Bill Text: CA SB72 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 72 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

Bill Title: Conditional voter registration: provisional ballots.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 565, Statutes of 2019. [SB72 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB72-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 72

Introduced by Senator Umberg

January 10, 2019

An act to amend Section 2170 of the Elections Code relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 72, as introduced, Umberg. Conditional voter registration: satellite offices.

Existing law authorizes an elector who is otherwise qualified to register to vote to complete a conditional voter registration and cast a provisional ballot during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, as prescribed. Existing law requires a county elections official to offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting at all permanent offices of the county elections official in the county in accordance with specified procedures. Existing law also permits the county elections official to offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting at satellite offices of the county elections office.

This bill would specifically require, rather than permit, the county elections official to offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting at satellite offices of the county elections office, unless that county is conducting an all-mailed ballot election. The bill would require the Secretary of State to issue regulations determining the minimum number of satellite offices that the county elections official must make available for conditional voter registration and provisional voting.

By requiring county elections officials to offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting at satellite offices, and by requiring the Secretary of State to determine the number of satellite offices that county elections officials must make available for this purpose, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 2170 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2170.

(a) “Conditional voter registration” means a properly executed affidavit of registration that is delivered by the registrant to the county elections official during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on election day and which may be deemed effective pursuant to this article after the elections official processes the affidavit, determines the registrant’s eligibility to register, and validates the registrant’s information, as specified in subdivision (c).

(b) In addition to other methods of voter registration provided by this code, an elector who is otherwise qualified to register to vote under this code and Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution may complete a conditional voter registration and cast a provisional ballot during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on election day pursuant to this article.

(c) (1) A conditional voter registration shall be deemed effective if the county elections official is able to determine before or during the canvass period for the election that the registrant is eligible to register to vote and that the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit matches information contained in a database maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles or the federal Social Security Administration.

(2) If the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit cannot be verified pursuant to paragraph (1) but the registrant is otherwise eligible to vote, the registrant shall be issued a unique identification number pursuant to Section 2150 and the conditional voter registration shall be deemed effective.

(d) The county elections official shall offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting pursuant to this article, in accordance with all of the following procedures:

(1) The elections official shall provide conditional voter registration and provisional voting pursuant to this article at all permanent offices of the county elections official in the county.

(2) The elections official shall advise registrants that a conditional voter registration will be effective only if the registrant is determined to be eligible to register to vote for the election and the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit is verified pursuant to subdivision (c).

(3) The elections official shall conduct the receipt and handling of each conditional voter registration and offer and receive a corresponding provisional ballot in a manner that protects the secrecy of the ballot and allows the elections official to process the registration, determine the registrant’s eligibility to register, and validate the registrant’s information before counting or rejecting the corresponding provisional ballot.

(4) After receiving a conditional voter registration, the elections official shall process the registration, determine the registrant’s eligibility to register, and attempt to validate the registrant’s information.

(5) If a conditional registration is deemed effective, the elections official shall include the corresponding provisional ballot in the official canvass.

(e) The county elections official ~~may~~ shall offer conditional voter registration and provisional voting pursuant to this article at all satellite offices of the county elections office, in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision ~~(d).~~ (d), unless that county is conducting an all-mailed ballot election pursuant to Section 4005 or 4007 of this code. The Secretary of State shall issue regulations determining the minimum number of satellite offices that the county elections official must make available for conditional voter registration and provisional voting.

SEC. 2.

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.