BILL NUMBER: SB 240 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JANUARY 6, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 11, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Senator Yee
(Principal coauthor: Senator Anderson)
(Coauthor: Senator Lieu)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Gray and Pan)
FEBRUARY 12, 2013
An act to add Section 12289 3025 to
the Elections Code, relating to elections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 240, as amended, Yee. Polling places
Vote by mail ballot drop boxes : higher education campuses.
(1) Existing law requires elections officials to establish a
convenient number of election precincts and designate a polling place
for each precinct. Under existing law, the local elections official
may request the use of school buildings as polling places.
(1) Existing law sets forth procedures for processing vote by mail
ballots and requires that all vote by mail ballots cast be received
by the elections official or by the precinct board no later than the
close of polls on election day.
This bill would, for statewide general and primary elections
conducted by a county or city and county, require the county or city
and county elections official to establish polling places
vote by mail ballot drop boxes, as defined,
within each campus of the California State University and the
University of California, and would require the elections official to
establish polling places vote by mail ballot
drop boxes within each community college if convenient for
voters. The bill would not apply to counties or city
cities and counties that have a population of
fewer than 150,000 people. The bill would require the California
State University and the California Community Colleges, and request
the University of California, to provide access for the use of their
campuses as polling places vote by mail
ballot drop box sites . The bill would require the
Secretary of State to assist elections officials by providing
recommendations and guidelines regarding the placement and security
of vote by mail ballot drop boxes. By requiring county and city
and county elections officials to perform new duties, and the
California Community Colleges to provide access as polling
places vote by mail ballot drop box sites , the
bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) 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 1. Section 12289 is added to the
Elections Code, to read:
12289. (a) For each statewide general election and each statewide
primary election conducted by a county or a city and county, the
county or city and county elections official shall do both of the
following:
(1) Establish at least one polling place within each campus of the
California State University and the University of California within
the jurisdiction of the county or city and county.
(2) Consider establishing at least one polling place within each
community college within the jurisdiction of the county or city and
county, and establish that polling place if the elections official
determines a polling place at the college would be convenient for
voters.
(b) This section does not apply to a county or city and county
that has a population of fewer than 150,000 people.
(c) The California State University and the California Community
Colleges shall, and the University of California is requested to,
provide access for use of their campuses as polling places. This
section does not apply to a campus of the University of California if
the campus refuses a request for access to the campus as a polling
place.
SECTION 1. Section 3025 is added to the
Elections Code , to read:
3025. (a) For purposes of this section, "vote by mail ballot drop
box" means a secure receptacle established by a county or city and
county elections official whereby a voted vote by mail ballot may be
returned to the elections official from whom it was obtained.
(b) For each statewide general election and each statewide primary
election conducted by a county or a city and county, the county or
city and county elections official shall do both of the following:
(1) Establish at least one vote by mail ballot drop box within
each campus of the California State University and the University of
California within the jurisdiction of the county or city and county.
(2) Consider establishing at least one vote by mail ballot drop
box within each community college within the jurisdiction of the
county or city and county, and establish that vote by mail ballot
drop box if the elections official determines that a vote by mail
ballot drop box at the college would be convenient for voters.
(c) This section does not apply to a county or city and county
that has a population of fewer than 150,000 people.
(d) The California State University and the California Community
Colleges shall, and the University of California is requested to,
provide access for use of their campuses as a vote by mail ballot
drop box site. This section does not apply to a campus of the
University of California if the campus refuses a request for access
to the campus as a vote by mail ballot drop box site.
(e) The Secretary of State shall assist elections officials by
providing recommendations and guidelines regarding the placement and
security of vote by mail ballot drop boxes.
SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.