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
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|Ayes:|Fong, Bocanegra, Bonta, | | |
| |Hall, Weber | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Donnelly | | |
| | | | |
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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
FN: 0000465
AB 530
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