text:
(a) A county elections official shall, upon application of a qualified worker, make confidential that worker’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

(b) The application by the qualified worker shall contain a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the person is a qualified worker as defined in subdivision (f) and that a life-threatening circumstance exists as to the qualified worker or a member of the worker’s family. The application shall be a public record.

(c) The confidentiality granted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall terminate no more than two years after commencement, as determined by the county elections official. The officer may submit a new application for confidentiality pursuant to subdivision (a), and the new request may be granted for an additional period of not more than two years.

(d) The following apply to a person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a):

(1) The elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index, shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status.

(2) The person shall, within 60 days of moving to a new county, apply for confidential voter status pursuant to subdivision (a). The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

(A) Contact the confidential voter and provide information regarding the application for confidential voter status in the new county.

(B) Honor the confidential voter status from the former county for 60-days from the date of notice.

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (1), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not obtained or cannot obtain confidential voter status pursuant to this section in the new county during the 60-day period.

(e) An action in negligence shall not be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section except by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(f) “Qualified worker” means a person who is employed by or contracts with the Secretary of State or a local election office who performs election-related work and interacts with the public or is observed by the public doing election-related work, but does not include a person who is a precinct board member who does not otherwise perform election-related work. For the purposes of this section, a qualified worker is not limited to those who exclusively perform direct election-related work for the Secretary of State or local election offices.

(g) The Secretary of State shall submit to the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, no later than January 10 of each year, a report that includes the total number of applications received for the program established by this section. The report shall disclose the number of program participants within each county and shall also describe any allegations of misuse relating to election purposes.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 554, Sec. 2. (SB 1131) Effective September 26, 2022.)

article: 4. Forms


kind: section

code: ELEC

text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “elected official or candidate” means a federal, state, or local elected official or a candidate for an elected federal, state, or local office.

(b) An elected official or candidate shall have their residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration made confidential in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

(c) (1) When a person files nomination papers for an elected federal or state office, the Secretary of State shall provide to each county elections official a list identifying each elected official or candidate residing in each respective county.

(2) When a person files nomination papers for an elected local office, the county elections official shall add that individual’s name to a list identifying each elected official or candidate residing in that county. The county elections official shall periodically update the list for each election cycle.

(3) Within five business days of receipt of the list described in paragraph (1) or, for an office for which nomination papers are filed with the county elections official, within five business days of the filing of nomination papers with the county elections official, the county elections official shall make confidential that elected official or candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration.

(d) (1) The county elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index, shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status pursuant to this section.

(2) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, if available in the new county, the elected official or candidate shall apply for confidential voter status pursuant to this section. The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

(A) Contact the confidential voter and provide information regarding the application for confidential voter status in the new county.

(B) Honor the confidential voter status from the former county for 60 days from the date of notice.

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (1), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not obtained or cannot obtain confidential voter status pursuant to this section in the new county during the 60-day period.

(e) An elected official or candidate shall contact their county elections official to ensure their voter registration record has been made confidential in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

(f) An elected official or candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address shall remain confidential until, for an elected official, the official no longer holds the office or, for a candidate, the winning candidate takes office.

(g) A county or county elections official shall not be liable for taking or failing to take the actions described in this section when the county or county elections official has received erroneous information from the Secretary of State.

(h) An action in negligence shall not be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section, except by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(i) An elected official or candidate holding office as of the effective date of this section shall contact their county elections official to ensure their voter registration record has been made confidential in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section. County elections officials shall make the elected official’s information confidential when contacted by the elected official or candidate.

(j) (1) A candidate who does not wish to have confidential voter status may opt out when completing their candidate filing statement provided by a county elections official.

(2) (A) An elected official who wishes to opt out of confidential voter status may submit a letter to the county elections official declaring their decision to be exempt from the requirements of this section.

(B) A request pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include the elected official’s full name, voter registration address, and a clear statement that they wish to opt out of having their residence address, telephone number, and email address made confidential pursuant to this section.

(C) Upon receipt of the request, the county elections official shall remove the confidential designation from the individual’s voter registration record within five business days.

(D) The county elections official shall notify the Secretary of State and any other relevant local elections officials of the decision to opt out within five business days of processing the request.

(E) An elected official who opts out may reapply for confidential voter status at any time while serving in or running for office, and confidential voter status shall be reinstated in accordance with this section upon receipt of the request.

(k) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, an elected official or candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address made confidential pursuant to this section may be disclosed only for bona fide journalistic or governmental purposes. A person seeking an elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for a journalistic purpose pursuant to this section shall apply to the Secretary of State or to a county elections official as specified in paragraph (2).

(2) (A) A person seeking a federal or state elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes shall submit all of the following to the Secretary of State:

(i) A completed California Voter Registration File Request application.

(ii) A letter of authorization or affiliation from the media outlet that the person represents. If the person submitting the request is a member of the media, a press pass may be submitted in lieu of a letter of authorization.

(iii) A declaration under penalty of perjury attesting to the intended journalistic use of the information.

(B) A person seeking a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes shall submit requests to the county elections official or other local elections official.

(C) A county elections official shall process a request for a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes consistent with the requirements of regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

(D) The county elections official shall retain records of all requests for, and disclosures of, a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes. The county elections official may reject a request that does not clearly adhere to the requirements of this subdivision.

(3) For purposes of this chapter, “journalistic purposes” shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 300, Sec. 1. (AB 1392) Effective January 1, 2026.)

division: 2. VOTERS

chapter: 2. Registration

article: 4. Forms

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2167

text:
Upon the personal or written application of any person, the county elections official shall, at a fee not to exceed one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50), provide the applicant with a certified copy of the entries upon the register relating to the applicant.

A certified copy of an uncanceled affidavit of registration is prima facie evidence that the person named in the entry is a voter of the county.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2168

text: The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain a statewide system to facilitate the reporting of election results and voter and candidate information, and to otherwise administer and enhance election administration.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 38. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2170

text:
(a) “Conditional voter registration” means a properly executed affidavit of registration that is delivered by the registrant to the county elections official during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on election day and which may be deemed effective pursuant to this article after the elections official processes the affidavit, determines the registrant’s eligibility to register, and validates the registrant’s information, as specified in subdivision (c).

(b) In addition to other methods of voter registration provided by this code, an elector who is otherwise qualified to register to vote under this code and Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution, including military and overseas voters and voters with disabilities, may complete a conditional voter registration and cast a provisional ballot, or nonprovisional ballot under subdivision (f), during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on election day pursuant to this article.

(c) (1) A conditional voter registration shall be deemed effective if the county elections official is able to determine before or during the canvass period for the election that the registrant is eligible to register to vote and that the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit matches information contained in a database maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles or the federal Social Security Administration.

