SO BAD. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME
TO THE SEPTEMBER 7TH 2023
HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE
PROCEED. LET'S CALL THE ROLL AND
ESTABLISH A QUORUM. PELLERIN
HERE, PELLERIN. HERE, LACKEY.
HERE, ROCKY HERE, BENNETT. SALLY
SALLY HERE, LEE HERE LOW LOW
HERE. BLANCA RUBIO MAKIN ER
MAQUINA HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM.
VERY GOOD. WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC TO TESTIFY.
TODAY'S HEARING IN PERSON OR BY
A MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE.
THE COMMITTEE HAS ONE ITEM ON
ITS AGENDA. THERE IS NOTHING ON
CONSENT. WE HAVE A MAXIMUM OF
TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
SUPPORT AND TO PRIMARY WITNESSES
AND OPPOSITION OF THE MEASURE
WITH A LIMIT OF TWO MINUTES
EACH. AFTER WE HAVE HEARD FROM
THE PRIMARY WITNESS, THE PUBLIC
WILL HAVE UP TO 15 MINUTES IN
TOTAL TIME FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, STARTING WITH MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IN
THE ROOM. OTHER WITNESSES ARE
LIMITED TO PROVIDING THEIR NAME
THEIR ORGANIZATION THEY
REPRESENT, IF ANY, AND THEIR
POSITION ON THE BILL. ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS WILL BE RULED OUT OF
ORDER. IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO GET
THROUGH ON THE TELEPHONE, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN
TESTIMONY THROUGH THE PORTAL ON
THE COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. THE
WRITTEN TESTIMONY WILL BECOME
PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF
THE BILL. FOR THOSE WHO ARE
WATCHING THIS HEARING REMOTELY
AND WHO WISH TO CALL IN TO
REGISTER YOUR POSITION. THE
COLIN NUMBER FOR THIS HEARING IS
877. 69289. AND THE ACCESS CODE
IS 131. 5444. YOU CAN ALSO FIND
THIS NUMBER ON THE ASSEMBLY
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE WEBSITE AS
WELL AS ON YOUR TV OR COMPUTER
SCREEN. IF YOU ARE CALLING IN,
PLEASE ELIMINATE ALL BACKGROUND
NOISE. THIS INCLUDES MUTING YOUR
LIVESTREAM BROADCAST AND YOU'RE
SMART DEVICES TO REDUCE THE
SOUND DISTORTION IF YOU'RE
HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE
MODERATED PHONE SERVICE, YOU CAN
CALL THE COMMITTEE AT 916.
319209. AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF
WILL BE THERE TO TRY TO HELP.
THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH US AS
WE IMPLEMENT METHODS TO CONTINUE
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO
THE AGENDA. I HAVE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. I HAVE A
LETTER FROM SPEAKER REVIS
APPOINTING ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TINA
MAKIN ER TO FILL THE DEMOCRATIC
VACANCY ON THE COMMITTEE. FOR
THE PURPOSES OF TODAY'S HEARING
. ONLY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAKIN ER
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US. WITH THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE
THE WAY WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
THE COMMITTEE'S AGENDA. THE ONLY
ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS A B
969 AND BECAUSE I AM THE AUTHOR
THAT BILL, I'M GOING TO HAND THE
GAVEL OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIR.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LACKEY TO
PROCEED TO PRESIDE WHILE I
PRESENT SO TAKE IT AWAY. YOU MAY
PRESENT. OKAY, I'LL GO DOWN
HERE.
