Following a four-month review of Sugar Land’s election processes, that city’s Elections Task Force has delivered its report and series of recommendations to city council.

City Councilman Russell Jones, who chaired the task force, delivered the report.

The group met five times during the months of October, November and December to discuss such issues as early voting locations, the canvassing process and time period, political signage and the use the of the city logo in campaign material. In its final meeting, the task force voted unanimously to adopt the report and submit it to city council.

Jones said the process was both dynamic and productive.

“Everyone participated and worked very hard,” Jones told his council colleagues. “We all feel quite comfortable with this report being presented to you.”

The task force’s early voting recommendations were that early voting locations should be consistent at all locations throughout early voting.

Additionally, the group recommended that, where feasible and practical, more than one location should be open for early voting from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., except for the last two days of early voting.

The task force also recommended the consistent use of certain voting locations for city elections. Those locations were the FBISD Administration Building, the First Colony Conference Center, the Missouri City Community Center, Lost Creek Park, Sugar Land City Hall, Meadows Place City Hall and the Sugar Land Branch Library. If the library is unavailable, the group recommended Eldridge Park be used.

With respect to canvassing of ballots, the task force recommended expediting the process “to the extent possible,” even if special city council meetings are needed. Additionally, the group recommended city council consider adopting a comprehensive election calendar for election, runoff and canvassing dates.

In the area of political signage, the group recommended that an exemption be created in city law as it applies to campaign signage on private property, as well as to “clarify” the sign ordinance to allow an unlimited number of signs per candidate at city-owned polling places.

The use of the Sugar Land city logo, which has been a contentious issue in past elections, the task force put forth several recommendations. Those included:

• The city logo can be used by councilmembers for non-campaign purposes such as informational newsletters to constituents.

• There should be no prohibition on photographs in front of signs bearing the city logo.

• Councilmembers and candidates should be subject to the same restrictions on the use of the city logo in campaign material.

Councilman Thomas Abraham, who was also a member of the task force, called the process “very useful.”

“We went through a lot of information in a very short time,” Abraham said. “It was a very intense process, but very useful.”

Council Member Jacqueline Baly Chaumette, also a task force member, noted that many of the issues addressed by the group came from residents, and some were the result of concerns raised during earlier elections.

Jones said he anticipated a workshop with city council at a later date before any formal action is taken on the recommendations.

In addition to Jones, Abraham and Chaumette, the task force members included Willard “Bill” Roy, Mary Willis, Joyce Roberta “JR” Miller-Alper and Steve Weathred.