Orange Co CA BOS Mtg: Public Comment on VCA Renewal (14 Oct 2025)

There were 23 speakers during public comment. See below for the video run time index of each speaker. 21 individuals were speaking against the VOTERS CHOICE ACT (VCA) renewal for 2026. The two that spoke to an unrelated topic are noted with an *asterisk next to their time index.
01. 00:00 to 01:29 - Jeff Brown
02. 01:30 to 04:09 - Carolyn
*03. 04:10 to 07:17 - Elias
04. 07:18 to 08:35 - Elaine
05. 08:36 to 09:53 - Netty
06. 10:05 to 11:00 - Linda R
07. 11:01 to 12:16 - Linda
08. 12:17 to 13:31 - Tammy
09. 13:32 to 16:47 - Stefanie B
10. 16:48 to 18:16 - Steve Johnson
11. 18:17 to 19:38 - Mary Ann
12. 19:39 to 22:11 - Pete
13. 22:12 to 24:20 - Lisa H
14. 24:21 to 27:18 - Linda Shepherd
15. 27:19 to 28:49 - Michelle M
16. 28:50 to 32:05 - Cheryl
17. 32:06 to 34:00 - Viktor
18. 34:01 to 37:13 - Urson Russell
*19. 37:40 to 40:41 - Bryan
20. 40:49 to 41:43 - Al
21. 41:50 to 42:42 - Ester
22. 42:43 to 45:15 - Sandy Hayashi
23. 45:20 to 48:11 - Roseann D

Voter’s Choice Act Information
The County of Orange has the statutory authority to conduct elections per CA Elec. Code § 19207. “The governing board may adopt for use at elections any kind of voting system, any combination of voting systems, or any combination of a voting system and paper ballots, provided that the voting system or systems involved have been certified or conditionally
approved by the Secretary of State or specifically authorized by law pursuant to Section 19209.”

Voters Choice Act has been an abject failure.
This is an optional program that is coming up for renewal in 2025 for the years 2026-2029 and can be rescinded. The intent stated was to increase voter participation, decrease election related costs, and provide election results more quickly. Election results that used to be in a matter of days now take over a month, cost more, and have not increased voter participation notably.

• Governor Jerry Brown, who signed the VCA into law on September 29, 2016, stated that it would "give voters more opportunities to participate".
• State Senator Ben Allen, a key sponsor of the bill, highlighted its aim to "increase voter turnout", that it would "reduce election costs", and that it would "speed up the counting process".

IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED NONE OF THESE OBJECTIVES!!!

• VCA Participation in Orange County has not produced any of the promised results.
• Elections cost have risen by millions of dollars. Participation in voting remains the same or has decreased compared to the precinct model. The final results take weeks longer to compile.
• Logic and fiduciary responsibility clearly shows that Orange County has the legal right and the duty to its citizens to discontinue the renewal of the Voters Choice Act.
• The ROV admits by their own data that the first 7 days are not being fully utilized.
• ROV also concurs that the VCA is operationally a more costly system to administer.

Other flaws created by this program are outlined below:
• Drop boxes are unmonitored, have no chain of custody and are transported by temporary workers which violates CA 4103 law.
• Extended vote centers cost well over 2.5 million dollars.
• 18K Ballots submitted from other counties in the Nov 2024 election contributed to delayed results, questionable chain of custody and potential for loss and damage.
• Electronic Poll books are connected to the internet which violates CA Election Code §19205 (a) stating “no part of the voting system shall be connected to the internet at any time.

Elimination of Voters Choice Act will restore greater control to our voting system with these benefits:
• In person voting in 2294 neighborhood precincts - 1 day voting
• Paper poll books allow for live signatures. Verification equal to Vote by Mail system.
• ID required - Assists to correct inaccurate voter rolls and guard against identity theft.
• Eliminates all if not most drop boxes.

Please Support to Discontinue VCA in Orange County by attending the Board of Supervisors Meeting. Meeting schedule and Agenda postings can be found at https://board.ocgov.com/meetings-agendas

Link to CA Secretary of State VCA:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/voters-choice-act