BILL NUMBER: AB 547 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 18, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 29, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gonzalez
( Coauthor: Assembly Member
Mullin )
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
An act to amend Sections 4000.5 and 4004
Section 4000.5 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 547, as amended, Gonzalez. Elections: special elections:
all-mailed ballot elections.
Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2020, San Diego County
to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election
or special consolidated election to fill a congressional or
legislative vacancy under specified conditions. If such an election
is conducted, existing law requires San Diego County to report
certain information to the Legislature and the Secretary of State
regarding the success of the election.
This bill bill, until January 1,
2021, would authorize San Diego County, or any city, school district,
community college district, special district, or other district or
political subdivision whose boundaries are located wholly or
in part within San Diego County, to conduct an all-mailed
ballot special election or special consolidated election to fill a
vacancy on the legislative or governing body of those entities. The
bill would authorize those entities to also hold an all-mailed ballot
special election for county initiatives, city initiatives, district
initiatives, bond issues, and school measures conducted pursuant to
specified provisions. The bill would extend the pilot program for San
Diego County , as described above, until January 1,
2021, and would repeal the condition that, for a special
election to fill a vacancy in a congressional or legislative office,
the congressional or legislative district lie wholly within San Diego
County. 2021. The bill would also require
certain voter education workshops to be conducted in-person.
Existing law authorizes cities with a population of less than
100,000 persons, school districts, and special districts to conduct
an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a vacancy on the
legislative or governing body of those entities under specified
conditions.
This bill would authorize those entities to also hold all-mailed
ballot special elections for city initiatives and district
initiatives conducted pursuant to specified provisions.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the County of San Diego.
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 4000.5 of the Elections Code is amended to
read:
4000.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 4000 or any other law, as a
pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election or special
consolidated election in San Diego County may be conducted by an
eligible entity if the special election or special consolidated
election is any of the following:
(1) A special election to fill a vacancy in a congressional or
legislative office.
(2) A special election to fill a vacancy in the legislative body
or governing body.
(3) A special election conducted pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing
with Section 9100), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 9200),
Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 9300), Chapter 5 (commencing with
Section 9400), or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9500) of
Division 9.
(b) A special election or special consolidated election described
in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a), may be
conducted wholly as an all-mailed ballot election if all of the
following apply:
(1) (A) For a special election to fill a vacancy in a
congressional or legislative office, the Board of Supervisors of San
Diego County, by resolution, authorizes the use of mailed ballots for
the election. election and the congressional
or legislative district lies wholly within San Diego
County.
(B) For all other special elections the legislative body or
governing body of the eligible entity, by resolution, authorizes the
use of mailed ballots for the election.
(2) The election does not occur on the same date as a statewide
direct primary election, statewide general election, or any other
election conducted in an overlapping jurisdiction that is not
consolidated and conducted wholly by mail.
(3) (A) If the boundaries of the jurisdiction of the eligible
entity overlap with the boundaries of a city, at least one ballot
dropoff location is provided per city and
that is open during business hours to receive voted ballots
beginning not less than seven days before the date of the election.
(B) The number of dropoff locations in unincorporated areas shall
be based on the number of unincorporated registered voters divided by
100,000 (rounded to the next whole number) with no less than one
location to be selected.
(C) A ballot dropoff location provided for under this section
shall consist of a locked ballot box located in a secure public
building that meets the accessibility requirements for a polling
place.
(4) On at least one Saturday and Sunday on or after the date the
elections official first delivers ballots to voters, the elections
official allows any voter to vote the ballot at a satellite location
within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity pursuant to Section
3018. The elections official shall determine the hours of operation
for each Saturday and Sunday, provided that the satellite location is
open to voters for a minimum of six hours on each designated
Saturday and Sunday.
(5) (A) At least one polling place is provided per eligible entity
or the polling places are fixed in a manner so that there is one
polling place for every 10,000 registered voters within the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity, as determined on the 88th day
before the day of the election, whichever results in more polling
places. A polling place shall allow a voter to request and vote a
ballot between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the election.
(B) The polling places provided under this section shall be
established in accordance with the accessibility requirements
described in Article 5 (commencing with Section 12280) of Chapter 3
of Division 12, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Help America Vote Act of
2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), and the federal Voting Rights
Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.), and shall, to the extent
possible, ensure that access is evenly distributed throughout the
jurisdiction of the eligible entity.
