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Citizens' Elections Oversight Committee

The King County Council created the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee (CEOC) to monitor county elections and recommend improvements to the performance and accountability of the King County Elections Section. In May 2006, the County Council voted to make the CEOC a permanent committee, after having two previous panels review, monitor and make recommendations on improving the Election Section in 2003 and 2005.

The CEOC presented six “high priority” recommendations to the Council in March 2006. The recommendations included all vote-by mail elections, the consolidation of election facilities, improved management, communications and leadership and improved voter registration and security.

The 13 members of the Committee are appointed by the Chair of the Council and the Vice Chair of Council Affairs from nominations made by all Councilmembers. The current committee includes members representing:

• The Municipal League,
• The League of Women Voters,
• The King County and state Republican and Democratic Parties,
• A King County junior taxing district,
• An independent research and policy institute,
• The Washington State Auditors Association,
• The office of the Washington Secretary of State,
• The Chinese-speaking community,
• Two registered King County voters.

The committee also has two ex-officio, non-voting members representing the Washington Secretary of State’s Office and the State Auditors Association.

The Council created the original CEOC in 2003. That committee presented the Council a lengthy report and a series of recommendations in 2004 many of which were implemented by the Elections Director.

The panel was reactivated in 2005 to review the 2004 general election, monitor the 2005 primary and general elections, and make recommendations for improvements

The Council will re-evaluate the need for a continued CEOC in 2009. In that year the CEOC will send to the Council an evaluation of the effectiveness of the improvements made to the Elections Section and a recommendation on whether the Committee is still needed.

Read the citizen oversight report on purchase of new election equipment [pdf, 50K]

Watch the video (RealPlayer) of the May 14 public hearing on the King County Election Section’s potential purchase of a new paper ballot tabulation system. Read the County Executive’s transmittal letter summarizing the proposal or read the 42-page business case analyzing the proposal in detail.

Meetings
The CEOC meets the second Wednesday of each month from 12:00-noon-1:30 p.m. in the Southwest Conference Room, 12th Flr. King County Courthouse 

Meeting agendas and minutes

Committee membership

Read the 2007 Annual Report and cover letter [pdf]

Read the March 2006 report from the Citizens' Elections Oversight Committee [41 pages, 174K, pdf]

Read The Election Center's Observation Report on the November general election [79 pages, 508K, pdf]

Read the May 2004 report from the Citizens' Elections Oversight Committee
[158 pages, 335K, pdf]

King County Elections Vote-by-Mail Transition Plan

The CEOC meets the of each month from in the Southwest Conference Room, 12th Flr. King County Courthouse