OKAY? THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS 89 69 UPDATES THE
ELECTIONS COACH REFLECT THE
REALITIES OF RUNNING AN ELECTION
IN THE 21ST CENTURY BY
CLARIFYING WHEN ACCOUNTING
ELECTIONS OFFICIAL MUST USE A
VOTING SYSTEM AS THEIR PRIMARY
METHOD OF TABULATION. HAND
COUNTS ARE COMPLEX, IMPRECISE,
EXPENSIVE AND RESOURCE
INTENSIVE. A 2018 STUDY
CONDUCTED BY RESEARCHERS FROM
HARVARD AND MIT AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUND
THAT PAPER BALLOTS COUNTED BY
HAND WERE LESS ACCURATE THAN
BALLOTS COUNTED WITH OPTICAL
SCANNERS. RESEARCH HAS
CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT HUMANS
ARE POOR AT COMPLETING WROTE
REPETITIVE TASKS. IN A REPORT TO
THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER. AN
ELECTIONS OFFICIAL NOTED THAT
SHE HAD FOUR SETS OF WORKERS
HAND COUNT THE SAME BALLOTS, AND
SHE RECEIVED FOUR DIFFERENT
RESULTS. A B 969 IS SIMPLE. IT
REQUIRES THAT A VOTING SYSTEM BE
USED IN REGULARLY SCHEDULED
ELECTIONS IN WHICH THERE ARE
MORE THAN 1000 REGISTERED
ELIGIBLE VOTERS. AS OF 154 DAYS
IN ADVANCE OF THE ELECTION. THIS
THRESHOLD INCREASES THE 5000
REGISTERED VOTERS AND NON
REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS
SUCH AS SPECIAL ELECTIONS. THIS
WAS THE PORTION OF THE BILL THAT
WAS AMENDED IN THE SENATE, WHICH
IS WHY IT'S BACK IN THIS
COMMITTEE TODAY. THE UNITED
STATES HAS SOME OF THE LONGEST
BALLOTS IN THE WORLD BECAUSE
EACH BALLOT CONTAINS CONTEST FOR
LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES
AND MEASURES. IF NON REGULARLY
SCHEDULED ELECTIONS AND NON
REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS.
THE BALLOTS TEND TO ONLY HAVE
ONE CONTEST ON THE BALLOT, WHICH
MAKES ALLOWS FOR EASIER HAND
COUNTING. WE UPDATED THESE
THRESHOLDS ON AUGUST 17TH TO
ENSURE THE COUNTY ELECTIONS
OFFICIALS HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE NON
REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS.
TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS CONCERNS
REGARDING LOCAL CONTROL. THIS
BILL DOES NOT MANDATE THAT A
COUNTY MUST USE A SPECIFIC
VOTING SYSTEM TO CONDUCT ITS
ELECTIONS. IN CALIFORNIA. ALL
VOTING SYSTEMS MUST BE STATE
CERTIFIED AND FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED. THE SELECTION OF A
VOTING SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO
BE GOVERNED BY DIVISION 19 THE
CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE.
CALIFORNIA HAS SOME OF THE
STRICTEST VOTING SYSTEM
STANDARDS IN THE COUNTRY WITH
OUR STANDARDS EXCEEDING, BLESS
YOU, THE FEDERAL MINIMUMS.
FURTHERMORE THE ARGUMENT OF
VOTING SYSTEMS ARE EASILY HACKED
IS A FALLACY. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR
ANY PART OF THE VOTING SYSTEM TO
BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET AT
ANY TIME, AND NO PART OF THE
VOTING SYSTEM IS PERMITTED TO
RECEIVE. OR TRANSMIT WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS OR WIRELESS DATA
TRANSFERS WITH ME TODAY IS
LAUREL BRODZINSKY WITH COMMON
CAUSE WHO WILL BE MY PRIMARY
WITNESS. YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK
YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M
LAUREL BRODZINSKY, LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR WITH CALIFORNIA COMMON
CAUSE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF A
B 969. IN RECENT YEARS.
