BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 84
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 6, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   AB 84 (Fong) - As Introduced:  January 5, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              ElectionsVote:5-2

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

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows persons, who become citizens of the U.S. 
          between the seventh day before an election day and the election 
          day, to register and vote until the close of the polls on that 
          election day, at locations designated by elections officials.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor reimbursable costs to register and process additional 
          ballots of new citizens on election day and during the week 
          before election day.

           COMMENTS 

           1)Background and Purpose  . Current law allows individuals to 
            register to vote up to 15 days before an election. Persons who 
            become new U.S. citizens after the 15th day prior to an 
            election, but on or before the seventh day prior to the 
            election, may register and vote during this period. In 
            essence, this bill allows for "same day" voter registration 
            for new citizens.

            The author argues that, when a new citizen's first experience 
            with voting in California is denial, because their 
            naturalization ceremony was held after the registration 
            deadline, this can discourage future participation.  The 
            author believes that these citizens should not be denied a 
            basic democratic right because of a timing problem.

           2)Prior Legislation  . In 2007, SB 382 (Oropeza), which was almost 
            identical to this bill, was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, 
            who raised concerns over fraud. Another identical bill, AB 432 








                                                                  AB 84
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            (Oropeza) of 2005 was held on Suspense in Senate 
            Appropriations. In 2001, AB 51 (Oropeza), another similar 
            bill, was vetoed by Governor Davis over concerns about the 
            logistics of processing both registration and voting at 
            polling placed on election day.

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