BILL NUMBER: AB 131	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  93
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 13, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 13, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 1, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 4, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams

                        JANUARY 15, 2013

   An act to amend Section 2154 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 131, Williams. Voter registration: affidavits: rebuttable
presumptions.
   Under existing law, when a county elections official receives an
affidavit of registration that does not include portions of
information for which space is provided, the county elections
official is required to apply several rebuttable presumptions. Those
presumptions include the presumption that if the affiant fails to
identify his or her state of birth within the United States, then it
is presumed that the affiant was born in a state or territory of the
United States if the affiant lists his or her birthplace as the
United States, U.S.A., or other recognizable term designating the
United States.
   This bill would provide that the affiant's failure to furnish his
or her place of birth shall not preclude his or her affidavit of
registration from being deemed complete.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2154 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   2154.  In the event that the county elections official receives an
affidavit of registration, executed under penalty of perjury, that
does not include portions of the information for which space is
provided, the county elections official shall apply the following
rebuttable presumptions:
   (a) If no middle name or initial is shown, it shall be presumed
that none exists.
   (b) If no party preference is shown, it shall be presumed that the
affiant has declined to disclose a party preference.
   (c) If no execution date is shown, it shall be presumed that the
affidavit was executed on or before the 15th day prior to the
election, provided that (1) the affidavit is received by the county
elections official on or before the 15th day prior to the election,
or (2) the affidavit is postmarked on or before the 15th day prior to
the election and received by mail by the county elections official.
   (d) If the affiant fails to identify his or her state of birth
within the United States, it shall be presumed that the affiant was
born in a state or territory of the United States if the birthplace
of the affiant is shown as "United States," "U.S.A.," or other
recognizable term designating the United States. The affiant's
failure to furnish his or her place of birth shall not preclude his
or her affidavit of registration from being deemed complete.