BILL NUMBER: AB 686	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ruskin

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 14224 of, and to repeal Section 19363 of,
the Elections Code, relating to voting.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 686, as introduced, Ruskin. Voting: polling place procedures.
   Existing law establishes procedures to be followed at polling
places on election day. Existing law provides that a voter may not
remain in or occupy a voting booth or compartment longer than is
necessary to mark his or her ballot, which may not exceed either 5 or
10 minutes, as specified, but permits a voter to remain for a longer
period of time if no other voter would be inconvenienced.
   This bill would delete the provision permitting a voter to remain
for a longer period of time if no other voter would be inconvenienced
and would, instead, permit a voter to remain for longer than 10
minutes if the voter informs a precinct board member that the voter
requires additional time to mark his or her ballot.
   This bill would also repeal the provisions that limit a voter to 5
minutes in a voting booth or compartment while marking his or her
ballot using a voting machine.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 14224 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   14224.  Except as provided in Section 14222, voting booths or
compartments shall not be occupied by more than one person at a time,
unless the voter is eligible under the assisted-voter provisions.
Voters shall not remain in or occupy the booths or compartments
longer than is necessary to mark their ballots, which shall not
exceed 10 minutes. However,  where no other voter would be
inconvenienced,   if a voter informs a precinct board
member that the voter requires additional time to mark his or her
ballot,  a longer period shall be allowed.
  SEC. 2.  Section 19363 of the Elections Code is repealed. 
   19363.  Voters shall not remain in or occupy the booths or
compartments longer than is necessary to mark their ballots, which
shall not exceed five minutes. However, where no other voter would be
inconvenienced, a longer period shall be allowed.