
  5. Early Voting Buffer Zone Modification
    Resolution Elections and districts
    On staff's recommendation, the board voted to limit the campaigning zone at all early voting sites to service animals only.
    Approved unanimously
  6. Adoption of Absentee Meeting Conduct Policy
    Resolution Elections and districts
    The board adopted a written policy governing how it conducts its absentee meetings.
    Approved unanimously
  7. Absentee Ballot Review and Canvass
    Other Elections and districts
    After a bipartisan review of the envelopes, the board approved 59 civilian, 443 overseas and 14 military absentee ballots. It disapproved 3 civilian ballots for incomplete witness information; the voters were contacted and their ballot packages reissued.
    Approved 59 civilian, 443 overseas and 14 military ballots; disapproved 3 civilian ballots
  8. Ballot Tabulation and Sealing
    Procedural Elections and districts
    The board opened the approved ballot envelopes and watched staff run the ballots through the DS850 tabulator, reaching a count of 516. The board then signed a sealing label as the director sealed the voted ballots into a security envelope.
  9. Adjournment
    Procedural
    The board adjourned.
    Approved unanimously

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