MISINFORMATION REGARDING
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND
UNFOUNDED CLAIMS OF ELECTION
FRAUD HAVE BEEN SPREAD IN ORDER
TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
. THESE CLAIMS HAVE FOUND
TRACTION IN CALIFORNIA DESPITE
BEING CONSISTENTLY DISPROVEN AND
CREATE REAL DANGERS FOR
PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF
CALIFORNIANS TO VOTE. THE SHASTA
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
DECISION TO CANCEL THE COUNTY'S
VOTING SYSTEM. LEASE AGREEMENT
WITH DOMINION WAS ROOTED IN
THESE UNFOUNDED CLAIMS OF FRAUD
. AT THE TIME THE DECISION WAS
APPROVED, THE BOARD DID NOT
PROVIDE A PLAN OR DESCRIBE HOW
THEY WOULD CONDUCT FUTURE
ELECTIONS IN A WAY THAT ENSURES
ACCESSIBILITY OR THAT THE COUNTY
WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY
PROCESSED BALLOTS SUBJECT TO THE
REQUIRED TIMELINES IN CODE. AND
AS THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S NOTED,
VOTING SYSTEMS GO THROUGH
RIGOROUS TESTING AND
CERTIFICATION BY THE SECRETARY
OF STATE. THEY ALSO INCLUDE NOT
JUST THE MECHANISMS FOR COUNTING
BALLOTS. BUT ALSO ACCESSIBLE
VOTING MACHINES, INCLUDING
BALLOT MARKING DEVICES TO ENSURE
THAT VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
CAN VOTE PRIVATELY AND
INDEPENDENTLY. AND PROVIDE
REQUIRED TRANSLATIONS OF BALLOTS
AND ARE USED TO CREATE THE
VARIETY OF BALLOT STYLES THAT
MAY BE APPLICABLE IN A
JURISDICTION DUE TO LOCAL
CONTESTS AND MEASURES. COMMON
CAUSE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION AND MAKING SURE
THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED
PROPERLY AND ON TIME IS
ESSENTIAL TO PRESERVING FAITH IN
OUR DEMOCRACY AS A WHOLE. THIS
MEANS WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
THE REALITIES OF RUNNING AN
ELECTION IN MODERN JURISDICTIONS
WITH THOUSANDS OF VOTERS
SOMETHING WE KNOW THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S INTIMATELY
KNOWS. 89 69 RECOGNIZES THERE'S
A TIME AND PLACE FOR MANUAL VOTE
COUNT. BUT INSTALLS THE
NECESSARY GUARDRAILS REGARDING
WHEN EMANUEL VOTE COUNT CAN BE
CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
ELECTION CODE. THIS ENSURES THAT
CRUCIAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
DECISIONS ARE MADE. AH! ARE NOT
MADE WITHOUT ENSURING THAT
FUTURE ELECTIONS WILL BE ABLE TO
MEET LEGAL OBLIGATIONS,
INCLUDING PROVIDING ACCESS TO
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR
LANGUAGE NEEDS AND LOGISTICAL
NEEDS. THIS ENSURES THAT NO
VOTER WILL BE DISENFRANCHISED
DUE TO A LACK OF PRIOR PLANNING.
FOR THESE REASONS. CALIFORNIA
COMMON CAUSE URGES YOUR I VOTE
ON 89 69. THANK YOU. OKAY? THANK
YOU. UM DO YOU HAVE ANY BUDDY
HERE IN OPPOSITION? TO THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL THAT WANTS
TO TESTIFY. SEEING NONE. OKAY
ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WANTED TO
EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE
TO DO SO. PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE AND EXPRESS YOURSELF.
SAYING NO. ONE INTERESTED THERE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE PHONE
LINES DO WE DO WE OKAY.
MODERATOR UM, THIS IS YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. IF
THERE'S ANYBODY ON THE PHONE
LINES WE'D LIKE TO HEAR WHETHER
THEY SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THIS
MEASURE. FOR SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION FOR A B 9 69 PRESS 10
ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD. WE
WILL GO TO LINE 25. THE
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE HEARING IN
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY.
I'M TRYING TO EXPRESS MY
OPPOSITION TO A V 969. WHATEVER
FULL QUESTION ABOUT WHY YOU
DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE, MAN JUST EXPRESS YOUR
DON'T HAVE AN OPPOSITION. WE
WOULD APPRECIATE THAT WOULDN'T
YOUR PROCESS LET'S GO. GO
FORWARD WITH THE NEXT CALLER,
PLEASE. WE'LL GO TO LINE 19,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES MY NAME IS
LINDA MATTER. I'M CALLING FROM
LINCOLN THAT CRASH OR COUNTY AND
I STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS. PLEASE
DO NOT CONTINUE THIS THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO LINE
17, PLEASE GO AHEAD. LINE 17.
YOU MAY SPEAK. SORRY, CAN YOU?
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU
PLEASE PROCEED. CAN YOU GUYS
HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM, PLEASE
PROCEEDING HI CHURCH. GREAT HIGH
HIGH CHAIR AND CHAIR MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS TRINA LATCH. I'M CALLING
FROM PLASTIC COUNTY. I'M IN
STRONG OPPOSITION OF THIS. THIS
BILL. THIS IS AGAINST THE CIVIL
RIGHTS. ACT FOR VOTERS. YOU WILL
NOT THANK YOU FOR CALLING.
APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT COLLAR,
PLEASE. WE WILL GO TO LINE 22,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS
JEANETTE FELLED AND I'M FROM
SACRAMENTO COUNTY. AND I OPPOSE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO
TO LINE 13, PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY
NAME IS MINDY PET SHOP, AND I'M
IN ALAMEDA COUNTY. AND I OPPOSED
HIM IN 969. THANK YOU. WHO GO TO
LINE 11, PLEASE GO AHEAD. LEHMAN
ATTERBURY AND FASTER COUNTY AND
STRONG OPPOSITION TO BUILD 9 69.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO LINE 30,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO JENNIFER
JOHNSON. PLASTER COUNTY I OPPOSE
9 69. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO
LINE 18, PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY
NAME IS COLIN BRITAIN WITH
ELECTION INTEGRITY PROJECT
CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATIVE VOICE WERE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO A B 969. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. WHO TO LINE 29,
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
LINE 29. YOU MAY PROCEED. HE GOT
ME. HELLO? YES, THAT IS YOU.
THANKS. VERY SORRY. YEAH HI.
THIS IS FOR ME. MARK HAS FROM
PLASTIC COUNTY AND I'M COUNTING
SHOULD NOT BE ELIMINATED, SO I
STRONGLY OPPOSED 89 69. THANK
YOU. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO LINE
16. PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JACKIE KOTA AND I AM
FROM THE ELECTION INTEGRITY TEAM
OF ALAMEDA COUNTY AND WE
STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED 89 69. STOP
DESTROYING INTEGRITY. THANK YOU.
WE'LL GO TO LINE THEM. 20,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES. CAN YOU
HEAR ME? WE CAN'T PLEASE
PROCEED. HELLO. YES PLEASE
PROCEED. MY NAME IS HAN. YES. MY
NAME IS HUNTER COBB. I LIVE IN
ALAMEDA. AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER
OF THE, UH, ELECTION INTEGRITY
TEAM OF ALAMEDA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA. UM. AND I STRONGLY
OPPOSED A B 969. OKAY, THANK
YOU. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
WE'LL GO TO LINE 15, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. CINDY ROCHA WITH THE
ELECTION INTEGRITY TEAM OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA AND I
OPPOSE DOMINION A B 9 69. THANK
YOU. GO TO LINE 14, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
KATHY DARLING ALLEN, CHESTER
COUNTY CLERK AND REGISTRAR
VOTERS AND STRONG SUPPORT OF 96
MONTHS. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL GO
TO LINE IN 28, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YES THIS IS STEPHANIE. SWAY HLA
AND I STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS NON
TRANSPARENT USE OF THESE
MACHINES. THANK YOU FOR CALLING.
WE'LL GO TO LINE 12, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. LINDA RUSSELL
DISENFRANCHISED ABOUT HER FROM
SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. OH, GO TO LINE 32,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. STAND WHY YOU
DON'T ALLOW AN OPPOSING WITNESS.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO
ME. YOU'RE CUTTING THE PHONE
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, PLEASE.
GO TO LINE 35, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YES, SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE
CAN PLEASE PROCEED. WE CAN HEAR
YOU. OKAY GREAT JOHN GUERRERO.
ELECTION INTEGRITY TEAMS THAT
WILL NEED TO CALIFORNIA. AS WE
STRONGLY. OPPOSE DOMINION
INSPIRED A B 969. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO LINE 34,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS
SHAUNA I'M WITH IN SHASTA COUNTY
RESIDENT OF AND I AM 4 89 69.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA
GO TO LINE 37, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING YOUR OWN
PROCESS. YOU NEED TO ALLOW AN
OPPOSING EXPRESS YOUR NAME AND
YOUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION.
