A Message from the Interim City Manager Regarding Election Security

October 28, 2020 12:09 PM
by Lane Dilg

The City of Santa Monica is committed to facilitating a safe and fair election in coordination with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office. We encourage Santa Monica voters to visit  www.santamonica.gov/blog/top-5-faqs-on-the-november-2020-election  for information about local ballot drop-off and polling locations, how to track your ballot, and what to do if your ballot does not arrive.   

We are closely monitoring regional activities to keep our community safe and to support the democratic election process, including the peaceful exercise of vital First Amendment rights. For many weeks now, City departments have been engaged in planning efforts designed to plan for and preempt any potential threats to the right to vote or to community safety. There are no known threats specific to Santa Monica at this time.  Here is what you can expect from the City in the next week: 

• The City’s Emergency Operations Center is engaged in daily planning efforts with both a City-wide multi-departmental incident management team and Countywide planning groups and will be activated October 30 through November 8 based on local and regional activity. 
• The Santa Monica Police Department will have a significantly increased staffing model in place for the ten-day period and is closely tracking local, regional, and national intelligence in coordination with partner law enforcement agencies.   
• The Santa Monica Fire Department will have expanded staffing, including a Battalion Chief serving as a Citywide Safety Officer and additional Suppression and Rescue Division staff on site. 
• Public Works stands ready with multi-disciplinary teams personnel and equipment to support the Emergency Operations Center and public safety as well as to maintain clean neighborhoods.

We encourage all community members to sign up for emergency alerts at santamonica.gov/alerts. If any member of the community has information about a possible threat to public safety in Santa Monica, please email it to smtips@santamonica.gov.

To receive quick updates on social media, follow us: 

• Twitter: @SantaMonicaCity
• Facebook: @CityofSantaMonica
• Instagram: @CityofSantaMonica

Thank you for your partnership in supporting the exercise of our essential democratic rights and keeping Santa Monica safe.   

Authored By

Lane Dilg
Interim City Manager