(2) If the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit cannot be verified pursuant to paragraph (1) but the registrant is otherwise eligible to vote, the registrant shall be issued a unique identification number pursuant to Section 2150 and the conditional voter registration shall be deemed effective.

(d) The county elections official shall offer conditional voter registration and voting pursuant to this article, in accordance with all of the following procedures:

(1) The elections official shall provide conditional voter registration and voting pursuant to this article at all permanent and satellite offices of the county elections official and all polling places in the county.

(2) The elections official shall advise registrants that a conditional voter registration will be effective only if the registrant is determined to be eligible to register to vote for the election and the information provided by the registrant on the registration affidavit is verified pursuant to subdivision (c).

(3) The elections official shall conduct the receipt and handling of each conditional voter registration and offer and receive a corresponding ballot in a manner that protects the secrecy of the ballot and allows the elections official to process the registration, determine the registrant’s eligibility to register, and validate the registrant’s information before counting or rejecting the corresponding ballot.

(4) After receiving a conditional voter registration, the elections official shall process the registration, determine the registrant’s eligibility to register, and attempt to validate the registrant’s information.

(5) If a conditional registration is deemed effective, the elections official shall include the corresponding ballot in the official canvass.

(e) After receiving a conditional voter registration, the elections official shall provide a provisional ballot in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) If the elections office, satellite office, or polling place is equipped with an electronic poll book, or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, the elections official shall provide the voter with a ballot for the voter’s precinct if the ballot is available. The ballot may be cast by any means available at the elections office, satellite office, or polling place.

(2) If the elections official is unable to determine the voter’s precinct, or a ballot for the voter’s precinct is unavailable, the elections official shall provide the voter with a ballot and inform the voter that only the votes for the candidates and measures on which the voter would be entitled to vote in the voter’s assigned precinct may be counted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 14310. The ballot may be cast by any means available at the elections office, satellite office, or polling place.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if the elections official is able to determine the voter’s precinct, but a ballot for the voter’s precinct is unavailable, the elections official may inform the voter of the location of the voter’s polling place. A voter described in this paragraph shall not be required to vote at the voter’s polling place and may instead, at the voter’s choosing, cast a ballot pursuant to paragraph (2).

(4) This subdivision does not apply to elections conducted pursuant to Section 4005.

(f) An elections official may offer a nonprovisional ballot to a registrant if the official does both of the following:

(1) Uses the statewide voter registration database developed in compliance with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.) to do all of the following before issuing the nonprovisional ballot:

(A) Verify that the registrant is deemed eligible to register to vote.

(B) Verify that the registrant has not voted in the state in that election.

(C) Verify that the registrant has not been included on a roster for that election in another county in the state that is not conducting elections pursuant to Section 4005.

(D) Update the voter’s record to indicate that the voter has voted in that election.

(2) If the registrant has been included on a roster for that election in that county, the official updates that roster to indicate that the voter has voted and shall not be issued another nonprovisional ballot for that election.

(g) The Secretary of State may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section. The Legislature finds and declares that such regulations are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare because the regulations will ensure that elections officials have sufficient time to ensure that elections are held in a safe and accessible manner.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 479, Sec. 3. (AB 1762) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 4.5. Conditional Voter Registration

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 4.5. Conditional Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2171

text:
(a) A conditional voter registration accepted under this article shall include the information required by Article 4 (commencing with Section 2150).

(b) A conditional voter registration accepted under this article shall be processed in accordance with general voter registration procedures provided in this chapter and established by regulations adopted by the Secretary of State.

(c) A provisional ballot cast under this article shall be subject to the requirements for provisional voting in Article 5 (commencing with Section 14310) of Chapter 3 of Division 14.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 497, Sec. 2. (AB 1436) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2017, by Stats. 2012, Ch. 497, by Sec. 6, pursuant to the certification issued by the Secretary of State on September 26, 2016.)

article: 4.5. Conditional Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2172

text:
(a) The elections official shall cancel any duplicate voter registrations that may exist as a result of a conditional registration deemed effective and shall cancel the duplicate registrations in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2200).

(b) If it appears that a registrant may have committed fraud within the meaning of Section 18560, the elections official shall immediately notify in writing both the district attorney and the Secretary of State.

article: 4.5. Conditional Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2173

text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who commits fraud in the execution of a conditional voter registration pursuant to this article shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or a fine up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(b) In addition to the criminal penalties prescribed in subdivision (a), a person who commits fraud in the execution of a conditional voter registration pursuant to this article shall be subject to a civil fine of an amount up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). An action for a civil penalty under this subdivision may be brought by the Secretary of State or any public prosecutor with jurisdiction.

(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution of a person under any other applicable provision of law.

article: 4.5. Conditional Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2183

text:
(a) The elections official shall supply an electronic copy, or paper copy upon request, of the roster and of supplements to the roster, necessary to bring it up to date, for all elections to be held within the county. The county elections official shall also supply copies of the roster and supplements as may be requested by the elections official of a city, school district, or other body. The name of each voter whose affidavit of registration has been canceled shall be removed from the roster and supplement. The county elections official may charge an amount sufficient to reimburse the county for the expense incurred in preparing and furnishing the roster and supplements.

(b) (1) The roster shall contain the name, address, residence telephone number if furnished, and political party preference of each voter, and also a ruled space to the left of each name, within which to write, in figures, the line number designating the position of the name of the voter.

(2) The name shall include the given name and the middle name or initials, if any. At the affiant’s option, the given name may be preceded by the designation “Miss,” “Ms.,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.”

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 13. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2184

text: Upon request of any Member of the Legislature, of Congress, or any candidate who is to be voted for in the county, in a city therein, or in a political subdivision of either, or upon written demand of his or her campaign committee, of any committee for or against any proposed ballot measure, or of any committee for or against any referendum or initiative measure for which legal publication has been made, the county elections official shall furnish to the Member of the Legislature, of Congress, or to either the candidate or his or her campaign committee or to the ballot measure committee the roster for the primary and general elections in which the Member of the Legislature or Congress may participate as a candidate, or for the election in which the candidate will participate, or the ballot measure will be voted upon, at a charge of fifty cents ($0.50) per thousand names. All moneys collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the general fund.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 14. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2185

text: Upon written request of the chair or vice chair of a party state central committee or of the chair of a party county central committee, the county elections official shall furnish to each committee, without charge therefor, the roster for the primary and general elections, for any special election at which a partisan office is to be filled, or for any statewide special election. The county elections official shall furnish one copy per election in an electronic form, or in paper form upon request, of the rosters specified in this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 15. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2187

text:
(a) Each county elections official shall provide notice to the Secretary of State that the following information is available:

(1) The total number of voters in the county.

