California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 530

Introduced by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva

February 20, 2013

An act to amend Section 3001 of, and to add Section 3007.8 to, the Elections Code, relating to vote by mail ballots.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 530, as introduced, Quirk-Silva. Vote by mail ballots: telephone applications.

Existing law requires that application for a vote by mail voter’s ballot be made in writing to the elections official having jurisdiction over the election during a specified period prior to the election, subject to specified exceptions.

This bill would create an additional exception to this requirement by authorizing a local elections official to offer a voter the ability to apply for a vote by mail voter’s ballot by telephone. The bill would require a telephone applicant for a vote by mail voter’s ballot to provide specified information to the elections official.

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 3001 of the Elections Code is amended
to read:

3001.  

Except as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 3200) and Sections 3007.5 begin delete and end delete begin insert , end insert 3007.7, begin insert and 3007.8, end insert
application for a vote by mail voter’s ballot shall be made in writing
to the elections official having jurisdiction over the election
between the 29th and the begin delete 7th end delete begin insert seventh end insert day prior to the election. The
application shall be signed by the applicant and shall show his or
her place of residence. Any applications received by the elections
official prior to the 29th day shall be kept and processed during
the application period.

SEC. 2.  

Section 3007.8 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

3007.8.  

(a) A local elections official may offer a voter the
ability to apply for a vote by mail voter’s ballot by telephone.

(b) To apply by telephone, the applicant shall provide to the
elections official personal identifying information that matches
the information contained on the applicant’s affidavit of
registration, including first and last name, home address, and date
of birth. The applicant’s signature shall not be required.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all provisions
of this code governing written applications for vote by mail voter’s
ballots shall apply to applications made by telephone.