Amended in Assembly April 20, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1504


Introduced by Assembly Member Alejo

February 27, 2015


An act to amend Section 4001 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1504, as amended, Alejo. Elections: all-mailed ballot elections: pilot project.

Until December 31, 2017, existing law, as a pilot program, authorizes elections in San Mateo County and Yolo County, other than statewide primary or general elections, or special elections to fill a vacancy in a state office, the Legislature, or Congress, to be conducted wholly by mail if specified conditions are satisfied. If San Mateo County or Yolo County conducts an all-mailed ballot election, existing law requires the county to report to the Legislature and the Secretary of State, as specified.

This bill wouldbegin insert extend this pilot program until January 1, 2020 and wouldend insert also authorize Montereybegin delete Countyend deletebegin insert and Sacramento Countiesend insert to conduct all-mailed ballot elections pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 4001 of the Elections Code is amended
2to read:

3

4001.  

(a) Notwithstanding Section 4000 or any other law, as
4a pilot program, elections in San Mateo County, Yolo County,
5begin insert Sacramento County,end insert and Monterey County may be conducted
6wholly by mail if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

7(1) The governing body of the city, county, or district, by
8resolution, authorizes the all-mailed ballot election and notifies
9the Secretary of State of its intent to conduct an all-mailed ballot
10election at least 88 days before the date of the election.

11(2) The election does not occur on the same date as a statewide
12primary or general election or any other election conducted in an
13overlapping jurisdiction that is not consolidated and conducted
14wholly by mail pursuant to this section.

15(3) The election is not a special election to fill a vacancy in a
16state office, the Legislature, or Congress.

17(4) (A) At least one ballot dropoff location is provided per city
18or the ballot dropoff locations are fixed in a manner so that the
19number of residents for each ballot dropoff location does not
20exceed 100,000 on the 88th day before the day of election,
21whichever results in more dropoff locations. A ballot dropoff
22location shall be open during business hours to receive voted ballots
23beginning 28 days before the date of the election and until 8 p.m.
24on the day of the election.

25(B) At least one polling place is provided per city where voters
26can request a ballot between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the
27election if they have not received their ballots in the mail or if they
28need replacement ballots for any other reason.

29(C) Upon the request of the city, county, or district, the elections
30official, at his or her discretion, may provide additional ballot
31dropoff locations and polling places.

32(5) The elections official delivers to each voter all supplies
33necessary for the use and return of the mail ballot, including an
34envelope for the return of the voted mail ballot with postage
35prepaid.

36(6) The elections official delivers to each voter, with either the
37sample ballot sent pursuant to Section 13303 or with the voter’s
38ballot, a list of the ballot dropoff locations and polling places
P3    1provided pursuant to paragraph (4), and also posts that list on the
2Internet Web site of the county elections office.

3(7) The return of voted mail ballots is subject to Section 3017.

4(8) (A) The polling places provided under this section are at
5an accessible location and are equipped with voting units or
6systems that are accessible to individuals with disabilities and that
7provide the same opportunity for access and participation, including
8the ability to vote privately and independently.

9(B) A ballot dropoff location provided for under this section
10shall consist of a locked ballot box located in a secure public
11building that meets the accessibility requirements for a polling
12place.

13(9) Elections in the county conducted pursuant to this section
14may be held on no more than three different dates.

15(b) (1) If the county conducts an all-mailed ballot election
16pursuant to this section, on or before December 31,begin delete 2017,end deletebegin insert 2019,end insert
17 the county shall report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of
18State regarding the success of the election, including, but not
19limited to, any statistics on the cost to conduct the election; the
20turnout of different populations, including, but not limited to, to
21the extent possible, the population categories of race, ethnicity,
22age, gender, disability, permanent vote by mail status, and political
23party affiliation; the number of ballots not counted and the reasons
24they were rejected; voter fraud; and any other problems that
25become known to the county during the election or canvass.

26(2) Whenever possible, using the criteria set forth in paragraph
27(1), the report of the county shall compare the success of the
28all-mailed ballot election to similar elections not conducted wholly
29by mail in the same jurisdiction or comparable jurisdictions.

30(3) The report of the county shall be submitted to the Legislature
31pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code within six
32months after the date of the all-mailed ballot election or before the
33date of any other all-mailed ballot election subject to this section
34to be conducted in the county, whichever is sooner.

35(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,begin delete 2018,end delete
36begin insert 2020,end insert and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
37that is enacted before January 1,begin delete 2018,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert deletes or extends
38that date.



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