BILL NUMBER: AB 2252	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ting

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to amend Section 15104 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2252, as introduced, Ting. Elections: vote by mail ballots.
   Existing law requires the processing of vote by mail ballot return
envelopes, and the processing and counting of vote by mail ballots,
to be open to the public, both before and after the election.
Existing law authorizes certain parties to observe and challenge the
manner in which the vote by mail ballots are handled, as specified,
and requires the vote by mail voter observers to be allowed
sufficiently close access to enable them to (1) observe the vote by
mail ballot return envelopes and the signatures on the envelopes, and
(2) challenge whether the individuals handling vote by mail ballots
are following established procedures, including, among other things,
verifying signatures and addresses on the vote by mail ballot return
envelopes by comparing them to voter registration information.
   This bill would delete the verification of addresses on the vote
by mail ballot return envelopes from the established procedures that
are subject to observer challenge.
   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 15104 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   15104.  (a) The processing of vote by mail ballot return
envelopes, and the processing and counting of vote by mail ballots,
shall be open to the public, both  prior to  
before  and after the election.
   (b) A member of the county grand jury, and at least one member
each of the Republican county central committee, the Democratic
county central committee, and of any other party with a candidate on
the ballot, and any other interested organization, shall be permitted
to observe and challenge the manner in which the vote by mail
ballots are handled, from the processing of vote by mail ballot
return envelopes through the counting and disposition of the ballots.

   (c) The elections official shall notify vote by mail voter
observers and the public at least 48 hours in advance of the dates,
times, and places where vote by mail ballots will be processed and
counted.
   (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section
2194, vote by mail voter observers shall be allowed sufficiently
close access to enable them to observe the vote by mail ballot return
envelopes and the signatures  thereon   on the
  envelopes  and challenge whether those individuals
handling vote by mail ballots are following established procedures,
including all of the following:
   (1) Verifying signatures  and addresses  on the
vote by mail ballot return envelopes by comparing them to voter
registration information.
   (2) Duplicating accurately damaged or defective ballots.
   (3) Securing vote by mail ballots to prevent tampering with them
before they are counted on election day.
   (e) A vote by mail voter observer shall not interfere with the
orderly processing of vote by mail ballot return envelopes or the
processing and counting of vote by mail ballots, including the
touching or handling of the ballots.