(C) The polling places provided under this section shall be
established at accessible locations and shall be equipped with voting
units or systems that are accessible to individuals with
disabilities and that provide the same opportunity for access and
participation as is provided to voters who are not disabled,
including the ability to vote privately and independently in
accordance with Sections 12280 and 19240.
(D) If a polling place consolidates one or more precincts for
which the elections official is required to recruit precinct board
members who are fluent in a language in addition to English pursuant
to the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et
seq.), the elections official shall ensure that the polling place is
staffed by precinct board members who speak those languages.
that language.
(E) If a polling place consolidates one or more precincts for
which the elections official is required to recruit precinct board
members who are fluent in a language in addition to English pursuant
to subdivision (c) of Section 12303, the elections official shall
make reasonable efforts to ensure that the polling place is staffed
by precinct board members who speak those languages.
that language.
(6) (A) The elections official delivers to each voter all supplies
necessary for the use and return of the mail ballot, including an
envelope for the return of the voted mail ballot with postage
prepaid.
(B) The elections official delivers to each voter, with either the
sample ballot sent pursuant to Section 13303 or with the voter's
ballot, all of the following:
(i) A notice, translated in all languages required under
subdivision (c) of Section 14201 and Section 203 of the federal
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.), that
informs voters of all of the following:
(I) An all-mailed ballot election is being conducted and each
eligible voter will receive a ballot by mail.
(II) The voter may cast a ballot in person at a satellite location
provided for under paragraph (4) or at a polling place on election
day.
(III) The voter may request the elections official to send a vote
by mail ballot in a language other than English pursuant to Section
203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et
seq.) or a facsimile copy of the ballot printed in other
languages a language other than English pursuant
to Section 14201.
(ii) A list of the ballot dropoff locations, satellite locations,
and polling places established pursuant to this section. The list
shall also be posted on the Internet Web site of the elections
official.
(iii) A postage-paid postcard that the voter may return to the
elections official for the purpose of requesting a vote by mail
ballot in a language other than English.
(7) (A) The elections official submits to the Secretary of State a
voter education and outreach plan to be implemented by the eligible
entity for any election conducted pursuant to this section. The voter
education and outreach plan shall include, but shall not be limited
to, all of the following:
(i) One education and outreach meeting that shall include
includes representatives, advocates, and other
stakeholders representing each community for which the eligible
entity is required to provide voting materials and assistance in
other languages a languag e other
than English under subdivision (c) of Section 14201 and the
federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.).
(ii) One education and outreach meeting that shall
include includes representatives from community
organizations and individuals that advocate on behalf of, or provide
services to, individuals with disabilities.
(iii) At least one in-person bilingual voter education workshop
for each language in which the eligible entity is required to provide
voting materials and assistance under subdivision (c) of Section
14201 and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101
et seq.).
(iv) At least one in-person voter education workshop to increase
accessibility for participation of eligible voters with disabilities.
(v) A toll-free voter assistance hotline maintained by the
elections official that shall be is
operational no later than the date that vote by mail ballots are
mailed to voters until 5 p.m. on the day after the special election.
The toll-free voter assistance hotline shall provide assistance to
voters in all languages in which the eligible entity is required to
provide voting materials and assistance under subdivision (c) of
Section 14201 and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.
Sec. 10101 et seq.).
(vi) At least one public service announcement in the media,
including newspapers, radio, and television, that serve
English-speaking citizens for purposes of informing voters of the
upcoming election and promoting the toll-free voter assistance
hotline.
(vii) At least one public service announcement in the media,
including newspapers, radio, and television, that serve
non-English-speaking citizens for each language in which the eligible
entity is required to provide voting materials and assistance under
subdivision (c) of Section 14201 and the federal Voting Rights Act of
1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.) for purposes of informing voters
of the upcoming election and promoting the toll-free voter
assistance hotline.
(viii) A voter education social media strategy that is developed
in partnership with community organizations and individuals that
advocate on behalf of, or provide services to, non-English-speaking
individuals and individuals with disabilities.
