The California State Plan was developed by the California State Plan Advisory Committee ("Committee"), a diverse, 24-member body appointed by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, in accordance with Section 255(a) of HAVA. Brief biographies of the members of the California State Plan Advisory Committee are in the Biography section.
The Committee held public hearings in Monterey Park (Los Angeles County), San Diego, San Francisco, Fresno and Sacramento. The hearings were publicized in advance by mailing notices to nearly 4,000 interested persons and organizations, by publishing notice in the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, and La Opinion (in Spanish), by posting notice in seven different languages on the Secretary of State's website, and by telephoning and e-mailing interested persons.
The hearings were transcribed, videotaped, audio-recorded, and documented by minutes and synopses. At one or more hearings interpreters were available in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Spanish and Vietnamese. At one or more hearings, audio headsets were available for the hearing and/or visually impaired. All public proceedings were signed in American Sign Language. All hearings were held in facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
More than 250 oral or written comments were received by the Members of the Committee regarding election reform and HAVA implementation at the public hearings or by mail, fax, e-mail or hand delivery. (Members of the public were able to provide input by sending e-mail to hava@sos.ca.gov.) The comments received were taken into account by the Members of the Committee vi. The Members, thereafter, met in Sacramento on May 27, 2003, and discussed the implementation of HAVA in California. At that meeting, and subsequent to that meeting, the Members of the Committee made recommendations to the Secretary of State regarding the content of the State Plan. These recommendations were considered in drafting the Preliminary California State Plan.
On June 17, 2003, the Preliminary State Plan was made available for public inspection at the Secretary of State's office in Sacramento and a notice was published to that effect. Thereafter, it was made available for public inspection at Regional Offices of the Secretary of State located in Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. A news release was issued announcing that the Preliminary Plan was available for public inspection and comment until July 17, 2003. Copies were posted in English and Spanish on the Secretary of State's official website (www.sos.ca.gov). Copies of the Preliminary State Plan were sent to interested persons and organizations. Comments regarding the Preliminary State Plan were received by mail, hand delivery, fax, and e-mail. All comments were considered. Revisions of the Preliminary Plan were made in response to the comments. The Secretary of State hereby submits the California State Plan for publication in the Federal Register for 45 days.
Notes:
vi. All comments received, as well as all documents and other materials produced in connection with the hearings, are available for review in the Office of the California Secretary of State, Elections Division, 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, California 95814. [back]
