Bill Text: CA SB304 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Elections: all-mailed ballot elections: San Diego County.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-31 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB304 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB304-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 304	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kehoe

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Section 4001 of the Elections Code,
relating to elections.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 304, as introduced, Kehoe. Elections: all-mailed ballot
elections: San Diego County.
   Existing law authorizes a local, special, or consolidated election
to be conducted as an all-mailed ballot election, so long as
specified conditions are satisfied.
   This bill would authorize elections in San Diego County to be
conducted wholly by mail until January 1, 2016, if specified
conditions are satisfied. If San Diego County conducts an all-mailed
ballot election, the bill would require the county, on or before
December 31, 2016, to report to the Legislature and to the Secretary
of State regarding the success of the election, as specified.
   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 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   4001.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 4000 or any other provision of
law, until January 1, 2016, as a pilot program, any or all elections
in San Diego County may be conducted wholly by mail, provided that
all of the following conditions apply:
   (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 prior to the date of the election.
   (2) At least one ballot drop-off location that is accessible to
persons with disabilities is provided in each county supervisorial
district in which an election is being conducted and is open to
receive vote by mail ballots during business hours for two weeks
before the date of the election and until 8 p.m. on the day of the
election.
   (3) The elections official delivers to each voter all supplies
necessary for the use and return of the vote by mail ballot,
including an envelope with postage prepaid for the return of the vote
by mail ballot.
   (4) 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 locations provided pursuant to paragraph (2),
and this list is also posted on the Internet Web site of the county
elections office.
   (5) The return of vote by mail ballots is subject to Section 3017.

   (b) (1) If the county conducts an all-mailed ballot election, on
or before December 31, 2016, 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 that are 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 prior to 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,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends
that date.