Title
Consider a resolution postponing the General and Special elections to be held May 2, 2020 until November 3, 2020.
Body
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation on March 18 suspending Section 41.0052(a) and (b) of the Texas Election Code and Section 49.103 of the Texas Water Code to the extent necessary to allow all local entities that were having May 2, 2020 elections to move them to the November uniform election day (November 3). In addition, he suspended Sections 31.093 and 42.0621(c) of the Texas Election Code, which removed the requirement of county election offices to contract with local entities for any May elections - hence leaving it up to the local entity to run their own election should their county election office choose not to hold May elections and the local entity chooses not to move it to November
Both Williamson and Travis Counties notified us the same day the proclamation was issued that they will not be holding May elections and if we chose not to move it, we are responsible for running our own election. It is not feasible, in any way, for Round Rock to conduct it's own election in May. The Secretary of State also put out an advisory that entities that choose not to move, could have their elections contested due to stay at home orders being in place which would prevent the public from being able to exercise their right to vote.
It is staff's recommendation that we move our General and Special elections to November, provided however, if the Governor issues a second proclamation allowing for another date after May 2 and before November 3, that the City Council may choose to move them to that earlier date.