Existing law requires an elections official to request an electronic mail address from each military or overseas voter who registers to vote. Existing law allows a military or overseas voter who provides an electronic mail address to request that his or her application for a ballot be considered a standing request for electronic delivery of a ballot for all elections held through December 31 of the year following the calendar year of the date of the application, or another shorter period the voter specifies. Existing law requires an elections official to provide a ballot to a military or overseas voter who makes a standing request for each election to which the request is applicable.

This bill would instead allow the application for a ballot to be considered a standing request for electronic delivery of a ballot for all elections conducted in the jurisdiction in which the military or overseas voter is eligible to vote and require the elections official to provide for electronic delivery of the ballot.

Because this bill would impose additional duties on local elections officials, it would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 these statutory provisions.