Bill Text: CA AB1504 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Elections: all-mailed ballot elections: pilot project.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 730, Statutes of 2015. [AB1504 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1504-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1504	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 4001 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1504, as amended, Alejo. Elections: all-mailed ballot
elections: pilot project.
   Until December 31, 2017, existing law, as a pilot program,
authorizes elections in San Mateo County and Yolo County, other than
statewide primary or general elections, or special elections to fill
a vacancy in a state office, the Legislature, or Congress, to be
conducted wholly by mail if specified conditions are satisfied. If
San Mateo County or Yolo County conducts an all-mailed ballot
election, existing law requires the county to report to the
Legislature and the Secretary of State, as specified.
   This bill would  extend this pilot program until January 1,
2020 and would  also authorize Monterey  County
  and Sacramento Counties  to conduct all-mailed
ballot elections pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also
make technical, nonsubstantive changes.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 4001 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   4001.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 4000 or any other law, as a
pilot program, elections in San Mateo County, Yolo County, 
Sacramento County,  and Monterey County may be conducted wholly
by mail if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
   (1) The governing body of the city, county, or district, by
resolution, authorizes the all-mailed ballot election and notifies
the Secretary of State of its intent to conduct an all-mailed ballot
election at least 88 days before the date of the election.
   (2) The election does not occur on the same date as a statewide
primary or general election or any other election conducted in an
overlapping jurisdiction that is not consolidated and conducted
wholly by mail pursuant to this section.
   (3) The election is not a special election to fill a vacancy in a
state office, the Legislature, or Congress.
   (4) (A) At least one ballot dropoff location is provided per city
or the ballot dropoff locations are fixed in a manner so that the
number of residents for each ballot dropoff location does not exceed
100,000 on the 88th day before the day of election, whichever results
in more dropoff locations. A ballot dropoff location shall be open
during business hours to receive voted ballots beginning 28 days
before the date of the election and until 8 p.m. on the day of the
election.
   (B) At least one polling place is provided per city where voters
can request a ballot between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the
election if they have not received their ballots in the mail or if
they need replacement ballots for any other reason.
   (C) Upon the request of the city, county, or district, the
elections official, at his or her discretion, may provide additional
ballot dropoff locations and polling places.
   (5) The elections official delivers to each voter all supplies
necessary for the use and return of the mail ballot, including an
envelope for the return of the voted mail ballot with postage
prepaid.
   (6) The elections official delivers to each voter, with either the
sample ballot sent pursuant to Section 13303 or with the voter's
ballot, a list of the ballot dropoff locations and polling places
provided pursuant to paragraph (4), and also posts that list on the
Internet Web site of the county elections office.
   (7) The return of voted mail ballots is subject to Section 3017.
   (8) (A) The polling places provided under this section are at an
accessible location and are equipped with voting units or systems
that are accessible to individuals with disabilities and that provide
the same opportunity for access and participation, including the
ability to vote privately and independently.
   (B) A ballot dropoff location provided for under this section
shall consist of a locked ballot box located in a secure public
building that meets the accessibility requirements for a polling
place.
   (9) Elections in the county conducted pursuant to this section may
be held on no more than three different dates.
   (b) (1) If the county conducts an all-mailed ballot election
pursuant to this section, on or before December 31,  2017,
  2019,  the county shall report to the Legislature
and to the Secretary of State regarding the success of the election,
including, but not limited to, any statistics on the cost to conduct
the election; the turnout of different populations, including, but
not limited to, to the extent possible, the population categories of
race, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, permanent vote by mail
status, and political party affiliation; the number of ballots not
counted and the reasons they were rejected; voter fraud; and any
other problems that become known to the county during the election or
canvass.
   (2) Whenever possible, using the criteria set forth in paragraph
(1), the report of the county shall compare the success of the
all-mailed ballot election to similar elections not conducted wholly
by mail in the same jurisdiction or comparable jurisdictions.
   (3) The report of the county shall be submitted to the Legislature
pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code within six months
after the date of the all-mailed ballot election or before the date
of any other all-mailed ballot election subject to this section to be
conducted in the county, whichever is sooner.
   (c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
 2018,   2020,  and as of that date is
repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before
January 1,  2018,   2020,  deletes or
extends that date.