BILL NUMBER: AB 1287	CHAPTERED  07/12/07

	CHAPTER  63
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 12, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 12, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 28, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 7, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jeffries

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2007

   An act to amend Section 3018 of the Elections Code, relating to
absentee voting.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1287, Jeffries. Absentee voting.
   Existing law provides that absentee ballots may be submitted to
satellite offices, the locations, hours, and telephone numbers of
which must be announced by general news release no less than 14 days
before voting at that location.
   This bill would provide that in cases of disaster or emergency,
only 48 hours' notice of the satellite office information is
required.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 3018 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   3018.  (a) Any voter using an absentee ballot may, prior to the
close of the polls on election day, vote the ballot at the office of
the elections official. The voter shall vote the ballot in the
presence of an officer of the elections official or in a voting
booth, at the discretion of the elections official, but in no case
may his or her vote be observed. Where voting machines are used the
elections official may provide one voting machine for each ballot
type used within the jurisdiction. Elections officials may provide
electronic voting devices for this purpose provided that sufficient
devices are provided to include all ballot types in the election.
   (b) For purposes of this section, the office of an elections
official may include satellite locations. Notice of the satellite
locations shall be made by the elections official by the issuance of
a general news release, issued not later than 14 days prior to voting
at the satellite location, except that in a county with a declared
emergency or disaster, notice shall be made not later than 48 hours
prior to voting at the satellite location. The news release shall set
forth the following information:
   (1) The satellite location or locations.
   (2) The dates and hours the satellite location or locations will
be open.
   (3) A telephone number that voters may use to obtain information
regarding absentee ballots and the satellite locations.
   (c) Absentee ballots voted at a satellite location pursuant to
this section shall be placed in an absentee voter identification
envelope to be completed by the voter pursuant to Section 3011.
However, if the elections official utilizes electronic voting
devices, the absentee ballot may be cast on an electronic voting
device.