(2) The number registered as preferring each qualified political party.

(3) The number registered as preferring nonqualified parties.

(4) The number registered without choosing a political party preference.

(5) The number of voters by political party preferences in each of the following political subdivisions, located in whole or in part within the county:

(A) A supervisorial district.

(B) Congressional district.

(C) Senate district.

(D) Assembly district.

(E) Board of Equalization district.

(F) Cities and unincorporated areas.

(b) The Secretary of State, within 30 days after receiving the information specified in subdivision (a), shall compile a statewide list showing the number of voters, by party preferences, in the state and in each county, city, supervisorial district, Assembly district, Senate district, and congressional district in the state. A copy of this list shall be made available, upon request, to any elector in this state.

(c) The county elections officials shall prepare the information referenced in subdivision (a) and provide notice to the Secretary of State at the following times:

(1) On the 135th day before each presidential primary and before each direct primary, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 154th day before the primary election.

(2) Not less than 50 days before the primary election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 60th day before the primary election.

(3) Not less than seven days before the primary election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 15th day before the primary election.

(4) Not less than 102 days before each presidential general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 123rd day before the presidential general election.

(5) Not less than 50 days before the general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 60th day before the general election.

(6) Not less than seven days before the general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 15th day before the general election.

(7) On or before March 1 of each odd-numbered year, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on February 10.

(d) The Secretary of State may adopt regulations prescribing additional regular reporting times, except that the total number of reporting times in any one calendar year shall not exceed 12.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 269, Sec. 1. (AB 3258) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2188

text:
(a) Any application for voter registration information available pursuant to law and maintained by the Secretary of State or by the elections official of any county shall be made pursuant to this section.

(b) The application shall set forth all of the following:

(1) The printed or typed name of the applicant in full.

(2) The complete residence address and complete business address of the applicant, giving street and number. If no street or number exists, a postal mailing address as well as an adequate designation sufficient to readily ascertain the location.

(3) The telephone number of the applicant, if one exists.

(4) The number of the applicant’s driver’s license, state identification card, or other identification approved by the Secretary of State if the applicant does not have a driver’s license or state identification card.

(5) The specific information requested.

(6) A statement of the intended use of the information requested.

(c) If the application is on behalf of a person other than the applicant, the applicant shall, in addition to the information required by subdivision (b), set forth all of the following:

(1) The name of the person, organization, company, committee, association, or group requesting the voter registration information, including their complete mailing address and telephone number.

(2) The name of the person authorizing or requesting the applicant to obtain the voter registration information.

(d) The elections official shall request the applicant to display his or her identification for purposes of verifying that identifying numbers of the identification document match those written by the applicant on the application form.

(e) The applicant shall certify to the truth and correctness of the content of the application, under penalty of perjury, with the signature of his or her name at length, including given name, middle name or initial, or initial and middle name. The applicant shall state the date and place of execution of the declaration.

(f) Completed applications for voter registration information shall be retained by the elections official for five years from the date of application.

(g) This section shall not apply to requests for information by elections officials for election purposes or by other public agencies for governmental purposes.

(h) The Secretary of State may prescribe additional information to be included in the application for voter registration information.

(i) A county may not provide information for any political subdivision that is not wholly or partially contained within that county.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 46. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 5. Roster


text: The Secretary of State may insert fictitious names of voters into the voter registration information database as an investigative and enforcement tool for determining inappropriate or unauthorized uses of voter registration information.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 47. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 5. Roster


text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations that describe the best practices for storage and security of voter registration information received by an applicant pursuant to Section 2188.

(b) The Secretary of State may require an applicant to take a training course regarding data security as a condition for the receipt of voter registration information if that course is made available to the applicant at no cost to the applicant.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 106, Sec. 1. (AB 1044) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 5. Roster


text: A person or entity who has received voter registration information pursuant to an application made under Section 2188 shall, following discovery or notification of a breach in the security of the storage of the information, disclose the breach in security to the Secretary of State. The disclosure shall be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 96, Sec. 2. (AB 1678) Effective July 16, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster


text:
(a) A person who requests voter information pursuant to Section 2188 or who obtains signatures or other information collected for an initiative, referendum, political party qualification, or recall petition shall not send that information outside of the United States or make it available in any way electronically to persons outside the United States, including, but not limited to, access over the Internet.

(b) For purposes of this section, “United States” includes each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 48. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2189

text: Before the first day of the opening of the polls for any election held throughout the county, the county elections official shall deliver to the precinct board in each precinct at least one printed or electronic copy of the roster for that polling place, with canceled names lined out or otherwise indicated and with necessary supplements to bring the roster up to date.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 16. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2191

text:
(a) Upon request, the elections official shall compile a voter list or file, by precinct, of all persons who voted in previous elections. This information shall be compiled in conjunction with the purge of voter registration files conducted pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220) of Chapter 3.

(b) Information compiled pursuant to this section shall include the information that is required to appear in the index as set forth in Section 2183.

(c) Any person, candidate, or committee who is entitled to obtain a copy of any information contained in this article shall, upon written request to the elections official, be entitled to obtain the voter list or file compiled pursuant to this section. The elections official shall inform any recipient of this information whether the voter list or file includes a voting history of vote by mail voters. The elections official may require the payment of a fee not to exceed the cost of duplicating the information as a condition to furnishing the information contained in this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 17. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2193

text: The Secretary of State shall, from the information furnished by the county elections officials pursuant to Section 2187, identify possible duplicate voter registrations. Those voter registrations determined to be duplicates shall be merged and the voter registration bearing the most recent date shall be the active record for that voter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 52. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2194

text:
(a) Except as provided in Section 2194.1, the affidavit of voter registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code:

(1) Shall be confidential and shall not appear on any computer terminal, list, affidavit, duplicate affidavit, or other medium routinely available to the public at the county elections official’s office.

(2) Shall not be used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to:

(A) The harassment of any voter or voter’s household.

(B) The advertising, solicitation, sale, or marketing of products or services to any voter or voter’s household.

(C) Reproduction in print, broadcast visual or audio, or display on the internet or any computer terminal unless pursuant to paragraph (3).

(3) Shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions of Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, 2166.9, and 2188, to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State.

(4) May be used by the Secretary of State for the purpose of educating voters pursuant to Section 12173 of the Government Code.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the California driver’s license number, the California identification card number, the social security number, and any other unique identifier used by the State of California for purposes of voter identification shown on the affidavit of voter registration of a registered voter, or added to voter registration records to comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), are confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the signature of the voter shown on the affidavit of voter registration or an image thereof is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, except as provided in subdivision (c).

(c) (1) The home address or signature of any voter shall be released whenever the person’s vote is challenged pursuant to Sections 15105 to 15108, inclusive, or Article 3 (commencing with Section 14240) of Chapter 3 of Division 14. The address or signature shall be released only to the challenger, to elections officials, and to other persons as necessary to make, defend against, or adjudicate the challenge.

(2) An elections official shall permit a person to view the signature of a voter for the purpose of determining whether the signature compares with a signature on an affidavit of registration or an image thereof or a petition, but shall not permit a signature to be copied.

(d) A governmental entity, or officer or employee thereof, shall not be held civilly liable as a result of disclosure of the information referred to in this section, unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(e) For purposes of this section, “voter’s household” is defined as the voter’s place of residence or mailing address or any persons who reside at the place of residence or use the mailing address as supplied on the affidavit of registration pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2150.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, information regarding voters who did not sign a vote by mail ballot identification envelope or whose signature on the vote by mail ballot identification envelope did not compare with the voter’s signature on file shall be treated as confidential voter registration information pursuant to this section and Section 7924.000 of the Government Code. This information shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions of Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, 2166.9, and 2188, to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State, but otherwise shall not be disclosed to any person. Any disclosure of this information shall be accompanied by a notice to the recipient regarding Sections 18109 and 18540.

(2) Voter information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be updated daily, include the name of the voter, and be provided in a searchable electronic format. The daily update shall also include, as applicable, information regarding whether a form has been received from the voter to verify their signature pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 3019, whether a form has been received or the voter has otherwise provided a signature pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 3019, and whether the signature provided pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 3019 did or did not compare.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 300, Sec. 2.5. (AB 1392) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 5. Roster


text: Any affidavit of registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code in existence 100 years after the creation of the record shall be available to the public. If records are contained in the great registers of voters and the bound register contains information covering more than one year, the records shall not be available to the public until the entire contents of the register have been recorded for at least 100 years.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 93. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)

article: 5. Roster


citation: ELEC § 2196

text:
(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is qualified to register to vote and who has a valid California driver’s license or state identification card may submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s internet website.

(2) An affidavit submitted pursuant to this section is effective upon receipt of the affidavit by the Secretary of State if the affidavit is received on or before the last day to register for an election to be held in the precinct of the person submitting the affidavit.

(3) The affiant shall affirmatively attest to the truth of the information provided in the affidavit.

(4) The affidavit shall contain, before or at the time that the applicant affirmatively assents to the use of the applicant’s signature pursuant to paragraph (5), a statement that the county elections official shall compare the affiant’s signature appearing on an identification envelope for the return of a vote by mail ballot cast in a future election with the signatures appearing in the voter’s registration record, including the signature appearing on the applicant’s driver’s license or state identification card.

(5) For voter registration purposes, the applicant shall affirmatively assent to the use of the applicant’s signature from the applicant’s driver’s license or state identification card.

(6) For each electronic affidavit, the Secretary of State shall obtain an electronic copy of the applicant’s signature from the applicant’s driver’s license or state identification card directly from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(7) The Secretary of State shall require a person who submits an affidavit pursuant to this section to submit all of the following:

(A) The number from the person’s California driver’s license or state identification card.

(B) The person’s date of birth.

(C) The last four digits of the person’s social security number.

(D) Any other information the Secretary of State deems necessary to establish the identity of the affiant.

(8) Upon submission of an affidavit pursuant to this section, the electronic voter registration system shall provide for immediate verification of both of the following:

(A) That the applicant has a California driver’s license or state identification card and that the number for that driver’s license or identification card provided by the applicant matches the number for that person’s driver’s license or identification card that is on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(B) That the date of birth provided by the applicant matches the date of birth for that person that is on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(9) The Secretary of State shall employ security measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of affidavits of voter registration submitted electronically pursuant to this section.

(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall use the electronic voter registration system required by this section to comply with its duties and responsibilities as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(c) The Department of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of State shall maintain a process and the infrastructure to allow the electronic copy of the applicant’s signature and other information required under this section that is in the possession of the department to be transferred to the Secretary of State and to the county election management systems to allow a person who is qualified to register to vote in California to register to vote under this section.

(d) If an applicant cannot electronically submit the information required pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a), the applicant shall nevertheless be able to complete the affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s internet website, print a hard copy of the completed affidavit, and mail or deliver the hard copy of the completed affidavit to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county elections official.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 53. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)

chapter: 2.5. Online Voter Registration

path: 2. VOTERS > 2.5. Online Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2197

text: No later than July 1, 2014, the California Health Benefit Exchange shall implement a process and the infrastructure to allow a person who applies online with the California Health Benefit Exchange for service or assistance, or who submits a recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance online, to submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State in accordance with this chapter.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 505, Sec. 1. (SB 35) Effective January 1, 2013. Section operative September 26, 2016, when Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, amended Section 2196 and deleted its condition in former subd. (e) that restricted the operation of Chapter 2.5 (Sections 2196 to 2198).)


citation: ELEC § 2198

text: Each Internet Web site maintained by the state shall include a hyperlink on the site’s homepage to the online voter registration page of the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 277, Sec. 1. (SB 44) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative September 26, 2016, when Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, amended Section 2196 and deleted its condition in former subd. (e) that restricted the operation of Chapter 2.5 (Sections 2196 to 2198).)


citation: ELEC § 2200

text: The registration of a voter is permanent for all purposes during his or her life, unless and until the affidavit of registration is canceled by the Secretary of State or the county elections official for any of the causes specified in this article.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 55. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 2. VOTERS > 3. Cancellation and Voter File Maintenance > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2201

text:
(a) The county elections official shall cancel the registration in the following cases:

(1) At the signed, written request of the person registered.

(2) When the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established as provided in Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, and 2211. The county elections office shall use only information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2211.5 to cancel a voter registration for this reason.

(3) Upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned for conviction of a felony. The county elections office shall use only information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2212, by a United States District Court, or by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to cancel a voter registration for this reason.

(4) Upon the production of a certified copy of a judgment directing the cancellation to be made.

(5) Upon the death of the person registered.

(6) Pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220).

(7) Upon official notification that the voter is registered to vote in another state.

(8) Upon proof that the person is otherwise ineligible to vote.

(b) The Secretary of State may cancel the registration in the following cases:

(1) When the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established as provided in Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, and 2211.

(2) Upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned for the conviction of a felony.

(3) Upon the death of the person registered.

(c) (1) Between 15 and 30 days, inclusive, before canceling a person’s registration for the reasons specified in paragraph (2), (3), (5), or (6) of subdivision (a), the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice by first-class mail, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, to the voter.

(A) The forwardable notice shall be provided in the person’s preferred language if the county is required to provide translated ballots in that language pursuant to Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).

(B) The notice shall include a statement substantially similar to the following:

“IMPORTANT NOTICE. Your voter registration record is scheduled to be canceled on [date]. This cancellation is due to information the [county name] County elections office has received indicating your ineligibility to vote in that county due to a change of residence, death, prison commitment or mental incapacity to vote pursuant to Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, or 2211 of the California Elections Code, as applicable.

If you believe this cancellation is in error, please notify our office within 15 days from the date of this notice either by returning the attached postage-paid postcard or by calling [county elections office phone number] toll free.

If we do not receive your response to this notice, you may be required to reregister to vote in the next election or to vote using a provisional ballot. You can find more information about voter eligibility rules on the Secretary of State’s internet website at [URL] or voter hotline at [phone numbers]. You can also check your current registration status at [URL].”

(2) The preaddressed return form described in paragraph (1) shall include all of the following:

(A) Space for the voter to provide their current place of residence.

(B) Space for the voter to provide their current mailing address, if different from the place of residence.

(C) A box next to a statement substantially similar to the following: “The cancellation of my voter record is in error because I have not been deemed mentally incompetent to vote by a court of law, I am not currently serving a state or federal prison term, and I have not died. Additionally, if I have moved, I have provided my new residential address on this form.”

(D) Space for the voter to provide their signature and the date.

(3) The elections official may send additional written notices to a voter, and may also notify the voter in person, by telephone or email, or by other means of the planned registration cancellation.

(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2025.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 424, Sec. 2. (AB 2951) Effective January 1, 2025. Operative July 1, 2025, by its own provisions.)

chapter: 3. Cancellation and Voter File Maintenance

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2202

text:
(a) The county elections official shall preserve all uncanceled affidavits of registration in a secure manner that will protect the confidentiality of the voter information consistent with Section 2194.

The affidavits of registration shall constitute the register required to be kept by Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) of Chapter 2.

(b) In lieu of maintaining uncanceled affidavits of registration, the county elections official may microfilm, record on optical disc, or record on any other electronic medium that does not permit additions, deletions, or changes to the original document, the uncanceled affidavits of registration. Any such use of an electronic medium to record uncanceled affidavits shall protect the security and confidentiality of the voter information. The county elections official may dispose of any uncanceled affidavits of registration transferred pursuant to this section. The disposal of any uncanceled affidavits shall be performed in a manner that does not compromise the security or confidentiality of the voter information contained therein. For purposes of this section, a duplicate copy of an affidavit of registration shall be deemed an original. The Secretary of State may adopt appropriate regulations for the purpose of this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 57. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2205

text:
The local registrar of births and deaths shall notify the county elections official not later than the 15th day of each month of all deceased persons 16 years of age and over, whose deaths were registered with him or her or of whose deaths he or she was notified by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics during the preceding month. This notification shall include at least the name, sex, age, birthplace, birth date, place of residence, and date and place of death of each decedent.

The county elections official shall cancel the affidavit of registration of the deceased voter.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 364, Sec. 5) by Stats. 2014, Ch. 619, Sec. 6. (SB 113) Effective January 1, 2015. Amendment by Stats. 2009, Ch. 364, with text revised by this amendment, became operative on September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Sec. 7 of Ch. 364.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2206

text: The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations to facilitate the availability of death statistics from the State Department of Health Services. The data shall be used by the Secretary of State or county elections officials in canceling the affidavit of registration of deceased persons.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 60. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2208

text:
(a) A person is presumed competent to vote regardless of the person’s conservatorship status. A person shall be deemed mentally incompetent, and therefore disqualified from voting, if, during the course of any of the proceedings set forth below, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, and any of the following apply:

(1) A conservator for the person or the person and estate is appointed pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 1400) of the Probate Code.

(2) A conservator for the person or the person and estate is appointed pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) A conservator is appointed for the person pursuant to proceedings initiated under Section 5352.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the person has been found not competent to stand trial, and the person’s trial or judgment has been suspended pursuant to Section 1370 of the Penal Code.

(4) A person has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, has been found to be not guilty pursuant to Section 1026 of the Penal Code, and is deemed to be gravely disabled at the time of judgment as defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) If the proceeding under the Welfare and Institutions Code is heard by a jury, the jury shall unanimously find by clear and convincing evidence that the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process before the person shall be disqualified from voting.

(c) If an order establishing a conservatorship is made and in connection with the order it is found by clear and convincing evidence that the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(d) A person shall not be disqualified from voting pursuant to this section on the basis that the person does, or would need to do, any of the following to complete an affidavit of voter registration:

(1) Signs the affidavit of voter registration with a mark or a cross pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2150.

(2) Signs the affidavit of voter registration by means of a signature stamp pursuant to Section 354.5.

(3) Completes the affidavit of voter registration with the assistance of another person pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2150.

(4) Completes the affidavit of voter registration with reasonable accommodations.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 69. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2209

text:
(a) For conservatorships established pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 1400) of the Probate Code, the court investigator shall, during the yearly or biennial review of the conservatorship as required by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1850) of Part 3 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, review the person’s capability of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process.

(b) If the person has been disqualified from voting by reason of being incapable of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, or by reason of being incapable of completing an affidavit of voter registration, the court investigator shall determine if the person continues to be incapable of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, and the investigator shall so inform the court. If the investigator determines that the person continues to be incapable of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, a court hearing on the issue is unnecessary. If the investigator finds that the person is not incapable of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, the court shall hold a hearing to determine if, by clear and convincing evidence, the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process. Unless the person is found incapable of communicating that desire, the person’s right to register to vote shall be restored, and the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(c) If the person has not been found incapable of communicating, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, and the court investigator determines that the person is no longer capable of communicating that desire, the investigator shall so notify the court. The court shall hold a hearing to determine if, by clear and convincing evidence, the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process. If the court determines that the person cannot communicate that desire, the court shall order the person to be disqualified from voting pursuant to Section 2208, and the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 5) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 807, Sec. 6. (AB 2841) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2210

text:
(a) If the person or the person and estate is under a conservatorship established pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the person may contest their disqualification from voting pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 5358.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) When the conservatorship described in subdivision (a) terminates after one year, the person’s right to register to vote shall be automatically restored and the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5. If a petition is filed for the reappointment of the conservator, a new determination shall be made as to whether the person should be disqualified from voting.

