BILL NUMBER: AB 1808 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 137
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 17, 2008
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 17, 2008
PASSED THE SENATE JULY 3, 2008
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY MAY 8, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2008
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huff
JANUARY 16, 2008
An act to amend Section 9084 of, and to add Section 13307.5 to,
the Elections Code, and to amend Section 88001 of the Government
Code, relating to elections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1808, Huff. Ballot statements: candidates for federal office.
Existing law permits candidates for nonpartisan elective office in
local agencies to prepare and submit to the elections official a
candidate's statement of specified length and subject to specified
conditions and at the candidate's expense, to appear in the voter's
pamphlet accompanying the sample ballot. The existing Political
Reform Act of 1974 also allows candidates for statewide elective
office and candidates for the State Senate and Assembly to purchase
the space to place a statement in the state ballot pamphlet or voter
information portion of the sample ballot, as appropriate, of
specified length and subject to specified conditions.
This bill would allow candidates for United States Senator and
United States Representative to purchase space to place a statement
in the state ballot pamphlet and the voter information portion of the
sample ballot, respectively, of a specified length and subject to
specified conditions. By placing new duties on local elections
officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill also would require the Secretary of State to include in
the ballot pamphlet, for elections that include a question as to the
confirmation or retention of justices of the Supreme Court,
information on the justices, and, for elections that include the
offices of President and Vice President of the United States, a
notice that refers voters to its Internet Web site for information
about the candidates for those offices.
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 no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 9084 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
9084. The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following:
(a) A complete copy of each state measure.
(b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision,
if any, that each state measure would repeal or revise.
(c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each
state measure.
(d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure.
(e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics, and other
materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot
pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter.
(f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot
pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet
will be mailed by the county elections official upon request.
(g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as
required by Section 9083.
(h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300.
(i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United
States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator.
A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place
a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250
words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of
the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with
timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the
preparation of the state ballot pamphlet.
(j) If the ballot contains a question on the confirmation or
retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices
of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention.
(k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of
President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that
refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for
information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice
President of the United States.
SEC. 2. Section 13307.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
13307.5. A candidate for United States Representative may
purchase the space to place a statement in the voter information
portion of the sample ballot that does not exceed 250 words. The
statement may not make reference to any opponent of the candidate.
The statement shall be submitted in accordance with the timeframes
and procedures set forth in this code for the preparation of the
voter information portion of the sample ballot.
SEC. 3. Section 88001 of the Government Code is amended to read:
88001. The ballot pamphlet shall contain all of the following:
(a) A complete copy of each state measure.
(b) A copy of the specific constitutional or statutory provision,
if any, that would be repealed or revised by each state measure.
(c) A copy of the arguments and rebuttals for and against each
state measure.
(d) A copy of the analysis of each state measure.
(e) Tables of contents, indexes, art work, graphics and other
materials that the Secretary of State determines will make the ballot
pamphlet easier to understand or more useful for the average voter.
(f) A notice, conspicuously printed on the cover of the ballot
pamphlet, indicating that additional copies of the ballot pamphlet
will be mailed by the county elections official upon request.
(g) A written explanation of the judicial retention procedure as
required by Section 9083 of the Elections Code.
(h) The Voter Bill of Rights pursuant to Section 2300 of the
Elections Code.
(i) If the ballot contains an election for the office of United
States Senator, information on candidates for United States Senator.
A candidate for United States Senator may purchase the space to place
a statement in the state ballot pamphlet that does not exceed 250
words. The statement may not make any reference to any opponent of
the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with
timeframes and procedures set forth by the Secretary of State for the
preparation of the state ballot pamphlet.
(j) If the ballot contains a question as to the confirmation or
retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on justices
of the Supreme Court who are subject to confirmation or retention.
(k) If the ballot contains an election for the offices of
President and Vice President of the United States, a notice that
refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for
information about candidates for the offices of President and Vice
President of the United States.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.