AB 472, as introduced, Patterson. Vote by mail ballots: military or overseas voters.
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 military or overseas voters, as defined, and would instead require that their vote by mail ballots be postmarked on or before election day and received by their elections officials not later than 10 days after election day.
Existing law permits a military or overseas voter to return his or her vote by mail ballot by facsimile transmission and requires the ballot returned by facsimile transmission to be received no later than the closing of the polls on election day. Existing law provides that a military or overseas voter should return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission only if doing so is necessary for the ballot to be received before the closing of the polls on election day.
This bill would instead provide that a military or overseas voter should return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission only if doing so is necessary for the ballot to be timely cast.
Because the bill would impose additional duties on 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 3106 of the Elections Code is amended
2to read:
(a) A military or overseas voter who is living outside
OATH OF VOTER
I, , acknowledge that by returning my voted
voter (power of attorney cannot be accepted)
4of the territorial limits of the United States or the District of
5Columbia, or is called for military service within the United States
6on or after the final date to make application for a vote by mail
7ballot, may return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission. To
8be counted, the ballot returned by facsimile transmission shall be
9received by the voter’s elections official no later than the closing
10of the polls on election day and shall be accompanied by an
11identification envelope containing all of the information required
12by Section 3011 and an oath of voter declaration in substantially
13the following form:
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ballot by facsimile transmission I have waived my right to have my ballot
kept secret. Nevertheless, I understand that, as with any vote by mail
voter, my signature, whether on this oath of voter form or my identification
envelope, will be permanently separated from my voted ballot to maintain
its secrecy at the outset of the tabulation process and thereafter.
My residence address is .
(Street Address)(City)(ZIP Code)
My current mailing address is .
(Street Address)(City)(ZIP Code)
My email address is _________________. My facsimile transmission
number is _________________.
I am a resident of
__________ County, State of California, or am qualified
as an elector pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 321 of
the Elections Code and I have not applied, nor intend to apply, for a vote by
mail ballot from any other jurisdiction for the same election.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated this __________ day of ______, 20_____.
(Signature)
YOUR BALLOT CANNOT BE COUNTED UNLESS YOU SIGN THE
ABOVE OATH AND INCLUDE IT WITH YOUR BALLOT AND
IDENTIFICATION ENVELOPE, ALL OF WHICH ARE RETURNED
BY FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION.
23(b) Notwithstanding the voter’s waiver of the right to a secret
24ballot, each elections official shall adopt appropriate procedures
25to protect the secrecy of ballots returned by facsimile transmission.
26(c) Upon receipt of a ballot returned by facsimile transmission,
27the elections official shall determine the voter’s eligibility to vote
28by comparing the signature on the return information with the
29signature on the voter’s affidavit of registration. The ballot shall
30be duplicated and all materials preserved according to procedures
31set forth in this code.
32(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a military or overseas voter
33who is permitted to return his or her ballot by facsimile
34transmission is, nonetheless, encouraged to return his or her ballot
35by mail or in person if possible. A military or overseas voter should
36return a ballot by facsimile transmission only if doing so is
37necessary for the ballot to bebegin delete received before the close of polls on begin insert timely castend insert.
38election dayend delete
Section 3117 of the Elections Code is repealed.
A valid ballot cast shall be counted if it is received by
2the elections official by the time the polls close on the day of the
3election.
Section 3117 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
Notwithstanding Section 3020 or 4103, or any other
6provision of law, a vote by mail ballot of a military or overseas
7voter is timely cast and, if valid, shall be counted if the ballot is
8postmarked on or before election day and received by the voter’s
9elections official not later than 10 days after election day.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
11this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
12local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
13pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
144 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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