PLEASE. THAT'S IT. WE'LL GO TO
LINE 39, PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES MY
NAME IS TERRY. I'M CALLING FROM
PATRICK COUNTY. I STRONGLY
OPPOSED THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
AND WE'LL GO TO LINE 26. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS RITA. BUSY,
ALI. I'M WITH PLASTER COUNTY AND
I STRONGLY OPPOSED A B 1969. AND
WE'LL GO BACK TO LINE 28. PLEASE
GO AHEAD. YES THIS IS STEPHANIE
. SWEAR LIKE AGAIN. I GOT CUT
OFF, STRONGLY OPPOSED USING
THESE MACHINES. THEY'RE NOT
TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU. MR
CHAIR. WE HAVE NO FURTHER
COMMENT, UH, COMMENTS FOR
OPPOSITION OR SUPPORT. OKAY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
YES, I REMEMBER. SALLY. YOU MAY
PROCEED. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT
TO CLARIFY TO THE PEOPLE
LISTENING. WE DO ALLOW WITNESS
OPPOSITIONS. YOU JUST HAVE TO
ARRANGE IT WITH THE COMMITTEE
AHEAD OF TIME. IS THAT CORRECT?
OKAY SO FOR THOSE LISTENING, WE
ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY DO ALLOW
OPPOSITION WITNESSES. YOU JUST
HAVE TO CALL AHEAD OF TIME AND
SOME AND REQUEST THAT YOU'D LIKE
TO TESTIFY. UM BECAUSE I DO
THINK PROCESSES IMPORTANT ARE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN. I'VE READ YOUR
BILL. UM, I GENERALLY I THINK WE
BOTH AGREE THAT ELECTIONS ARE
RUN BY LOCALS, THE REGISTRAR OF
VOTERS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR
RUNNING THE ELECTION, AND THE
COUNTY'S OVERSEE THAT RIGHT AND
THEY PAY FOR IT. AND I KNOW THE
STATE HAS SET STANDARDS FOR HOW
ELECTIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED,
AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO THAT. I SEE HERE
IN IN SUBSECTION A. IT ALLOWS
FOR MANUAL COUNTING AS LONG AS
IT'S CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO A
PLAN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY
OF STATE. MY QUESTION IS SINCE
WE HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT
ALREADY. WHY DO WE THEN JUST
FLAT OUT? MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO
CONDUCT A MANUAL VOTE COUNT IF
IT'S IF THERE'S MORE THAN 1000.
REGISTERED VOTERS LIKE WHY HAVE
THAT PROHIBITION IF THE COUNTY
WANTS TO DO A MANUAL TALLY, AND
THEY WANT TO PAY FOR IT, AND
THEY WANT TO COMPLY WITH THE
PLAN THAT'S APPROVED BY THE
SECRETARY OF STATE? WHY DON'T WE
LET THEM SO THE INTENT OF THE
LAW IS THAT EVERY VOTER IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS ACCESS
TO VOTING SYSTEM THAT IS
FEDERALLY QUALIFIED AND STATE
CERTIFIED. IT HAS GONE THROUGH
RIGOROUS TESTING. IT IS
TRANSPARENT. IT IS AUDITABLE. IT
IS SECURE. IT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SO UH
, WE NEED TO HAVE A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERY VOTER IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE DO
AN AUDIT OF THOSE MACHINE
COUNTER VOTES, AND WE DO THAT BY
HAND AND THAT IS THE CHECK AND
BALANCE ON THE VOTING SYSTEM, SO
IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE FOR
COUNTIES TO MEET. THE DEADLINES
ARE UNDER FOR THE STATE WIDE
ELECTIONS IN THESE LARGER
ELECTIONS TO HAVE THE USAGE OF
THE VOTING SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE
PURCHASED. OKAY I JUST THINK FOR
ME PERSONALLY, IF THEY WANT TO
DO MANUAL VOTE COUNT, AND THEY
WANT TO PAY FOR IT, AND IT'S
GOING TO BE EXTREMELY COSTLY AND
BURDENSOME TO MEET THE DEADLINES
. I JUST THINK THAT THEY SHOULD
BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY
. SO I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. YES
REMEMBER, BENNETT? YOU MAY
PROCEED. COULD YOU ELABORATE?
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING IT BE
CONSISTENT, SO THAT THE FOR
EXAMPLE, THE AUDITS CAN BE DONE
TIMELY AND WITH MORE ACCURACY
AND MORE RELIABILITY, IF THANK,
YOU KNOW, VOTERS AND CANDIDATES
AND MEASURE COMMITTEES ARE
ALWAYS VERY ANXIOUS TO GET THOSE
VOTE RESULTS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. AND UTILIZING
TECHNOLOGY IN TODAY'S DAY AND
AGE HELPS US TO MEET THOSE
DEADLINES THAT EVERYONE'S
WAITING FOR. AND AS I SAID IN MY
STATEMENT AS FAR AS THE
COMPLEXITY OF OUR BALLOTS, IT'S
NOT JUST ONE CONTEST ON THE
BALLOT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE
CONTESTS ON THE BALLOT, SO IT IS
VERY LABOR INTENSIVE TO HAND
COUNT EVERY SINGLE BALLOT AND A
COUNTYWIDE ELECTION LIKE THAT.