(c) If the right to vote is restored pursuant to Section 5358.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or if the conservatorship is terminated in a proceeding held pursuant to Section 5364 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 7) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 807, Sec. 8. (AB 2841) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2211

text:
(a) Any person who (1) has plead not guilty by reason of insanity and who has been found to be not guilty pursuant to Section 1026 of the Penal Code, (2) has been found incompetent to stand trial and whose trial or judgment has been suspended pursuant to Section 1370 of the Penal Code, (3) has been convicted of a felony and who was judicially determined to be a mentally disordered sex offender pursuant to former Section 6300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as repealed by Chapter 928 of the Statutes of 1981, or (4) has been convicted of a felony and is being treated at a state hospital pursuant to Section 2684 of the Penal Code shall be disqualified from voting or registering to vote during that time that the person is involuntarily confined, pursuant to a court order, in a public or private facility.

(b) Upon the order of commitment to a treatment facility referred to in subdivision (a), the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(c) If the person is later released from the public or private treatment facility, the court shall provide notice to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2211.5.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 9) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 807, Sec. 10. (AB 2841) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) By the first day of each month, and more frequently if the clerk so chooses, the clerk of the superior court of each county shall notify the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (b) of each of the following:

(1) All findings made by the court regarding any person’s competency to vote, as specified in each of Sections 2208 through 2211, inclusive, since the clerk’s last report.

(2) The total number of proceedings, as specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2208, that occurred in that court since the clerk’s last report.

(b) In consultation with the Secretary of State, the Judicial Council shall adopt rules of court to implement this section and Judicial Council forms that shall be used by courts to furnish the notices described in subdivision (a). The forms shall contain clearly identified spaces for all of the following:

(1) Personal identification information for the affected person, including all of the following:

(A) All known first names.

(B) All known last names.

(C) All known middle names.

(D) All known name suffixes.

(E) Last known address.

(F) Date of birth.

(G) Last four digits of the person’s social security number, if available.

(H) Driver’s license or state-issued identification number, if available.

(2) The court case number.

(3) The date of the order affecting the individual’s voting rights.

(4) Whether the court’s order is made pursuant to Section 2208, 2209, 2210, or 2211.

(5) Whether the legal effect of the court’s order is a disqualification or a restoration of the right to vote.

(6) A certification, if applicable, that the individual has been disqualified from voting due to the court’s finding by clear and convincing evidence that the individual is incapable, with or without reasonable accommodations, to communicate a desire to participate in the voting process.

(c) The Secretary of State shall inform the clerk of the court when it receives a notice from the court that is missing any information required by subdivision (b).

(d) Upon receipt of all of the required information described in subdivision (b), the Secretary of State shall do both of the following:

(1) Identify any registration record in the statewide voter database that contains personal identifying information that matches each of the unique identifiers described in subdivision (b).

(2) Within three days of receiving the information from the court, for any matched records described in paragraph (1), provide the information described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the corresponding unique identifier or identifiers contained in the statewide voter database, and a statement regarding whether the legal effect of the court’s order is to disqualify or restore the right to vote, to the appropriate county elections official.

(e) Upon receiving information from the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d), the county elections official shall do either of the following, as applicable:

(1) The elections official shall begin the cancellation procedures described in subdivision (c) of Section 2201 for any person whose registration information matches the unique identifier or identifiers provided by the Secretary of State and who, according to the information provided by the Secretary of State, has been disqualified to vote by a court.

(2) (A) If a person’s right to vote has been restored and their address is within the county according to the information provided by the Secretary of State, the elections official shall notify the person that their voting rights are restored and that they may register to vote if they are otherwise eligible. The elections official shall also provide the person with information regarding the procedures for registering to vote. If the address provided by the Secretary of State is different from the address contained in the county’s voter registration file, the elections official shall provide the foregoing notice and information to the person at both addresses.

(B) The Secretary of State shall prepare a form that county elections officials shall use to provide the notice described in subparagraph (A).

(f) A county or county elections official shall not be liable for taking or failing to take the actions described in subdivision (e) when the county or county elections official has received erroneous information from the Secretary of State.

(g) If a person who is ineligible to vote receives a notice under paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), subsequently becomes registered or preregistered to vote, and votes or attempts to vote in an election held after the effective date of the person’s registration or preregistration, that person shall be presumed to have acted with official authorization and shall not be guilty of fraudulently voting or attempting to vote pursuant to Section 18560, unless that person willfully votes or attempts to vote knowing that the person is not eligible to vote.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 807, Sec. 11. (AB 2841) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2212

text:
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Conviction” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2101.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(3) “Imprisoned” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2101.

(4) “Parole” means a term of supervision by the department.

(5) “Statewide voter database” means the statewide voter registration database developed in compliance with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.).

(b) The department shall provide to the Secretary of State, on a weekly basis and in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State, the identification information described in subdivision (c) for all of the following persons:

(1) Persons imprisoned for the conviction of a felony and under the jurisdiction of the department. To the extent available, identification information provided by the department regarding these persons shall include the date on which each person’s term of imprisonment began.

(2) Persons on parole or persons released from imprisonment for the conviction of a felony and no longer under the jurisdiction of the department. To the extent available, identification information provided by the department regarding these persons shall include the dates on which each person’s parole began and on which the person was discharged from the jurisdiction of the department.

(c) Personal identification information for the purposes of subdivision (b) includes all of the following:

(1) All known first names.

(2) All known last names.

(3) All known middle names.

(4) All known name suffixes.

(5) Last known address.

(6) Date of birth.

(7) Last four digits of the person’s social security number, if available.

(8) Driver’s license or state-issued identification number, if available.

(d) Upon receipt of the information described in subdivision (b), the Secretary of State shall do all the following:

(1) Identify any registration record in the statewide voter database that contains personal identifying information that, for each of the unique identifiers described in subdivision (c), as available, matches information pertaining to the person described in subdivision (b).

(2) For any matched records described in paragraph (1), provide the information described in subdivision (b) and the corresponding unique identifier or identifiers used in the statewide voter database to county elections officials within three days of receipt of the information from the department.

(e) Upon receipt of information from the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d), a county elections official shall do all of the following:

(1) Cancel the affidavit of registration of any person described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) whose registration information matches the unique identifier or identifiers used in the statewide voter database provided by the Secretary of State to the county.

(2) Using the form prepared by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (f), notify a person described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), and whose last known address is within the county based on the unique identifier or identifiers used in the statewide voter database provided by the Secretary of State to the county, that the person’s voting rights are restored and advise the person that if the person is otherwise entitled to register to vote, the person may register to vote. The county elections official shall also provide the person with information regarding the procedure for registering to vote.

(f) The Secretary of State shall prepare a form to be used by county elections officials to provide the notice described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).

(g) A county or county elections official shall not be liable for taking or failing to take the actions described in subdivision (e) when the county or county elections official have received erroneous information from the Secretary of State or the department.

