BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 113
Author: Calderon (D), et al
Amended: 2/9/07
Vote: 21
SEN. ELECTIONS, REAP. & CONST. AMEND. COMM. : 3-0, 2/7/07
AYES: Calderon, Migden, Oropeza
NO VOTE RECORDED: Battin, Cogdill
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 11-1, 2/8/07
AYES: Torlakson, Ashburn, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett,
Correa, Florez, Kuehl, Oropeza, Ridley-Thomas, Yee
NOES: Cox
NO VOTE RECORDED: Aanestad, Battin, Dutton, Runner,
Vacancy
SUBJECT : Presidential primary: February
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires that the presidential primary
be held on the first Tuesday in February in any year evenly
divisible by four. There will still be a June primary for
other state offices in those years.
This bill also states legislative intent to fully reimburse
counties for costs resulting from the presidential primary
elections added by the bill in an expeditious manner upon
certification of those costs.
CONTINUED
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ANALYSIS : Existing law specifies that the presidential
primary election be held on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in June in any year evenly divisible by the
number four. Existing law also specifies that the
statewide direct primary election be held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in June of each
even-numbered year, and be consolidated with the
presidential primary election in any year in which the
statewide direct primary election is in a year evenly
divisible by the number four.
History of the California Presidential Primary
AB 30X (Young) of 1911 provided for the direct presidential
preference a nomination that was held in May of 1912. This
process of presidential preference lasted until 1947 when,
with the enactment of AB 2157 (Sherwin), the presidential
primary was set in June.
In 1998, SB 1999 (Costa), introduced the presidential
primary for 2000 and 2004 to the first Tuesday in March,
again hoping to leapfrog in front of other states and to
play a major role in choosing the Presidential nominees.
But again other states jumped ahead of California. Prior
to California's March 2, 2004 Primary, 20 other states had
already apportioned their delegates in primaries or
caucuses. California shared its March 2, 2004 Primary date
with nine other states.
Later in 2004, frustrated by declining turnout in the
state's March primary election, and by a lengthened
campaign season for state and local races, the Legislature
moved the primary election for both Presidential and
non-Presidential elections back to June with the enactment
of SB 1730 (Johnson).
Related legislation in 2006
AB 2949 (Umberg), of 2006, which was held on the Assembly
Appropriations Committee suspense file, would have required
the Secretary of State (SOS) to schedule California's
presidential primary election before, or on the same day
as, the earliest presidential primary election held in any
other state.
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Comments
Assuming no further changes by other states, a February 5,
2008 presidential primary will place California fifth in
the nation behind only the Iowa caucuses (January 14), the
Nevada Democratic party caucuses (January 19), the New
Hampshire primary (January 22) and the South Carolina
primary (January 29). However, several other states either
have scheduled, or are anticipated to schedule, their
presidential primary for February 5.
According to the author's office, "California is the
biggest and most influential state in the union yet its
current June presidential primary virtually ensures that
the major party nominees will be determined long before our
voters cast their ballots. A February presidential primary
will encourage presidential candidates to campaign here and
to debate and discuss issues and policies important to our
people. California voters deserve to play a major role in
deciding the presidential nominees."
Related Legislation . AB 157 (Plescia), which has not yet
been referred to Assembly policy committee, is similar in
intent to this bill.
NOTE: Concerns were expressed in the Senate Elections
Committee by local elections officials with
potential costs associated with the primary.
Amendments were taken in the Senate Appropriations
Committee to state legislative intent on how costs will be
reimbursed. The author has also indicated that he will
work with the committee on this issue.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, although
exact costs will not be known until after the election, it
is estimated that the costs to counties could range form $3
to $5 per voter, and there are currently approximately 15
million registered voters in California. The Secretary of
State's office has indicated preliminary estimated costs of
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approximately $15 million, and cots to the counties are
expected to be at least $45 million for every presidential
primary election. Expenses to hold an election include
costs for poll worker training, postage, printing and
ballot counting.
DWL:cm 2/9/07 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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