BILL NUMBER: AB 461	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  189
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 8, 2011
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 8, 2011
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 14, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 5, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 24, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to add Section 15342.5 to the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 461, Bonilla. Write-in candidates.
   Existing law regulates the processing of write-in votes, including
requiring that a ballot for a qualified write-in candidate be
counted if, on specified voting systems, the candidate's name is
written on the ballot in the blank space provided and the voting
space next to the write-in space, if provided, is marked according to
voting instructions. It further requires that, for other voting
systems, a ballot for a write-in candidate, if otherwise qualified,
be counted if the name is written in the manner described in the
voting instructions.
   This bill would require a liberal construction of these write-in
vote processing provisions in the event of a manual recount conducted
under specified circumstances to ensure that a ballot is counted if
the voter's intent can be determined, regardless of whether the voter
has complied with the voting instructions.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 15342.5 is added to the Elections Code, to
read:
   15342.5.  In the event of a manual recount conducted pursuant to
Section 15610 or requested pursuant to Section 15620 or 15621, the
process set forth in Section 15342 shall be liberally construed to
ensure that each ballot is counted if the intent of the voter can be
determined, regardless of whether the voter has complied with the
voting instructions.