BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1525
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 29, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                 AB 1525 (Beall) - As Introduced:  February 27, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              ElectionsVote:7-0  
          (Consent)

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill permits any voter to request a recount in an election  
          conducted in more than one county, but not statewide, within  
          five days beginning on the 29th day after the election, instead  
          of within five days of completing the official canvas.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible fiscal impact.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  According to the author, the law is unclear as to when  
          a request for a recount must be submitted for an election  
          encompassing multiple counties, such as an election for a  
          congressional, state senate, or state assembly district.  AB  
          1525, sponsored by the Secretary of State, clarifies and makes  
          consistent the timeline for a voter to request a recount by  
          requiring the request to occur within five days after all  
          counties have completed their canvass.  

          According to the California Association of Clerks and Elections  
          Officials, because all counties do not complete the canvass  
          simultaneously, and the outcome of such contests may not be  
          known until all counties in the jurisdiction have completed the  
          canvass, it is logical to allow a period during which a recount  
          may be requested following the completion of the canvass period.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081