BILL ANALYSIS
AB 330
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 330 (Saldana)
As Amended June 16, 2009
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 26, 2009) |SENATE: |23-11|(August 31, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |73-0 |(September 2, | | | |
| | |2009) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: E. & R.
SUMMARY : Requires county elections officials to give a five-day
public notice of the time and place of the preparation and
operation of, and tests on, ballot tabulating devices.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the county elections official to provide at least a
five-day public notice of the time and place of the following:
a) Testing conducted on ballot tabulating devices prior to
an election to ensure that the tabulating devices
accurately record votes; and,
b) Preparation and operation of the tabulating devices and
the programming and testing of those devices.
2)Permits the county elections official to limit attendance of
representatives at such tests, preparations, and operations to
no more than 10 representatives, provided that representatives
of political parties are not subject to the limitation.
The Senate amendments make non-substantive changes and add
co-authors.
AB 330
Page 2
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "The purpose of having a
public review process is to ensure that interested parties and
citizens have the opportunity to observe vote tabulating devices
that our elections depend on for accuracy and reliability. By
requiring that elections officials notify the public five days
in advance of when the testing of the devices will take place,
AB 330 protects the intent of current law by ensuring that
members of the public will be provided adequate notice to
observe an important aspect of the voting process."
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
"This bill would require a county elections official to provide
at least five days of public notice prior to performing tests on
vote tabulating devices. I support efforts to increase public
participation in the elections process and have signed
legislation allowing access for citizen organizations and the
media to observe the preparation and operation of vote
tabulating devices. However, creating a state-mandate, as this
bill does, is unnecessary. Nothing under current law prohibits
interested parties from inquiring about the time and place of
testing or programming of tabulation devises. Those that wish
to observe the process can contact their local elections
official to obtain the information."
Analysis Prepared by : Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094
FN: 0003242