Chapter 59 - DUVAL COUNTY ELECTION ADVISORY PANEL

Sec. 58.103. - Time of Reporting. Chapter 60 - HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Chapter 59 - DUVAL COUNTY ELECTION ADVISORY PANEL

Sec. 59.101. - Establishment.

There is hereby established a panel to be known as the Duval County Election Advisory Panel (hereinafter known as the Panel).

(Ord. 2002-373-E, § 1)

Sec. 59.102. - Intent of the Council.

It is the intent of the Council in establishing the Panel to create a body to review the voter registration and the election process, procedures, and experiences in Duval County to advise the Supervisor of Elections Office in efforts to increase voter registration, enhance voter election experience and assist in candidate education to ensure a fair, impartial and effective election process. In response to the 2000 and 2004 general elections, the Florida Legislature rewrote Florida's elections laws to ensure a consistent and unified election system for use in Florida's 67 counties. This effort standardized many of the election processes each Supervisor of Elections is now required to follow. As such, the initial charge of the Panel is no longer applicable. However, the Council recognizes that it is still valuable to have a body of registered Duval County voters who can provide the Supervisor of Elections with insight and recommendations regarding the election process and election day experience. The Supervisor of Elections shall appear before the Panel at the Panel's next regularly scheduled meeting, or as soon after as practicable, at least two times per calendar year as follows: (1) after each election cycle to summarize and discuss the election experience during the election cycle and (2) after receipt of the Panel's report required in Section 59.105(e) to comment on or address any issues raised in the Panel's report.

(Ord. 2002-373-E, § 1; Ord. No. 2018-383-E, § 1)

Sec. 59.103. - Membership; terms; composition.

The Panel shall be composed of nine members, selected as follows:

(a)

Three members of the public designated by the Council President; and

(b)

Three members of the public designated by the Mayor; and

(c)

Three members designated by the Supervisor of Elections, one of whom shall be employed full-time at the Supervisor of Elections' office.

Each Panel member shall at all times be a registered voter in Duval County. Other than the employee of the Supervisor of Elections, the designees shall be selected in such a manner as to represent a diverse background in terms of race, gender, party affiliation, and physical impairment and shall be confirmed by the City Council. Each Panel member shall serve for a term of three years or until his or her successor shall have been appointed; provided that, of the initial appointments, two of the three initial designees of the Council President and Mayor and one of the two initial designees of the Supervisor of Elections shall serve for a period of two years with the remaining members serving a three-year term. The Supervisor of Elections' office employee designee shall serve until such time as the Supervisor of Elections appoints a replacement. Appointed panel members may be reappointed for up to one additional term.

(Ord. 2002-373-E, § 1)

Sec. 59.104. - Organization.

(a)

The Chairman, or in his or her absence, the Vice-Chairman, both of whom shall be elected, along with the Secretary, by the Panel, shall preside at all meetings of the Panel and shall appoint the members of various committees or other bodies as authorized by the Panel in furtherance of its purposes. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Panel and the minutes of its meetings.

(b)

The Panel shall meet at least on a quarterly basis at such times and places as are fixed by the rules of the Panel. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairman in accordance with the rules of the Panel.

(c)

The Panel shall adopt, amend and rescind rules to implement the provisions of this Chapter. All reports, studies and recommendations made by or at the direction of the Panel shall be considered and approved by the Panel before same are released or laid before the Council, Supervisor of Elections, Mayor or any other body or individual.

(d)

The Panel may establish such committees from among its membership as it deems necessary to carry out its functions. The Panel may also, from time to time, authorize the establishment of task forces, study groups, and similar bodies to carry out specialized and detailed purposes within the scope of the Panel's overall purposes. Any such body may include persons who are not members of the Panel, but the Chairman thereof shall be a commissioner. The body shall report on its progress to the Panel at such times as the Panel shall require, and no report, study, or recommendation, favorable or adverse, may be made by any such body unless the matter is first considered by the Panel.

(e)

The Council Secretary's Office shall provide adequate staff and support services for the Panel.

(Ord. 2002-373-E, § 1)

Sec. 59.105. - Duties.

The purpose of the Panel is advisory only. In no way shall the Panel interfere with the performance of the duties of the Supervisor of Elections. The Panel is established for the following general purposes:

(a)

To study and make recommendations to the Supervisor of Elections to increase the quality of voter registration and education efforts.

(b)

To study and make recommendations to the Supervisor of Elections to enhance the voter's election-day experience, including poll worker training, polling locations and fraud prevention.

(c)

To study and make recommendations to the Supervisor of Elections to increase the quality of candidate and voter education efforts regarding adherence to and compliance with the Florida Election Code applicable to candidates and voters.

(d)

To review and comment on ballot voting instructions.

(e)

To make an annual report to Council on the progress of the Panel in the performance of its duties, including an incorporation of any statistics, charts, studies, reports, or other data and materials generated by or for the Panel.

(Ord. 2002-373-E, § 1; Ord. No. 2018-383-E, § 1)

Sec. 58.103. - Time of Reporting. Chapter 60 - HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION