ARTICLE 6. Ballot Security and Reporting of Results [15370 - 15377]
( Article 6 added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. )
After ballots are counted and sealed, the elections official may not open any ballots nor permit any ballots to be opened except as permitted in Sections 15303 and 15304, or in the event of a recount.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1999.)
Upon completion of the count, the elections official shall add to the results as so determined, the results of the write-in votes and any paper ballots used as certified by the precinct board, and thereupon shall declare the vote, and forthwith post one copy at the counting place for public inspection.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1999.)
(a) The elections official shall prepare a certified statement of the results of the election and submit it to the governing body within 30 days of the election or, in the case of school district, community college district, county board of education, or special district elections conducted on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years, no later than the last Monday before the last Friday of that month.
(b) The elections official shall post the certified statement of the results of the election on his or her Internet Web site in a downloadable spreadsheet format that may include, but is not limited to, a comma-separated values file or a
tab-separated values file and that is compatible with a spreadsheet software application that is widely used at the time of the posting. The certified statement of the election results shall be posted and maintained on the elections official’s Internet Web site for a period of at least 10 years following the election. This subdivision shall apply only to an elections official who uses a computer system that has the capability of producing the election results in a downloadable spreadsheet format without requiring modification of the computer system.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 618, Sec. 5. (SB 29) Effective January 1, 2015.)
When ballots are counted under this article, the result of the vote shall be shown by precinct.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1999.)
(a) The statement of the result shall show all of the following:
(1) The total number of ballots cast.
(2) The number of votes cast at each precinct for each candidate and for and against each measure.
(3) The total number of votes cast for each candidate and for and against each measure.
(b) The statement of the result shall also show the number of votes cast in each city, Assembly district, congressional district, senatorial district, State Board of Equalization district, and supervisorial district located in whole or in part in the county, for each candidate for the offices of presidential elector and all statewide offices, depending on the offices to be filled, and on each statewide ballot proposition.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1999.)
The elections official shall send to the Secretary of State within 31 days of the election in an electronic format in the manner requested one complete copy of all results as to all of the following:
(a) All candidates voted for statewide office.
(b) All candidates voted for the following offices:
(1) Member of the Assembly.
(2) Member of the Senate.
(3) Member of the United States House of Representatives.
(4) Member of the State Board of Equalization.
(5) Justice of the Court of Appeal.
(6) Judge of the superior court.
(c) All persons voted for at the presidential primary. The results for all persons voted for at the presidential primary for delegates to national conventions shall be canvassed and shall be sent within 28 days after the election.
(d) The vote given for persons for electors of President and Vice President of the United States. The results for presidential electors shall be endorsed “Presidential Election
Returns” and shall be canvassed and sent within 28 days after the election.
(e) All statewide measures.
(f) The total number of ballots cast.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 149, Sec. 1. (AB 1490) Effective January 1, 2010.)
The elections official shall deliver a duplicate of the certified statement of the result of votes cast to the chairperson of the county central committee of each party.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1999.)
(a) The elections official shall identify and provide to the Secretary of State within 31 days of the election the number of vote by mail ballots rejected, categorized according to the reason for the rejection. The Secretary of State shall provide uniform vote by mail ballot rejection reason codes for each category of rejection to be used by elections officials for reporting under this section.
(b) Upon receipt of the information described in subdivision (a), the Secretary of State shall publish a report containing the information for every statewide election, including a recall election for a state constitutional officer, Member of the State Senate, or Member of the State Assembly, and every
special election to fill a vacancy for the office of Member of the United States Senate, Member of the United States House of Representatives, Member of the State Senate, and Member of the State Assembly on the Secretary of State’s internet website.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 437, Sec. 3. (AB 3184) Effective September 22, 2024.)