Pursuant to NRS 239C.110, except otherwise provided in subsection 2, conduct of any city election is under the control of the governing body of the city, and it shall, by ordinance, provide for the holding of the election, appoint the necessary election officers and election boards and do all other things required to carry the election into effect.

Pursuant to Sparks City Charter, Article V, Section 5.030, the conduct of elections must be under the control of the City Council. For the conduct of elections, for the prevention of fraud in elections, and for the recount of ballots in cases of doubt or fraud, the City Council shall adopt by ordinance all regulations which it considers desirable and consistent with law and this charter.

The Sparks City Charter allows the City to contract with Washoe County to include our election on their primary and general election ballots. In conducting the elections in this manner, the City pays the County $0.15 per registered voter. In addition, the City is responsible for payment of the actual costs for conducting the City's portion of the election incurred by the County in the performance of the agreement, which would not otherwise have been incurred by the County. The budget is set not to exceed $35,000 because inclusion of a ballot question would increase the cost to the County or misinformation or errors in information provided by the City could increase the cost to the County; however, historically, the cost of the elections is approximately $17,000.

During the 2019 legislation, Assembly Bill 345 was passed allowing same-day voter registration. Additionally, automatic voter registration was implemented, meaning you must decline voter registration when conducting certain transactions at the Department of Motor Vehicles. These new laws will likely increase the number of registered voters, thus increasing the cost of elections for the City.

1. Council could approve the interlocal agreement as submitted.

2. Council could reject the interlocal agreement and provide further direction to the City Manager.

I move to approve the interlocal agreement (AC-5645) with Washoe County to provide for the conducting and holding of the primary and general elections for 2020 in an amount not to exceed $35,000.