BILL NUMBER: AB 477	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 14, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Valadao
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Fletcher,   Garrick,   Jeffries,  
and Silva   ) 
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Runner
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to add Section 3103.7 to the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 477, as amended, Valadao. Elections: vote by mail ballots.
   Existing law requires that a vote by mail ballot be received by
the issuing elections official or the precinct board no later than
the close of polls on election day.
   This bill would make an exception for special absentee voters, as
defined, temporarily living outside of the territorial limits of the
United States  or   and  the District of
Columbia and would instead require that their vote by mail 
ballot   ballots  be postmarked  or signed
and dated by the voter  on or before election day and
received by their elections  official  
officials  not later than 14 days after election day.
   Because the bill would impose additional duties on 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 3103.7 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

   3103.7.  Notwithstanding Section 3020, 3311, or 4103, or any other
provision of law, a vote by mail ballot of a special absentee voter
under subdivision (b) of Section 300 who is temporarily living
outside of the territorial limits of the United States  or
  and  the District of Columbia shall be timely
cast if it is postmarked by the United States Postal Service or the
Military Postal Service Agency  or is signed and dated by the
voter  on or before election day and received by the voter'
s elections official not later than 14 days after election day.
  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.