Bill Text: CA AB2070 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2070 (Prior Session Legislation)

CA State Legislature page for AB2070

Introduced

Bill Title: Elections: compulsory voting.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. [AB2070 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2070-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2070

Introduced by Assembly Member Levine

February 04, 2020

An act to amend Section 2000 of, and to add Section 2001 to, the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2070, as introduced, Levine. Elections: compulsory voting.

Existing law authorizes every person who qualifies under the California Constitution and who complies with certain provisions governing the registration of electors to vote at any election held within the territory within which the person resides and the election is held.

This bill would instead require a person who qualifies and is registered to vote to cast a ballot, marked or unmarked in whole or in part, at every election held within the territory within which the person resides and the election is held. The bill would require the Secretary of State to enforce this requirement.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2000 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2000.

(a) ~~Every~~ A person who qualifies under Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution and who ~~complies with this code governing the registration of electors may vote at any~~ registers to vote in compliance with this code shall cast a ballot, marked or unmarked in whole or in part, at every election held within the territory within which ~~he or she~~ the person resides and the election is held.

(b) ~~Any~~ A person who will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election is eligible to register and vote at that election.

(c) Pursuant to Section 2102, ~~any~~ a person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements to vote is eligible to preregister to vote, but is not eligible to vote until ~~he or she~~ the person is 18 years of age.

SEC. 2.

Section 2001 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

2001.

The Secretary of State shall ensure that every registered voter casts a ballot, marked or unmarked in whole or in part, at every election in which the voter is required to cast a ballot.