BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 240|
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|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 240
Author: Yee (D), et al.
Amended: 1/27/14
Vote: 21
SENATE ELECTIONS & CONST. AMEND. COMM. : 3-1, 1/7/14
AYES: Torres, Padilla, Yee
NOES: Anderson
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 5-2, 1/15/14
AYES: Liu, Block, Correa, Hueso, Monning
NOES: Wyland, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock, Torres
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 5-1, 1/23/14
AYES: De Le�n, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
NOES: Gaines
NO VOTE RECORDED: Walters
SUBJECT : Vote by mail ballot drop boxes: higher education
campuses
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to
promulgate regulations establishing security measures and
procedures that a county elections official must comply with if
the county elections official establishes one or more vote by
mail (VBM) ballot drop-off locations.
CONTINUED
SB 240
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2
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Sets procedures for processing VBM ballots; states that a VBM
ballot may be returned (a) by mail or in person to the
elections official from whom a ballot came from, or (b) to a
precinct board member at a polling place within his/her
jurisdiction.
2.Requires election officials to establish procedures to ensure
the secrecy of a VBM ballot returned to a precinct polling
place and the security, confidentiality, and integrity of any
related personal information collected, stored, or otherwise
used.
This bill:
1.Requires SOS to promulgate regulations establishing security
measures and procedures that a county elections official must
comply with if the county elections official establishes one
or more VBM ballot drop-off locations.
2.Allows a voter to return his/her VBM ballot at a designated
drop-off location.
Background
In 2012, California launched its online voter registration
system saw immediate success. Within weeks, California set a
record high, 18,245, 970 registered voters right before the
November election.
According to county data tallied by Political Data Inc., the
state's largest bipartisan election data firm, 61.5% of those
who used the online registration system were under the age of 35
(30.8% age 18-24, 30.7% age 25-34) and 79% registered to vote
for the first time.
As the state's voter rolls increase, many voters are also taking
advantage of its VBM system, where a ballot is mailed to a
voter. In the 2012 statewide general election, over 51% of
voters took advantage of the vote by mail system and either
mailed or dropped off their completed ballots.
SB 240
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3
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 1/27/14)
California Faculty Association
RM:e 1/27/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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