BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1535
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, Chair
AB 1535
(Committee on Elections and Redistricting) - As Introduced March
25, 2015
SUBJECT: Elections: petitions.
SUMMARY: Requires a voter who has signed an initiative,
referendum, or recall petition, and who subsequently wishes to
withdraw his or her name from the petition, to file a written
request with the appropriate county elections official that
includes the voter's name, residence address, and signature, as
specified.
EXISTING LAW authorizes a voter who has signed an initiative,
referendum, or recall petition to remove his or her name from
the petition by filing a written request with the appropriate
county elections official prior to the day the petition is
filed.
FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
AB 1535
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1)Purpose of this Bill: This is one of the Assembly Elections
and Redistricting Committee's omnibus bills, containing minor
and technical changes to provisions of the Elections Code.
All of the provisions of this bill are changes requested by
the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.
2)Signature Petition Withdrawal: Current law authorizes a voter
who has signed an initiative, referendum, or recall petition
to remove his or her name from the petition by filing a
written request with the appropriate county elections official
prior to the day the petition is filed. However, current law
does not specify what information should be included on the
written withdrawal request filed with the county elections
official. Consequently, it is difficult and time consuming
for county elections officials to confirm the correct voter
who filed the withdrawal request.
In an effort to help resolve this issue, this bill requires the
written request to remove a voter's name from a petition to
include the voter's name, residence address, and signature.
Requiring the written withdrawal request to include these
pieces of information will make the process more efficient and
help county elections officials more easily match the voter
with his or her withdrawal request and take the appropriate
steps to process the form.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file.
AB 1535
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Nichole Becker / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094