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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />June 9, 2020 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson <br /> Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> Councilmember Nasreen Fynewever <br /> Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Terri Spangrud, Tony Paetznick <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />Update on 2020 Election Administration <br /> <br />Massopust explained that COVID-19 was impacting how the 2020 election would be held. He stated City <br />Clerk Spangrud had a report for the Council on this topic. <br /> <br />Spangrud provided the Council with an update on how the 2020 election would be administered. She <br />explained HAVA (Help America Vote Act) funds are distributed to cities during every election cycle to assist <br />with improving voter accessibility. She commented on the strict guidelines on how these funds can be used, <br />but noted the CARES Act authorizes the use of HAVA funds to ensure the health and safety of election <br />officials and in-person voters. She reported the Minnesota legislature did not make changes to current election <br />procedures, but did appropriate HAVA funds. She indicated it was her understanding the HAVA funds would <br />be available for New Brighton to apply for through March of 2022. She explained New Brighton would have <br />until July 1st to designate new polling places, as school were no longer supported as polling places. She <br />discussed the absentee balloting process that would be followed in 2020 and reported the State of Minnesota <br />was encouraging voters to vote by mail or curbside. She reviewed the operating structure and communications <br />strategy that would be followed by Ramsey County elections. She stated three different mailings would be <br />sent to encourage residents to vote absentee. The New Brighton polling locations were reviewed in detail . It <br />was noted the City had four or five polling places set and there were three or four that still had to be <br />determined. Further discussion ensued regarding the polling place requirements and staff explained changes <br />must be made before July 1st. Staff reviewed potential scenarios and locations for Precincts 1 through 8. She <br />provided further comment on the importance of safe elections and explained staff would be bringing forward a <br />Resolution for the Council to approve the revised polling places. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson requested further information regarding extended voting hours. Spangrud explained the <br />extended hours may not go more than one hour past the voting time and should reflect how long it takes to <br />travel from one precinct to the new precinct in order to vote. <br /> <br />Spangrud discussed the importance of election judges noting State Law requires at least four judges per <br />precinct. She reported recruitment has been difficult in 2020 and staff has only 36% of the staff members <br />required for the Primary Election and 19% for the Presidential Election. She commented on how the number <br />of voters at the precincts may go down this year as more residents may opt to vote absentee. She encouraged