BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 530
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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 530 (Quirk-Silva)
          As Introduced  February 20, 2013
          Majority vote 

           ELECTIONS           5-1                                         
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Fong, Bocanegra, Bonta,   |     |                          |
          |     |Hall, Weber               |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |Nays:|Donnelly                  |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  Permits a local elections official to allow a voter to  
          apply for a vote by mail (VBM) ballot by telephone.   
          Specifically,  this bill  allows local elections officials to  
          offer voters the ability to apply for a VBM ballot by telephone  
          subject to the following provisions:

          1)The applicant must 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 is not required for applications  
            received by telephone.

          2)Except as otherwise provided, all provisions governing written  
            applications for VBM ballots apply to applications for VBM  
            ballots made by telephone.

           EXISTING LAW  provides that an application for a VBM voter's  
          ballot shall be made in writing to the elections official having  
          jurisdiction over the election between the 29th and the seventh  
          day prior to the election.  The application shall be signed by  
          the applicant and show his or her place of residence.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  None.  This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the  
          Legislative Counsel.

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, "California law currently  
          allows a voter to request a vote by mail (VBM) ballot by  
          completing an application provided by the local elections  








                                                                  AB 530
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          official, using a uniform electronic application provided  
          through the Secretary of State's website, or by applying through  
          the local election official's website.  However, application by  
          telephone is not permitted.

          "Increasing participation and accessibility to voting is an  
          imperative for any democratic society. Polls consistently  
          indicate that the largest stated reason for not voting is an  
          inability to find the time.  By not allowing applications for  
          VBM ballots by telephone, voters without internet access either  
          [must] go to the local elections office or call to request that  
          a paper application be mailed to them.  These extra steps take  
          more time than other methods, cost more money to administer, and  
          are barriers to VBM voting.  

          "AB 530 removes barriers to vote by mail application for those  
          without internet access by allowing citizens to apply using a  
          more ubiquitous technology, the telephone.  The bill also  
          maintains our current standards of protection against voter  
          fraud by placing the same requirements for telephone applicants  
          that currently exist for those who apply online through a local  
          election official's secure website.  AB 530 also may save money  
          for local election officials by allowing them to accept  
          applications directly over the telephone instead of using the  
          more costly method of mailing an application and receiving it by  
          return mail before entering the information into their election  
          management system."

          AB 2154 (Solorio) of 2010 was substantially similar to this  
          bill.  AB 2154 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, who  
          expressed concern that it could open the VBM ballot application  
          process to fraud. 

          AB 2277 (Keeley), Chapter 753, Statutes of 2002, requires the  
          Secretary of State to provide local elections officials with a  
          uniform electronic application format for VBM ballots and gives  
          local elections officials the option of allowing voters to apply  
          for VBM ballots electronically.

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Lori Barber / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094 


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