(B) The voter education and outreach plan shall be posted on the
Internet Web site of the Secretary of State and on the Internet Web
site of the elections official.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the election day
procedures shall be conducted in accordance with Division 14
(commencing with Section 14000).
(d) The elections official may provide, at his or her discretion,
additional ballot dropoff locations and polling places for purposes
of this section.
(e) The return of voted mail ballots is subject to Sections 3017
and 3020.
(f) (1) If the eligible entity conducts a special election
pursuant to this section, it may process vote by mail ballot return
envelopes beginning 29 days before the election. Processing vote by
mail ballot return envelopes may include verifying the voter's
signature on the vote by mail ballot return envelope and updating
voter history records.
(2) If the eligible entity conducts a special election pursuant to
this section, it may start to process vote by mail ballots on the
10th business day before the election. Processing vote by mail
ballots includes opening vote by mail ballot return envelopes,
removing ballots, duplicating any damaged ballots, and preparing the
ballots to be machine read, or machine reading them, but under no
circumstances shall a vote count be accessed or released until 8 p.m.
on the day of the election.
(g) Results of any vote by mail ballot tabulation or count shall
not be released before the close of the polls on the day of the
election.
(h) For the sole purpose of reporting the results of an election
conducted pursuant to this section, upon completion of the ballot
count, the elections official shall divide the jurisdiction into
precincts pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 12220) of
Chapter 3 of Division 12 and shall prepare a statement of the results
of the election in accordance with Sections 15373 and 15374.
(i) The elections official shall compile an index, list, or file
of all persons who voted in an election conducted pursuant to this
section. If the elections official uses data-processing equipment to
compile the index, list, or file, he or she shall retain an accurate
copy of that index, list, or file in electronic format for a period
of 10 years.
(j) (1) If an election is conducted pursuant to this section, the
eligible entity shall report to the Legislature and to the Secretary
of State regarding the success of the election, including, but not
limited to, all of the following:
(A) Any statistics on the cost to conduct the election.
(B) The turnout of different populations, including, but not
limited to , and to the extent possible, the population
categories of race, ethnicity, language preference, age, gender,
disability, permanent vote by mail status, and political party
preference.
(C) The number of ballots that were not counted and the reasons
they were rejected.
(D) Voter fraud.
(E) Any other problems that become known to the eligible entity
during the election or canvass.
(2) Whenever possible, using the criteria set forth in paragraph
(1), the report shall compare the election conducted pursuant to this
section to similar elections not conducted pursuant to this section
in the same jurisdiction or comparable jurisdictions.
(3) Within six months after the date of the election or before the
date of a subsequent election conducted pursuant to this section,
whichever is sooner, the eligible entity shall do all of the
following with respect to the report required by this subdivision:
(A) Submit the report to the Legislature in compliance with
Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(B) Submit the report to the Secretary of State.
(C) Post the report on the Internet Web site of the elections
official.
(k) For purposes of this section, "eligible entity" means both of
the following:
(1) San Diego County.
(2) A city, school district, community college district, special
district, or other district or political subdivision organized
pursuant to state law, whose boundaries are located wholly
or in part within San Diego County.
(l) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends
that date.
SEC. 2. Section 4004 of the Elections Code is
amended to read:
4004. (a) "Small city" means a city with a population of 100,000
or less, as determined by the annual city total population rankings
by the Demographic Research Unit of the Department of Finance.
(b) "Eligible entity" means a school district or a special
district.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1500 and 4000, an election in an
eligible entity may be conducted wholly as an all-mailed ballot
election, subject to the following conditions:
(1) The legislative body of the small city or governing body of
the eligible entity, by resolution, authorizes the use of mailed
ballots for the election.
(2) The election is either of the following:
(A) A special election to fill a vacancy in the legislative body
or governing body.
(B) A special election conducted pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing
with Section 9200) or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 9300) of
Division 9.
(3) The election is not held on the same date as a statewide
primary or general election.
(4) The election is not consolidated with any other election,
except another special election.
(5) The return of voted mail ballots is subject to Section 3017.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a
special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made
applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the
California Constitution because of the voting behavior, demographic
characteristics, and unique special election experiences of San Diego
County. It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of
this act continue the pilot program that may be used for future
special elections.