(h) If a person who is ineligible to vote receives a notice under paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), subsequently becomes registered or preregistered to vote, and votes or attempts to vote in an election held after the effective date of the person’s registration or preregistration, that person shall be presumed to have acted with official authorization and shall not be guilty of fraudulently voting or attempting to vote pursuant to Section 18560, unless that person willfully votes or attempts to vote knowing that the person is not entitled to vote.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 14, Sec. 4. (SB 504) Effective March 31, 2022.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2213

text:
Any person may proceed by action in the superior court to compel the county elections official to cancel any registration made illegally or which should be canceled by reason of facts that have occurred subsequent to the registration. If the voter whose registration is sought to be canceled is not a party to the action, the court may order him or her to be made a party defendant.

The county elections official and as many persons against whom there are causes of action may be joined as defendants.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2214

text:
(a) Each month, the Secretary of State shall post on its internet website a report showing, for the preceding period, the number of voting rights disqualifications and the number of voting rights restorations pursuant to each of Sections 2208 through 2212, as applicable, that were ordered within each county and the number of proceedings specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2208 that occurred within each county.

(b) In consultation with the Judicial Council, the Secretary of State shall prepare and deliver a training via a remote web-based learning platform that is accessible through the Secretary of State’s internet website. The training shall contain information about the responsibilities of superior courts and county elections officials, as specified in this chapter, and information about the legal standards for voting rights disqualification, the duties of court investigators, and the reporting requirements for courts related to voting rights disqualification and restoration.

(c) At least annually, each court executive officer and each county elections official shall complete the training described in subdivision (b). The trainings completed by court executive officers and county elections officials shall be tracked through the remote web-based learning platform provided by the Secretary of State.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2024.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 807, Sec. 12. (AB 2841) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2220

text:
(a) The county elections official shall conduct a preelection residency confirmation procedure as provided in this article. This procedure shall be completed by the 90th day immediately before the primary election. The procedure shall be initiated by mailing a nonforwardable postcard to each registered voter of the county preceding the direct primary election. Postcards mailed pursuant to this article shall be sent “Address Correction Requested, Return Postage Guaranteed,” and shall be in substantially the following form:

“We are requesting your assistance in correcting the addresses of voters who have moved and have not reregistered.

“1. If you still live at the address noted on this postcard, your voter registration will remain in effect and you may disregard this notice.

“2. If the person named on this postcard is not at this address, please return this postcard to your mail carrier.”

(b) The county elections official, at the county elections official’s discretion, shall not be required to mail a residency confirmation postcard pursuant to subdivision (a) to any of the following:

(1) A voter who has voted at an election held within the last six months preceding the start of the confirmation procedure.

(2) A voter who has confirmed the voter’s voter registration records on the internet website of the Secretary of State within the last year preceding the start of the confirmation procedure.

(3) A person under 18 years of age who has submitted a properly executed affidavit of registration pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2102 and who will not be 18 years of age on or before the primary election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 1. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative as prescribed by Sec. 9 of Stats. 2019, Ch. 262.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures

path: 2. VOTERS > 3. Cancellation and Voter File Maintenance > 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2221

text:
(a) Based on the postal notices on the returned residency confirmation postcards received pursuant to Section 2220, the county elections official shall take the following actions:

(1) The voter registration status of a voter whose residency confirmation postcard is returned by the post office as undeliverable and who has no forwarding address shall be updated by the county elections official to inactive pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2226, and the voter shall be mailed a confirmation notice, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 2225.

(2) The voter registration record of a voter for whom a forwarding address within the county or outside the county is received shall be immediately updated by the county elections official to reflect the new address provided by the post office, the former address shall be maintained with the voter registration record, and the voter shall be mailed a confirmation notice, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 2225.

(b) All updates to a voter’s registration record made pursuant to this section shall be reflected on the voter list as required by Section 2191.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 2. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2222

text: In lieu of mailing a residency confirmation postcard, as prescribed in subdivision (a) of Section 2220, the Secretary of State or a county elections official may contract with the United States Postal Service or its licensees to obtain use of postal service change-of-address data, such as the National Change of Address System (NCOA) and Operation Mail. The data received by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section shall be shared with county elections officials through the statewide voter registration database.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 3. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2223

text:
(a) In lieu of mailing a residency confirmation postcard to each registered voter in the county, the county elections official may include the return address of the county elections official’s office on the outside portion of the county voter information guide or county voter information guide envelope mailed to the voter for an election conducted within the last six months preceding the start of the confirmation process, along with the statements “Address Correction Requested” and “Notice: If the person named on the county voter information guide is not at the address, please help keep the voter rolls current and save taxpayer dollars by returning this county voter information guide to your mail carrier.”

(b) A voter not eligible for an election during the last six months preceding the start of the confirmation process, or a voter not mailed a county voter information guide with an address correction requested, shall have his or her address confirmed by either a residency confirmation postcard or an address verification mailing conducted pursuant to this article using NCOA/Operation Mail data pursuant to Section 2222 or consumer credit reporting agency data pursuant to Section 2227.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 7. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2224

text:
(a) If a voter has not voted in an election within the preceding four years, and the voter’s residence address, name, or party preference has not been updated during that time, the county elections official may send an alternate residency confirmation postcard. The use of this postcard may be sent subsequent to NCOA or county voter information guide returns, but shall not be used in the residency confirmation process conducted under Section 2220. The postcard shall be forwardable, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form to enable the voter to verify or correct the address information, and shall be in substantially the following form:

“If the person named on the postcard is not at this address, PLEASE help keep the voter rolls current and save taxpayer dollars by returning this postcard to your mail carrier.”

“IMPORTANT NOTICE”

“According to our records you have not voted in any election during the past four years, which may indicate that you no longer reside in ____ County. If you continue to reside in California you must confirm your residency address in order to remain on the active voter list and receive election materials in the mail.”

“If confirmation has not been received within 15 days, you may be required to provide proof of your residence address in order to vote at future elections.”

(b) The use of a toll-free number to confirm the old residence address is optional. A change to a voter’s address shall be received in writing.

(c) A county using the alternate residency confirmation procedure shall notify all voters of the procedure in the county voter information guide or in a separate mailing.

(d) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2020, and, as of January 1, 2029, is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 4. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020. Section inoperative January 1, 2020. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2225

text:
(a) (1) Based on change-of-address data received from the United States Postal Service or its licensees, the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, to enable the voter to verify or correct address information.

