Bill Text: CA AB2479 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Voter registration: proof of citizenship.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-21 - From committee without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a). [AB2479 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2479-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2479	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Donnelly

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to repeal Section 2112 of, and to repeal and add Section
2111 of, the Elections Code, relating to voter registration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2479, as introduced, Donnelly. Voter registration: proof of
citizenship.
   (1) Under the California Constitution, a United States citizen 18
years of age and resident in the state has the right to vote.
Existing law establishes procedures regarding the registration of
voters. A person may not be registered to vote except by affidavit of
registration. A person is allowed to prove his or her citizenship by
certification under penalty of perjury on the affidavit of
registration.
   This bill would instead require a person to prove citizenship by
presenting, or submitting a copy of, the person's birth certificate,
United States passport, United States naturalization documents,
documents or methods of proof established pursuant to the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986, or Bureau of Indian Affairs card
number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number. By
increasing the duties of local elections officials regarding the
registration of voters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
   (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2111 of the Elections Code is repealed.

   2111.  A person may prove he or she is a citizen by his or her
certification under penalty of perjury on the affidavit of
registration. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 2111 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   2111.  (a) A person shall not be registered to vote unless the
person submits or presents one of the following as proof of United
States citizenship:
   (1) A birth certificate.
   (2) A United States passport.
   (3) United States naturalization documents.
   (4) Documents or methods of proof established pursuant to the
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-603).
   (5) A Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card
number, or tribal enrollment number.
   (b) A person seeking to register to vote may submit a legible
photocopy of a form of proof described in subdivision (a) or present
the original to a person designated by the elections official or
voter registration agency.
   (c) This section does not invalidate a voter registration
completed before January 1, 2013, or require a registered voter to
meet the requirements of this section upon a change of address.
  SEC. 3.  Section 2112 of the Elections Code is repealed. 
   2112.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
the fact that a person certifies to his or her United States
citizenship by signing his or her affidavit of registration shall be
deemed evidence of citizenship for voting purposes only. 
  SEC. 4.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.