BILL NUMBER: AB 257	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 6, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Adams

                        FEBRUARY 11, 2009

   An act to add Section 16001 to the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 257, as amended, Adams. Elections: reporting irregularities.
   Existing law provides procedures and requirements for contesting
the results of an election.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to establish a
uniform report that elections officials would use to document
election  day  incidents and voting irregularities
that could be used in contested elections.
   Because this bill would change or expand the duties of local
elections officials, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
   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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 16001 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   16001.  (a) The Secretary of State shall establish a uniform
reporting format to collect information from county elections
officials relating to election  day  incidents and
irregularities that occur during  the casting of ballots in
 a regularly scheduled statewide election.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "election  day 
incidents and irregularities" includes documented complaints or
reports of any of the following:
   (1) Voter fraud.
   (2) Voter intimidation.
   (3) The failure, malfunction, or improper usage or operation of
either an electronic voting machine or a paper ballot, whether cast
by mail or at a polling place.
   (4) Incidents resulting in voter disenfranchisement.
   (c) The Secretary of State shall make the reports submitted by
county elections officials pursuant to subdivision (a) publicly
available on his or her Internet Web site.
  SEC. 2.  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.