BILL NUMBER: AB 1504 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 1, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 14, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 20, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Cooley, Cooper, and McCarty )
( Coauthors: Senators
Monning and Cannella )
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 would extend this pilot program until January 1, 2018,
and would also authorize Monterey and Sacramento Counties 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:
SECTION 1. Section 4001 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
4001. (a) Notwithstanding Section 4000 or any other law, as a
pilot program, elections in San Mateo County, Yolo County, Sacramento
County, and Monterey County may be conducted wholly by mail if all
of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The governing body of the city, county, or district, by
resolution, authorizes the all-mailed ballot election and notifies
the Secretary of State of its intent to conduct an all-mailed ballot
election at least 88 days before the date of the election.
(2) The election does not occur on the same date as a statewide
primary or general election or any other election conducted in an
overlapping jurisdiction that is not consolidated and conducted
wholly by mail pursuant to this section.
(3) The election is not a special election to fill a vacancy in a
state office, the Legislature, or Congress.
(4) (A) At least one ballot dropoff
drop-off location is provided per city or the ballot
dropoff drop-off locations are fixed in a manner
so that the number of residents for each ballot dropoff
drop-off location does not exceed 100,000 on the
88th day before the day of election, whichever results in more
dropoff drop-off locations. A ballot
dropoff drop-off location shall be open
during business hours to receive voted ballots beginning 28 days
before the date of the election and until 8 p.m. on the day of the
election.
(B) At least one polling place is provided per city where voters
can request a ballot between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day of the
election if they have not received their ballots in the mail or if
they need replacement ballots for any other reason.
(C) Upon the request of the city, county, or district, the
elections official, at his or her discretion, may provide additional
ballot dropoff drop-off locations and
polling places.
(5) 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.
(6) The elections official delivers to each voter, with either the
sample ballot sent pursuant to Section 13303 or with the voter's
ballot, a list of the ballot dropoff drop-off
locations and polling places provided pursuant to paragraph
(4), and also posts that list on the Internet Web site of the county
elections office.
(7) The return of voted mail ballots is subject to Section 3017.
(8) (A) The polling places provided under this section are at an
accessible location and are equipped with voting units or systems
that are accessible to individuals with disabilities and that provide
the same opportunity for access and participation, including the
ability to vote privately and independently.
(B) A ballot dropoff drop-off
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.
(9) Elections in the county conducted pursuant to this section may
be held on no more than three different dates.
(b) (1) If the county conducts an all-mailed ballot election
pursuant to this section, on or before December 31, 2017, the county
shall report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of State
regarding the success of the election, including, but not limited to,
any statistics on the cost to conduct the election; the turnout of
different populations, including, but not limited to, to the extent
possible, the population categories of race, ethnicity, age, gender,
disability, permanent vote by mail status, and political party
affiliation; the number of ballots not counted and the reasons they
were rejected; voter fraud; and , any other problems that
become known to the county during the election or canvass.
(2) Whenever possible, using the criteria set forth in paragraph
(1), the report of the county shall compare the success of the
all-mailed ballot election to similar elections not conducted wholly
by mail in the same jurisdiction or comparable jurisdictions.
(3) The report of the county shall be submitted to the Legislature
pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code within six months
after the date of the all-mailed ballot election or before the date
of any other all-mailed ballot election subject to this section to be
conducted in the county, whichever is sooner.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.