1983-06-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PRESENTATION: CHARLOTTE RIDDICK, REGISTRAR project, and Mr. Hendrix expressed confidence in their doing so through the house bank program. Dr. Hall moved to adopt the previous recommendations with the following conditions. 1) Employment opportunities should be provided by the City hiring the unemployed in its projects, and hiring the unemployed should be a condition of any outside contract. 2) City residents should receive first priority when hiring. 3) Both the City and outside contractors should be encouraged to retain those trained as permanent jobs become available. 4) Coordination between PVCC, MACAA and CHIP in the proposed programs. Mrs. Gleason seconded the motion and the recommendations were unanimously approved by Council. Ms. Charlotte Riddick, General Registrar, reported on the history and functions of the Registrar's office. In 1970 the Virginia General Assembly reqUired that a General Registrar be appointed for each county and city who would maintain a public office with regularly scheduled and published hours and in which the records of all registered voters in the locality would be maintained and kept current. Provisions for additional times and places for registration were enacted. The State Board of Elections was mandated to establish, operate and maintain a statewide central record keeping system containing the names of all registered voters in the Commonwealth as well as that information relating to each voter which would be necessary to protect the rights of, and provide positive identification for,-each registrant. The Commonwealth of Virginia became only the third state in the nation to establish a central roster of registered voters. In keeping with the recent mandate from the Governor to the State Board of Elections, the General Registrar must be aware of the habits of the citizens of the city or county, and establish registration schedules that are responsive to its needs. The Registrar's Office is urged to use grocery stores, drug stores, fast food shops, movi~ theatres, skating rinks, bowling alleys, video game arcades and other government offices. Since July 1, 1983, the Registrar and Assistant Registrars have been able to go into a private residence, nursing home or hospital to register any qualified persons upon validation of the illness or physical disability by the attending Physician. The Registrar's office maintains records of convicted felonies and persons deceased and furnish the necessary forms to a person convicted of a felony who wishes to have his civil rights restored. During the three months surrounding each election, the Registrar's office is extremely busy, preparing voting machines, having ballots printed, mailing out ballots and finalizing needs for election day. Through- out the year there are workshops and seminars for the Electoral Board members and the General Registrar and her assistants. The Registrar's office attempts to meet all requests to speak before political groups, civic organizations, the Taft InStitute and public school groups. Mrs. Gleason commented on the advantages in being able to go out into the community to register voters. On a question from Mr. Buck, Ms. Riddick responded that there are 120 poll workers on the list, appointed for one year from lists submitted by the political parties. Ms. Riddick further stated that the poll workers