BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 450|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 450
Author: Allen (D)
Introduced:2/25/15
Vote: 21
SENATE ELECTIONS & C.A. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/21/15
AYES: Allen, Anderson, Hancock, Hertzberg, Liu
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Elections: sample ballots
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill requires the application for a vote by mail
(VBM) ballot that is included with the sample ballot to include
a space for the voter to apply for permanent VBM status.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Requires the appropriate elections official for each election
to produce sample ballots, as specified, and requires the
sample ballots to be mailed to each registered voter not more
than 40 nor less than 21 days before the election.
2)Permits any registered voter to request a VBM ballot and to
apply for permanent VBM status.
3)Requires the elections official to include with the sample
SB 450
Page 2
ballot an application for a VBM ballot.
This bill requires the application for a VBM ballot that is
included with the sample ballot to include a space for the voter
to apply for permanent VBM status.
Background
VBM popularity. California voters who use VBM ballots make up
an increasingly larger portion of the overall turnout. For
instance, 60.52% of all voters statewide in the November 4, 2014
General Election and 69.4% of all voters in the June 3, 2014
Primary Election used a VBM ballot - almost half of whom are
permanent VBM voters.
Comments
According to the author, this bill requires the application for
a VBM ballot that is included with a sample ballot to simply
include a space for the voter to apply for permanent VBM status.
This change would merely require a minor revision to the
existing application which many elections officials already
include. Sample ballots are one of the main sources of VBM
applications and including a space permitting voters to apply
for permanent VBM status will make the process that much more
convenient.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: Yes
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/5/15)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/5/15)
SB 450
Page 3
None received
Prepared by:Darren Chesin / E. & C.A. / (916) 651-4106
5/15/15 13:23:07
**** END ****