Santa Clarita City Council members are set to discuss ballot security Tuesday, after a request last year by Councilman TimBen Boydston to put the issue on the agenda.
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Council members will evaluate an item that looks at “potential options to enhance existing election ballot security measures through the use of video surveillance.”
There seems to be a price point for “peace of mind,” and city councilmembers will discuss if $500 is too much.
“Recent advances in video surveillance technology since the last election now provides the city with an option that is both viable and cost-efficient,” the agenda item read. “This specific solution can be easily deployed by staff and costs approximately $500 per camera. The system provides for long-term video storage, and incorporates a digital video recorder to access and replay video which is date and time stamped.”
Councilman Bob Kellar, who’s been on City Council since 2000, couldn’t recall an instance in which ballot security has been called into question.
“To my knowledge there has never ever been any incident (regarding a question of ballot security),” Kellar said. “There has never been any violations of any nature, whatsoever.”
However, he also added that if $500 is what it would take to convince people that there is no nefarious handling of residents’ votes, then that might be a worthwhile expenditure.
Kellar said he would wait listen to local concern at Tuesday’s meeting before making a decision.
Boydston, who said his request in November stemmed from citizens who brought the issue to his attention during the last election cycle, said ballot security was of the utmost importance.
“If the City Council has a problem with spending that much money for a level of security then I think there’s a real problem with priorities,” Boydston said.
There are funds available for the security in a Technology Services Budget, according to a report by City Clerk Armine Chaparyan, who oversees the city’s election process.
“It’s a worthy investment,” Boydston said, “in as much as people who (have concerns), for a very nominal cost, it gives those people the peace of mind.”
Santa Clarita City Council members are set to discuss ballot security Tuesday
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