BILL NUMBER: AB 587	CHAPTERED  09/17/03

	CHAPTER  385
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 2, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 28, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Dymally, Firebaugh, Leno, Levine,
Mullin, Nunez, and Yee)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Escutia and Soto)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2003

   An act to amend Section 2150 of the Elections Code, relating to
voters.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 587, Ridley-Thomas.   Voter registration.
   Existing law requires that an affidavit of registration shall show
specified information concerning the affiant including the facts
necessary to establish the affiant as an elector.
   This bill would require that the affidavit of registration contain
a space that would enable the affiant to state his or her ethnicity
or race, or both. The bill would provide that an affiant may not be
denied the ability to register because he or she declines to state
his or her ethnicity or race.  The bill would require the Secretary
of State to design a model affidavit of registration that allows for
the inclusion of information concerning the ethnicity or race, or
both, of an affiant.
   The bill would allow the Secretary of State and each local
election official to exhaust existing supplies of voter registration
affidavits prior to printing new or revised forms.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 2150 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   2150.  (a) The affidavit of registration shall show:
   (1) The facts necessary to establish the affiant as an elector.
   (2) The affiant's name at length, including his or her given name,
and a middle name or initial, or if the initial of the given name is
customarily used, then the initial and middle name.  The affiant's
given name may be preceded, at affiant's option, by the designation
of Miss, Ms., Mrs., or Mr.  No person shall be denied the right to
register because of his or her failure to mark a prefix to the given
name and shall be so advised on the voter registration card.  This
subdivision shall not be construed as requiring the printing of
prefixes on an affidavit of registration.
   (3) The affiant's place of residence, residence telephone number,
if furnished, and e-mail address, if furnished.  No person shall be
denied the right to register because of his or her failure to furnish
a telephone number or e-mail address, and shall be so advised on the
voter registration card.
   (4) The affiant's mailing address, if different from the place of
residence.
   (5) The affiant's date of birth to establish that he or she will
be at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the next
election.
   (6) The state or country of the affiant's birth.
   (7) The affiant's California driver's license number, California
identification card number, or other identification number as
specified by the Secretary of State.  No person shall be denied the
right to register because of his or her failure to furnish one of
these numbers, and shall be so advised on the voter registration
card.
   (8) The affiant's political party affiliation.
   (9) That the affiant is currently not imprisoned or on parole for
the conviction of a felony.
   (10) A prior registration portion indicating whether the affiant
has been registered at another address, under another name, or as
intending to affiliate with another party.  If the affiant has been
so registered, he or she shall give an additional statement giving
that address, name, or party.
   (b) The affiant shall certify the content of the affidavit as to
its truth and correctness, under penalty of perjury, with the
signature of his or her name and the date of signing.  If the affiant
is unable to write he or she shall sign with a mark or cross.
   (c) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space that
would enable the affiant to state his or her ethnicity or race, or
both.  An affiant may not be denied the ability to register because
he or she declines to state his or her ethnicity or race.
   (d) If any person, including a deputy registrar, assists the
affiant in completing the affidavit, that person shall sign and date
the affidavit below the signature of the affiant.
  SEC. 2.  The Secretary of State shall design a model affidavit of
registration that allows for the inclusion of information concerning
the race or ethnicity, or both, of an affiant.  In determining which
ethnicities or races to include on the model affidavit, the Secretary
shall consult the list of ethnicitites and races used by the United
States Census Bureau on the bureau's most recent census forms.
  SEC. 3.  The Secretary of State and each local election official
may exhaust supplies of voter registration affidavits in existence on
the effective date of this section prior to printing new or revised
forms.