Voter Outreach Program
Voter Outreach Program
- Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet (English)
- Muestra de la Balota para el Elector y Folleto de Informacion (Español)
- I Vote. I Count. Video
Civic Engagement
As part of the City's commitment to civic engagement, the City Clerk's Office spearheads an effort with the help of the Civic Engagement Division to develop and implement a voter outreach program during every City Council election. "Government by the people" rests on informed residents taking an active role in their community by voting
Voter Analysis
In 2005, the initial component of the voter outreach program consisted of conducting an analysis of voting patters within the City. After the completion of this analysis, a campaign was devised on how best to utilize our resources to maximize our intended results (higher voter turnout). The analysis revealed that most Ventura residents eligible to vote were registered but many no longer participated in the process, perhaps because they were too busy or no longer felt their voice made a difference in political decisions that affect the quality of their lives in the community.
Voter Turnout
Recent Ventura local elections had resulted in ever-decreasing participation by eligible votes; 21,000 voted in 1995 versus only 13,467 in 2003. In 2005, in an effort to increase voter participation, the City of Ventura implemented its I Vote, I Count voter outreach program. The results of Ventura's voter outreach program efforts yielded the highest municipal election voter turnout in the city's history with 56% of registered voters casting a ballot (32,823 citizens voted out of 58,648 registered voters).
Voting By Mail
Of the 32,823 voter turnout, 14,807 voters (45.1%) cast their ballots by mail, which revealed that making voting easy and convenient for Ventura residents would be optimal in increasing voter turnout. One of our principal objectives of this program is to connect voters with the importance of the act of voting in local elections through the theme of "I Vote. I Count. Ventura" and through a "Vote by Mail" campaign.
Results
The voter outreach program has contributed to the City's improved voter turnout, drawn attention to the local races of the City Council and Ventura Unified School District, and promoted an easier and more convenient way for busy registered voters to cast their ballots - voting by mail.
I Vote, I Count Information
- I Vote. I Count. Poster
- Absent Voter Application
- Voting Data Map
- 2005 Voter Turnout
- 2007 Voter Turnout
Questions?
Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 805.658.4787 or cityclerk@ci.ventura.ca.us
- More Voter Information is available on the County of Ventura's website: http://recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.htm