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County leaders host this year’s final public meeting

Supervisors to consider refugees, early voting plan

Posted 12/9/19

Clarifying the county’s support for refugee resettlement and adopting a voting plan for a March 2020 Presidential Preference Election are just two key measures among many the Maricopa County …

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County leaders host this year’s final public meeting

Supervisors to consider refugees, early voting plan

Posted

Clarifying the county’s support for refugee resettlement and adopting a voting plan for a March 2020 Presidential Preference Election are just two key measures among many the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will consider at their meeting tomorrow.

With an agenda of 135 items, as well as dozens of addenda, the panel’s formal meeting will be hosted 9: 30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 in the Supervisors’ Auditorium, 205 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix.

District 4 Supervisor Clint Hickman said public participation in government is crucial to ensure transparency and accountability.

“We always encourage people to participate in their county government forums. Government must be transparent; Democracy requires access to the decision makers for it to be successful,” Mr. Hickman stated. “We know it isn’t always convenient for residents to travel to downtown Phoenix, so you can view us online.”

The proceedings will also be streamed live at the board’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/maricopacountyaz.

The board’s videos are typically archived at the site up to five days after the meeting.

In addition to regular county business, the supervisors will be joined by various county boards to consider measures pertaining to the County Assessor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, intergovernmental relations, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, the Library District, the Housing Authority of Maricopa County and the Stadium District, among others.

This is the last meeting of the county board this year with the next scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 at their auditorium.

Refugee resettlement

At tomorrow’s meeting, the board with consider giving consent to a letter from Chairman Bill Gates to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in response to an executive order entitled “On Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Resettlement,” which was issued by President Donald Trump on Sept. 26.

The response follows a similar statement issued by Ariz. Gov. Doug Ducey last week.

“I am happy to echo the words of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who on December 6, 2019 consented to initial refugee resettlement, citing Arizona’s history as a welcoming state in terms of refugee resettlement,” Mr. Gates states in his letter. “Therefore, as required by the above-mentioned Executive Order, on behalf of the Maricopa Board of Supervisors as the Chairman of the Board, I consent to initial refugee resettlement in Maricopa County as per the terms of the Executive Order.”

The governor in his letter stated he supports resettlement, in part, because religious and political refugees pose little risk to Arizonans.

“Refugees arriving in the United States have been vetted and approved by the appropriate national security agencies and the Department of State and have been granted legal entry to make a new home in the land of the free,’’ stated Mr. Ducey.

Adding the county board’s support assent may not resolve the matter, however, since the president’s order asserts that local jurisdictions, including cities, may individually opt out of accepting refugees, a key change over previous practices.

Attorneys representing resettlement agencies have filed a lawsuit in federal court, challenging the executive order as beyond presidential authority, according to Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services in a story published earlier this week (“Gov. Ducey: Refugees welcome here; Executive order gives local veto power over resettlement,” Daily Independent, Dec. 9, 2019).

Congress gave state and local officials “a voice but not a veto’’ in such matters, stated Melissa Keaney, an attorney for the International Refugee Assistance Project.

Voting plans

Arizona is one of three states, along with Florida and Illinois, which will host primary elections on March 17, 2020. The board will consider and, potentially, adopt an early voting plan for the upcoming Presidential Preference Election.

Since the GOP has opted out of a presidential primary for the 2020 — a not-rare approach for a party seeking to reelect its incumbent president — the primary election will only draw Democratic voters.

“In 2020, the Democratic Party is the only political party that has chosen to hold a PPE. The Republican, Libertarian and Green Parties notified the state that they would not be participating in the PPE, thus limiting this specific election to registered Democratic voters,” according to the county elections officials’ report.

In a regular presidential primary, Arizona voters registered as Independent are free to choose whichever party’s ballot they prefer to consider.

“The law, limiting participation in the PPE to political party members, is unique from the laws that govern Arizona’s regular Primary Elections. In a regular Primary Election, voters who are not registered with a recognized political party … are allowed to choose which political party’s primary ballot to receive,” the report states.

Voters should begin receiving early ballots by mail in February with the early voting period commencing Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Elections officials recommend mail-in ballots be postmarked by Wednesday, March 11 to ensure delivery in time for Election Day, which coincides with St. Patrick’s Day. Ballots received after the 7 p.m. Election Day deadline will not be counted, in accordance with state law.

“Ballots received after Election Day, even if they are post-marked as mailed on Election Day, are not valid by law and are not counted,” the report states.

Up to 40 in-person early voting sites will be provide across the Valley, converting to “vote anywhere” sites on Election Day and serving as emergency voting sites on the prior Saturday and Monday.

Because of a new law passed this year, in-person early voters will be required to meet the same ID requirements already established for regular Election Day voting procedures.

“Due to a change in law during the 2019 legislative session, voters voting early in-person will be required for the first time to show identification the same way that is required on Election Day at a voting location. The Recorder’s Office and Elections Department plans to incorporate education about this new requirement into its paid and earned media plans,” according to the report.

The county board will consider adoption of the PPE plan and another measure to address emergency voting procedures.