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AB-2915 Voter notifications.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 03/19/2024 09:00 PM
AB2915:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 19, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2915


Introduced by Assembly Member Low

February 15, 2024


An act to amend Section 15601 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. An act to add Section 2125 to the Elections Code, relating to voters.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2915, as amended, Low. Recounts: charges.Voter notifications.
Existing law requires a county elections official to send a voter notification by nonforwardable, first-class mail to a voter (1) who recently completed an affidavit of registration, (2) whose registration changed because of an official notice they have moved, or (3) who changed their political party preference. Existing law also requires a county elections official to notify a voter by first-class mail, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, between 15 and 30 days before canceling a person’s voter registration for specified reasons.
This bill would, in addition to voter notification mandates under existing law, require a county elections official to notify a voter by nonforwardable, first-class mail, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, if the registration of the voter is changed, updated, or canceled for any reason. The bill would require this notification to contain (1) the nature of the changes or updates to, or reasons for cancellation of, the voter’s registration, (2) the address and toll-free number of the county elections office, and (3) a statement that if the voter believes the change, update, or cancellation is in error, the voter should notify the county elections official, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the Secretary of State to revise and adopt regulations by January 1, 2018, specifying procedures for recounting ballots, including regulations establishing guidelines for the charges a county elections official may impose when conducting a manual recount.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NOYES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 2125 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

2125.
 In addition to the other voter notification requirements set forth in this chapter and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2200), the county elections official shall send the voter a voter notification by nonforwardable, first-class mail, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, to the voter’s last known address if the registration of the voter is changed, updated, or canceled for any reason. The voter notification shall contain all of the following:
(a) The nature of the changes or updates to, or reasons for cancellation of, the registration of the voter.
(b) The address and toll-free phone number of the county elections office.
(c) A statement that if the voter believes the change, update, or cancellation is in error, the voter should notify the county elections official within 15 days from the date of the notice either by returning the attached postage-paid postcard or by calling the county elections office.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1.Section 15601 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
15601.

(a)The Secretary of State, within the Secretary of State’s existing budget, shall adopt regulations no later than January 1, 2008, for each voting system approved for use in the state and specify the procedures for recounting ballots, including vote by mail and provisional ballots, using those voting systems.

(b)No later than January 1, 2018, the Secretary of State shall revise and adopt regulations specifying procedures for recounting ballots, including regulations establishing guidelines for the charges a county elections official may impose when conducting a manual recount pursuant to this chapter.