Approve county responses to Grand Jury report on election integrity

In plain English

The county's civil grand jury (a group of citizen volunteers that investigates local government) released a report on June 25, 2026 called "Election Integrity – An Indispensable System Working Well." The report requires written answers from the County Clerk and the Board of Supervisors. A yes vote approves the Board's written responses to Finding 3 (about the space the Elections Department needs to keep election records as long as the law requires) and Recommendation 2 (that the Board review the Elections Department's space needs each year and work with the department to make sure there is enough room for records management and retention), and directs the Board Chair to send those responses to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, with a copy to the Grand Jury.

The Elections Department must hold onto election records for legally set periods, and the Grand Jury found it needs adequate space to do so; the Board's response sets out whether it will commit to an annual review of that space need.

Key facts

• Grand Jury report title: "Election Integrity – An Indispensable System Working Well," released June 25, 2026
• Responses are required from both the County Clerk and the Board of Supervisors
• The Board is responding to Finding 3 (Elections Department space for legally required records retention) and Recommendation 2 (annual Board review of those space needs)
• Responses go to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz, with a copy to the Grand Jury
• Staff report states there is no financial impact associated with the recommended actions
• Item is on the consent agenda, meaning it is voted on with other routine items unless pulled for discussion