SO UM, YOU KNOW THE BENEFITS OF
HAVING A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED
STATE CERTIFIED SYSTEM IS THAT
IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS
TRANSPARENT. IT'S GONE THROUGH
RIGOROUS TESTING. IT IS
ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. IT IS SECURE. IT
IS AUDITABLE AND, UM, AND MAKING
SURE THAT ALL VOTERS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAD THE SAME
ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM
IS IMPERATIVE. TO MAKE SURE THE
INTEGRITY OF OUR VOTES AND OUR
DEMOCRACY IS PRESERVED. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, I DO HAVE A
QUESTION AS WELL. THE URGENCY
CLAUSE. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE REASON FOR URGENCY. UM CAN
YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE'S AN
URGENCY AND WHY? JANUARY? 1ST IS
NOT SOON ENOUGH. WE HAVE A MARCH
2024 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND
THE COUNTY OF SHASTA WOULD LIKE
TO USE THE VOTING SYSTEM THAT
THEY'VE BEEN USING FOR MANY
YEARS NOW. AND BEEN USING IT
SUCCESSFULLY. AND IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS TRANSPARENT. I
INVITE ANY VOTER WHO'S
INTERESTED TO SEE HOW ELECTIONS
WORK. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL
ELECTIONS OFFICIAL. THEY WILL
WELCOME ME WITH OPEN ARMS TO
COME IN AND OBSERVE ALL OF THEIR
PRICES PROCESSES, SO WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IN PLACE
FOR OUR BIG ELECTION COMING UP
IN 2024. OKAY SECONDLY, HOW MANY
COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA HAVE FEWER THAN 1000?
REGISTERED VOTERS. I BELIEVE
IT'S ONLY ONE. YEAH. ALPINE.
YEAH. BECAUSE THIS KIND OF SEEMS
LIKE A DE FACTO BAN ON JUST HAND
COUNTED BALLOTS. IS THAT WHAT
THIS IS? NO IT'S BASICALLY
WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS
HAVE ACCESS TO A SYSTEM THAT HAS
ALL THE SECURITY MEASURES AND
TESTING AND STANDARDS APPLIED TO
IT AND A SYSTEM THAT IS ACCURATE
, TRANSPARENT, ACCESSIBLE AND
AUDITABLE. OKAY, JUST MY. MY
POSITION IS SIMILAR TO MY
COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT THAT, UH I
THINK OF SOME OF THE MEMBER
SALLY SAID IT VERY WELL THAT I
THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THE
AUTONOMY TO MAKE THE DECISION ON
HOW THEY UM ADDRESS THE VOTE
COUNT. IT'S A VERY SACRED THING.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND TRUST
LEVELS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SO
ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND
I BELIEVE THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE
PEOPLE, AND THIS PROTECTS THE
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IS THAT YOUR
CLOTHES? OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SAY RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S
GO AHEAD TO THE LEFT OF THE SEAT
PERSPECTIVE. TO MY NEW THAT LOUD
AND CLEAR. OKAY, YEAH. I THINK
MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT. OKAY
LET'S UH DO WE HAVE EMOTION? IT
OUT. OKAY WE HAVE A 1ST AND 2ND.
WE'RE READY TO CALL FOR THE
QUESTION. THE MOTION IS WITH
RECOMMENDATION THAT SENATE
AMENDMENTS BE CONCURRED IN
PELLERIN, I, HALLORAN, I LACKEY
NO BENNETT BENNETT. I SALLY
SALLY, NO, LI I LO. HØI BLANCA
RUBIO RUBIO I MAKIN ER ER I.
ABOUT 6 TO 2. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. MAYBE HAVING A
RECURRENCE. WELL, THE HEARING
WOULD BE. YEAH NOT TODAY. FIRST
JOB. OKAY? SURPRISE AND WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. YEAH.