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Councilman Evans's motion to continue the public hearings to the regular meeting of December 18, 1972, was seconded by Councilman Markel. After some discussion, Councilman Evans withdrew his previous motion with the consent of Councilman Markel, and moved to continue the public hearings to December 12, 1972, at 4:00 P.M., which was seconded by Councilman Markel, and unanimously carried. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mrs. Janice Boer, 912 North PUNCH CARD BALLOT Lowell, stated that she had served on a committee of ten persons appointed by the County of Orange to study various voting devices, and after spending two and one-half years on this committee she had become an expert; that after a thorough study, the committee had unanimously decided that at no time would they ever recommend that the County of Orange use any punch card voting device system, for such reasons as the fact that the ballots require more handling, the possibility of error connected with the duplicating of damaged ballots, the possible hazards in transporting uncounted ballots from the polling places to a central location, and the fact that the computer counting of ballots must take place in full view of the public; that a malfunctioning computer might cast its own ballot; and that the city's computers would be tied up in the counting process. The Clerk stated that if Council had any misgivings regarding the punch-card ballot, it would be possible at this time to revert back to paper ballots. She pointed out that the punch card ballot had worked in Los Angeles County for many years; that for fraud to exist using the method, there would have to be a tremendous amount of collusion; that she would be glad to provide Council with a further breakdown of what the Code provides with respect to the statements Mrs. Boer had made. She further stated that the ballots are removed from the envelope at the precinct to see if a write-in has been made, whereas on a paper ballot, the ballots do not need to be removed; that the ballots are then put in a box which is sealed and transported to City Hall; that the computers which count the ballots would be in full view of the public, however, they would be situated behind glass, and the public would not be allowed in the computer room itself; that there would be trial runs; that teams of two examine each ballot to see if it needs to be duplicated; that the legislation relating to elections had not been enacted without thinking of the pitfalls. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There was discussion regarding the likelihood of all Council- men being present at the adjourned regular meeting of December 12, 1972, which had been set earlier in the meeting. Councilman Villa's motion to adjourn the meeting to December 18, 1972, at 1:00 P.M. if all Councilmen could not be present on December 12, 1972, was seconded by Councilman Evans, and unanimously carried. ADJOURNMENT At 5:05 P.M., the meeting was declared adjourned to 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 12, 1972, on the unanimously approved motion of Councilman Herrin, seconded by Councilman Evans. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Florence I. Malone Clerk of the Council 457 DECEMBER 7, 1972