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Record of Proceedings

Alameda County Elections Commission Meeting on October 20, 2025

Board of Supervisors — Monday, October 20, 2025
BodyAlameda County, California
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateMonday, October 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:13:14

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

So if nobody objects I'm going to call the meeting order.

0:03

Okay.

0:03

So the meeting is called to order.

0:06

Um it's 417.

0:10

Roll roll call, Commissioner Belcher.

0:14

Commissioner Butter.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Commissioner Henderson.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Commissioner Moore.

0:23

Commissioner Pham?

0:24

Here.

0:26

Commissioner Ramon?

0:28

Here.

0:28

Commissioner Seabrook.

0:31

Commissioner Varlick.

0:34

Present.

0:36

Commissioner Valentine.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Commissioner Wagner.

0:42

Commissioner Whitehurst.

0:45

Vice President Dieter?

0:46

Here.

0:47

President Lindsay?

0:49

Here.

0:51

And I guess you don't call roll for the ex officio commissioner.

0:58

Call a tie?

1:00

Oh, okay.

1:00

I just missed it.

1:01

Okay.

1:02

All right.

1:04

So we are starting late, but at least we're starting.

1:08

We have uh that was item one.

1:13

Uh item two, swearing in of no of new commissioners.

1:16

We don't have one at this meeting.

1:17

Item three, approval of agenda.

1:19

Does anybody want to make any changes to the agenda?

1:25

All right, hearing none, we'll move on to item four.

1:29

Approval of the minutes of September 2025.

1:32

I guess.

1:38

Um, so are there any changes to the minutes or corrections to the minutes of uh last month's meeting?

1:47

Could we get a motion to approve the minutes as written?

1:52

Uh moved by Commissioner Ramon, seconded by Commissioner Seabrook to approve the minutes as written.

2:04

Um we'll have to call the roll on every vote.

2:07

Commissioner Butter.

2:09

Aye.

2:11

Commissioner Henderson.

2:12

Aye.

2:14

Commissioner Ramon.

2:16

Aye.

2:17

Commissioner Sebrook.

2:19

Commissioner Varlick.

2:24

Okay.

2:26

Commissioner Valentine.

2:30

Vice President Dieter.

2:32

Aye.

2:32

President Lindsay.

2:34

Aye.

2:36

So the motion passes 80.

2:40

Yep.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Elections Administration█████████████████████████████████████████████74%
Procurement and Contracting███████12%
Youth Programs████7%
Procedural███5%
Community Engagement█1%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda County Elections Commission Meeting on October 20, 2025

The meeting covered routine approvals, staff updates on election procedures, public comments on billing and transparency concerns, and discussions on contracts, ballot measure charges, and youth engagement initiatives.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the September 2025 meeting as written.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Laura Weisiger expressed opposition to the doubling of consolidation charges for cities with over four ballot measures, arguing that not all costs double and requesting a more equitable solution.
  • John Guerrero supported improved access to CVRs for election integrity and endorsed the implementation of elections code 30165 to streamline in-person voting.
  • Ann requested better communication between the Registrar of Voters and city clerks regarding policy changes.

Discussion Items

  • Staff announcements included website filtering fixes, ongoing CVR record access, and plans to enhance observer areas with posted procedures and guidelines.
  • Registrar's office presentation on election mailers, voter guides, and new envelope designs aimed at improving accessibility and voter experience.
  • Debate on third-party contracts, focusing on transparency and cost allocation, with a motion to request a detailed list post-election.
  • Extensive discussion on consolidation charges for ballot measures, with city clerks arguing the current method is unfair and staff defending its fairness based on historical context and cost reallocation.
  • Progress report on implementing elections code 30165, with staff citing mixed results from other counties and ongoing evaluation.
  • Proposal to establish a youth participation ad hoc subcommittee to coordinate outreach and program development with the registrar's office.
  • Overview of the response to the grand jury report, highlighting acquired space, new equipment, and planned enhancements for future elections.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of September 2025 minutes.
  • Motion passed (11-0) to request a written list of third-party contracts over $100,000 after the November 2025 election.
  • Motion passed (10-0, one absent) for a status check in six months on the analysis of ballot measure charge methodologies.
  • Motion passed (10-0, one absent) for a special report in February 2026 on the progress and findings regarding elections code 30165 implementation.
  • Motion passed (10-0, one absent) to create a youth participation subcommittee and appoint Commissioners Varlock, Whitehurst, and Butter.

Meeting Transcript

So if nobody objects I'm going to call the meeting order. Okay. So the meeting is called to order. Um it's 417. Roll roll call, Commissioner Belcher. Commissioner Butter. Here. Commissioner Henderson. Here. Commissioner Moore. Commissioner Pham? Here. Commissioner Ramon? Here. Commissioner Seabrook. Commissioner Varlick. Present. Commissioner Valentine. Here. Commissioner Wagner. Commissioner Whitehurst. Vice President Dieter? Here. President Lindsay? Here. And I guess you don't call roll for the ex officio commissioner. Call a tie? Oh, okay. I just missed it. Okay. All right. So we are starting late, but at least we're starting. We have uh that was item one. Uh item two, swearing in of no of new commissioners. We don't have one at this meeting. Item three, approval of agenda. Does anybody want to make any changes to the agenda? All right, hearing none, we'll move on to item four. Approval of the minutes of September 2025. I guess. Um, so are there any changes to the minutes or corrections to the minutes of uh last month's meeting? Could we get a motion to approve the minutes as written? Uh moved by Commissioner Ramon, seconded by Commissioner Seabrook to approve the minutes as written. Um we'll have to call the roll on every vote. Commissioner Butter. Aye. Commissioner Henderson. Aye. Commissioner Ramon. Aye.

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