BILL NUMBER: AB 452 CHAPTERED 10/08/07 CHAPTER 316 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 8, 2007 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 8, 2007 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 24, 2007 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2007 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Arambula (Coauthor: Assembly Member Adams) FEBRUARY 20, 2007 An act to amend Sections 2155 and 2156 of, and to add Section 2155.5 to, the Elections Code, relating to voter registration. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 452, Arambula. Voter registration: notification of change in party affiliation. (1) Existing law requires the local elections official to send a voter notification form upon receipt of a properly executed affidavit of registration or when the local elections official receives an official notice that the voter's address has changed. Existing law requires the voter notification form to inform the voter of his or her party affiliation, that he or she is registered to vote, and that he or she may vote in any election held 15 or more days after the date shown on the notice. This bill would require the local elections official to send a voter notification form when the voter's recent registration indicates a change in party affiliation. The bill also would authorize the Secretary of State, in coordination with local elections officials who choose to participate, to develop specific procedures to address complaints related to voter registration, as specified. By imposing new duties on elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to print blank forms of the voter notification described above, and to supply the forms to county elections officials, as requested. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of State to continue to supply existing voter notification forms prior to printing new or revised forms, as specified. This bill would authorize county elections officials to continue to use existing voter notification forms prior to printing new or revised forms, as specified. (3) 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 these statutory provisions. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2155 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2155. Upon receipt of a properly executed affidavit of registration or address correction notice or letter pursuant to Section 2119, Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220), or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973gg), the county elections official shall send the voter a voter notification by nonforwardable, first-class mail, address correction requested. The voter notification shall state the party affiliation for which the voter has registered in the following format: Party: (Name of political party) The voter notification shall be substantially in the following form: VOTER NOTIFICATION You are registered to vote. The party affiliation for which you have registered is shown on the reverse of this card. This card is being sent as a notification of: 1. Your recently completed affidavit of registration, OR, 2. A correction to your registration because of an official notice that you have moved. If your residence address has not changed or if your move is temporary, please call or write the county elections official immediately. OR, 3. Your recent registration with a change in party affiliation. If this change is not correct, please call or write the county elections official immediately. _________________________________________________ You may vote in any election held 15 or more days after the date shown on the reverse side of this card. Your name will appear on the index kept at the polls. Please contact your county elections office if the information shown on the reverse side of this card is incorrect. _________________________________________________ (Signature of Voter) SEC. 2. Section 2155.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read: 2155.5. (a) The Secretary of State may, in coordination with county elections officials who choose to participate, develop specific procedures to address complaints related to voter registration, including procedures to promptly reregister voters who believe their registration was changed improperly. (b) The procedures adopted pursuant to this section shall not provide any exemption to laws related to voter registration within the 15 days prior to an election. SEC. 3. Section 2156 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2156. The Secretary of State shall print, or cause to be printed, the blank forms of the voter notification prescribed by Section 2155. The Secretary of State shall supply the forms to the county elections official in quantities and at times requested by the county elections official. The Secretary of State may continue to supply, and the county elections officials may continue to use, existing voter notification forms prior to printing new or revised forms as required by any changes to Section 2155. SEC. 4. 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.