MINUTES OF MEETING
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND PROCEDURES
Sixty-seventh Session
March 18, 1993
The Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures was called to order by Chairman Myrna T. Williams at 3:35 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 1993, in Room 331 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mrs. Myrna T. Williams, Chairman
Mr. Robert E. Price, Vice Chairman
Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr.
Ms. Jan Evans
Mr. Val Z. Garner
Mr. David E. Humke
Mrs. Joan A. Lambert
Mr. William A. Petrak
Mr. Gene T. Porter
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mr. Robert M. Sader
Mr. Scott Scherer (excused)
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Robert Erickson/Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau
Mr. John R. Crossley/Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mr. Robert Elliott/Management Analyst, Clark County Election Department
Ms. Marlene Henderson/Registrar of Voters, Washoe County
Mr. Dale Erquiaga/Office of Secretary of State Cheryl Lau
Mr. Tim McCarty
Mrs. Williams asked Mr. Scherer be marked excused from the meeting.
AB 106: Allows high school pupils in certain counties to act as trainees for position of election board officer.
Mr. Robert Elliott, Management Analyst, Clark County Election Department, began the hearing on AB 106 by stating the intent of AB 106 was to allow high school seniors enrolled in government classes to become involved in the election process by serving as election board trainees. The bill would limit the number of trainees to one per three-person board, he explained, and trainees could not serve as chairman of an election board; trainees could only serve as clerks. The board would be supervised by the chairman throughout election day, he declared.
Mr. Elliott pointed out AB 106 referenced the age of 16, and informed the committee Clark County Election Department would like to amend AB 106 to indicate only high school seniors enrolled in a senior high school government class or who had completed a government class would be eligible. Clark County would also like to amend AB 106's reference to counties over 400,000 in order to extend the program to all counties, he said. City clerks from five cities in Clark County and Clark County school district supported AB 106 with these two amendments, he proclaimed.
Mrs. Williams and Mr. Price clarified with Mr. Elliott the correct language to be in the bill.
Mr. Elliott then discussed the difficulties Clark County incurred in attempting to recruit approximately 8,000 volunteers to serve as poll workers in order to staff 800 precincts. He described sources contacted to obtain poll workers and stated recruiting poll workers was becoming more difficult each year. Additionally, he noted, more workers were needed each year as voter registration grew and precincts split.
At this juncture, Mr. Elliott pointed out poll workers were primarily senior citizens. The work was voluntary, he explained, and senior citizens were predominantly the people who had the time. For various reasons, including the long work day and the federal government's requirement for payment of social security taxes on poll workers' wages, the possibility existed some older workers would not return to work at the polls.
The bill required parental approval and approval by the student's high school principal to participate. The students sought to work at the polls would be the best, Mr. Elliott described. The students must be performing at a satisfactory academic level. Student workers could not serve as chairman of any board and would be assigned to service clerks. The chairmen would supervise the students' activities on election day.
Mrs. Williams asked if clerks would train the high school pupils. Mr. Elliott responded legislation required the students to attend the training class provided for all election board officers and to meet requirements of the class.
Mrs. Lambert called attention to Line 26, Page 1, and questioned the necessity of specifying "10 p.m." Mr. Elliott commented the time was not necessary; the time was added to reflect curfews required. Virtually no precincts, however, balanced after 10 p.m., he pointed out.
At this point, Mrs. Williams called attention to another reference to county populations of 400,000 or more (Page 2, Line 21 of AB 106), which, she expressed, would have to be deleted if it was decided to extend the program to all counties.
Ms. Marlene Henderson, Registrar of Voters, Washoe County, testified Washoe County also had problems getting election board workers (Exhibit C). She referred to the law which allowed political parties to give the Registrar of Voters a list of people, but the political parties seldom did, she related, and stated workers were obtained by telephone calls. Ms. Henderson declared her support of AB 106, and felt the student workers should receive an award or a certificate for participating in elections.
Mrs. Williams communicated her understanding to Mr. Elliott students would be paid the same as everyone, and Mr. Elliott confirmed her understanding was correct. Mrs. Williams thought the award for the student should come through the schools.
At this time, the chair recognized Mr. Humke who asked Mr. Elliott if existing election workers needed to be electors. Mr. Humke clarified an elector was someone over 18 years old. Mr. Elliott replied existing law, without the exemptions in this particular bill, said election workers had to be registered voters. He then added, "An elector was someone who met the requirements to vote." An elector would not necessarily have to be a registered voter.
Mr. Humke questioned if a trainee was over 18 years old and registered to vote, could the trainee be a chairperson. In response to Mr. Humke's query, Mr. Elliott replied if the trainee was over 18 and registered to vote, the bill would not apply. If a person was eligible to register to vote, the person would meet the requirement of the current law and could be appointed to any capacity, if registered.
Mrs. Williams stated she did not find the language which said student workers could not serve as chairpersons.
Mr. Elliott replied language submitted for draft indicated specifically, but, after quoting from AB 106, Section 1, 3., Lines 24 and 25, Mr. Elliott suggested the language needed to be precisely amended because trainees should not serve in a supervisory capacity.
Mr. Dale Erquiaga, office of Secretary of State Cheryl Lau, at this time testified in favor of AB 106.
Mrs. Williams said Ms. Carolyne Edwards, CCSD, was present to testify in favor of AB 106, and Ms. Thelma Clark, Nevada Citizens Recall, was present to testify in favor of AB 106.
Mr. Tim McCarty then testified regarding Lines 25 and 26 on Page 1. He asked if a federal law existed which stated those under 18 must not work beyond a specific time.
Mrs. Williams responded with Mr. Dini's answer a federal law exist which applied to students enrolled in school. She declared the committee would ensure the amendment, when written, would conform to law.
Mrs. Lambert asked if the committee needed to clarify student workers' pay. Mr. Elliott then informed the committee the bill should state student workers would be paid the same rate as a clerk which was $60 in Clark County.
Mr. Humke would write the AB 106 amendments, Mrs Williams told the committee.
ASSEMBLYMAN PRICE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS
ASSEMBLYMAN HUMKE SECONDED THE MOTION
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE PRESENT.
ASSEMBLYMAN SCHERER WAS EXCUSED. ASSEMBLYMAN SADER WAS ABSENT.
There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
BOBBIE A. MIKESELL
Committee Secretary
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Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures
March 18, 1993
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