Senate BillNo. 417


Introduced by Senator Stone

February 25, 2015


An act to amend Section 14215 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 417, as introduced, Stone. Elections: election day procedures.

Existing law requires the precinct board, before receiving any ballots, in the presence of any persons assembled at the polling place, to open and exhibit and close the ballot container or containers. Thereafter, existing law prohibits the ballot container or containers from being removed from the polling place or presence of the bystanders until all the ballots are counted, nor opened until after the polls are finally closed.

This bill would authorize the precinct board of a county with a geographic area of at least 2500 square miles to remove the ballot container or containers from the polling place while the polls remain open only to facilitate the early delivery of ballots to the receiving centers or central counting places. The bill would require the Secretary of State to adopt regulations for the secure delivery and transfer of the ballots to the receiving center or central counting place.

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

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

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 14215 of the Elections Code is amended
2to read:

3

14215.  

begin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insert Before receiving any ballots, the precinct board,
4in the presence of any persons assembled at the polling place, shall
P2    1open and exhibit and close the ballot container or containers.
2Thereafter,begin insert except as specified in subdivision (b),end insert the ballot
3container or containers shall not be removed from the polling place
4or presence of the bystanders until all the ballots are counted, nor
5opened until after the polls are finally closed.

begin insert

6(b) (1) The precinct board may remove the ballot container or
7containers from the polling place while the polls remain open only
8to facilitate the early delivery of ballots to the receiving centers
9or central counting places. The Secretary of State shall adopt
10regulations for the secure delivery and transfer of the ballots to
11the receiving center or central counting place.

end insert
begin insert

12(2) This subdivision shall only apply to a county of a geographic
13area of at least 2500 square miles.

end insert


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