(2) If notification received through NCOA or Operation Mail or a returned mailing indicates that a voter has moved and has given no forwarding address or indicates that a voter has moved out of the state, the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice in substantially the same format as the notice set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of Section 20507 of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(b) If postal service change-of-address data indicates that the voter has moved to a new residence address in California, the forwardable notice shall be in substantially the following form: “We have received notification that you have moved to a new residence address in California. Your voter registration record has been updated to this new address. If this is correct, you do not have to take any action. If this is incorrect, you can notify our office by either returning the attached postage-paid postcard, or by calling toll free; you must notify us at least 15 days prior to the next election or you may be required to vote using a provisional ballot.” (c) If postal service change-of-address data received from a nonforwardable mailing indicates that a voter has moved and left no forwarding address or indicates that a voter has moved out of the state, a forwardable notice shall be sent in substantially the same format as the notice set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of Section 20507 of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(d) The use of a toll-free number to confirm the old residence address is optional. Any change to the voter address must be received in writing.

(e) Upon the mailing of the forwardable address confirmation notice described in subdivision (b) to a voter, the county elections official shall not update the status of the voter’s registration to inactive.

(f) Upon the mailing of the forwardable address confirmation notice described in subdivision (c) to a voter, the county elections official shall update the status of the voter’s registration to inactive.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 5. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2226

text:
(a) Based on change-of-address information received pursuant to Sections 2220 to 2225, inclusive, or change-of-address information provided directly by the voter, the county elections official shall take the following actions as appropriate:

(1) If the information indicates the voter has moved to a new residence address in California, the county elections official shall immediately update the voter’s registration record.

(2) If the mailings have been returned as undeliverable, or if NCOA, Operation Mail, a returned mailing, or postal service change-of-address data received from a nonforwardable mailing indicates that the voter has moved and left no forwarding address, or if any of these sources indicate that a voter has moved out of the state, the county elections official shall update the status of the voter’s registration to inactive. Voters with an inactive voter registration status do not receive election materials and are not included in calculations to determine the number of signatures required for qualification of candidates and measures, precinct size, or other election administration-related processes.

(3) If a voter’s registration status is inactive based on the voter’s failure to confirm the voter’s address pursuant to Section 2224, the county elections official shall send a forwardable address verification mailing, as set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 2225. The voter registration record of a voter who fails to respond to the address verification mailing, and who does not offer to vote or vote at any election between the date of the mailing described in Section 2225 and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, shall be canceled.

(b) The voter registration record of a voter whose status is inactive for failure to respond to an address verification mailing required by subdivision (c) of Section 2225, and who does not offer to vote or vote at any election between the date of the mailing and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, shall be canceled.

(c) A voter who has a registration status of inactive, who offers to vote at any election between the date of the verification mailing required by subdivision (c) of Section 2225 and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, or who notifies the elections official of a continued residency, shall have the voter’s voter registration status updated to active.

(d) All address updates, cancellations, and active and inactive transactions made to voter registration records pursuant to this section shall be reflected on the voter list as required by Section 2191.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until the date that the Secretary of State certifies that the state’s statewide voter registration database, which was developed in compliance with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), has been modified to notify county elections officials when a voter confirms the voter’s registration record on the Secretary of State’s internet website, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 6. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020. Repealed on date prescribed by its own conditions. See later operative version, added by Sec. 7 of Stats. 2019, Ch. 262.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


text:
(a) Based on change-of-address information received pursuant to Sections 2220 to 2225, inclusive, or change-of-address information provided directly by the voter, the county elections official shall take the following actions as appropriate:

(1) If the information indicates the voter has moved to a new residence address in California, the county elections official shall immediately update the voter’s registration record.

(2) If the mailings have been returned as undeliverable, or if NCOA, Operation Mail, a returned mailing, or postal service change-of-address data received from a nonforwardable mailing indicates that the voter has moved and left no forwarding address, or if any of these sources indicate that a voter has moved out of the state, the county elections official shall update the status of the voter’s registration to inactive. Voters with an inactive voter registration status do not receive election materials and are not included in calculations to determine the number of signatures required for qualification of candidates and measures, precinct size, or other election administration-related processes.

(3) If a voter’s registration status is inactive based on the voter’s failure to confirm the voter’s address pursuant to Section 2224, the county elections official shall send a forwardable address verification mailing, as set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 2225. However, the county elections official shall not send this mailing to a voter who has confirmed the voter’s voter registration record on the internet website of the Secretary of State within a year from the date of the mailing. The voter registration record of a voter who fails to respond to the address verification mailing, and who does not offer to vote or vote at any election between the date of the mailing described in Section 2225 and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, shall be canceled.

(b) The voter registration record of a voter whose status is inactive for failure to respond to an address verification mailing required by subdivision (c) of Section 2225, and who does not offer to vote or vote at any election between the date of the mailing and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, shall be canceled.

(c) A voter who has a registration status of inactive, who offers to vote at any election between the date of the verification mailing required by subdivision (c) of Section 2225 and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, who notifies the elections official of a continued residency, or who has confirmed the voter’s voter registration record on the internet website of the Secretary of State, shall have the voter’s voter registration status updated to active.

(d) All address updates, cancellations, and active and inactive transactions made to voter registration records pursuant to this section shall be reflected on the voter list as required by Section 2191.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 6) and added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 262, Sec. 7. (AB 504) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative as prescribed by Sec. 9 of Stats. 2019, Ch. 262.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2227

text:
(a) In lieu of mailing a residency confirmation postcard, as prescribed in subdivision (a) of Section 2220, the county elections official may contract with a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees to obtain use of change-of-address data in accordance with this section.

(b) If the county elections official contracts with a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees pursuant to subdivision (a), all of the following shall occur:

(1) For each registered voter in the county, the county elections official shall initiate a search for change-of-address data with the consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees by providing the name and residence address of each registered voter in the county to the consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees.

(2) The consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees shall search their databases for each name and address provided by the county elections official and shall report to the county elections official any information indicating that the registered voter changed the voter’s residence address.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding Section 2194 of this code or Section 7924.000 of the Government Code, and except as provided in paragraph (2), a county elections official may disclose a registered voter’s name and residence address to a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees pursuant to, and in accordance with, this section.

(2) A county elections official shall not disclose to a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees the name and residence address of a registered voter if that information is deemed confidential pursuant to Section 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, or 2166.9 of this code, or Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 6205) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(d) A consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees shall use the information provided by a county elections official only pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), and shall not retain any information received from the county elections official pursuant to this section.

(e) Based on change-of-address data received from a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees, the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, which may be in the form of a postcard, to the registered voter to enable the voter to verify or correct address information. The forwardable notice shall be in substantially the following form: “We have received notification that you have moved to a new residence address in ____ County. You will remain registered to vote at your old address unless you notify our office that the address to which this card was mailed is a change of your permanent residence. Please notify our office in writing by returning the attached postage-paid postcard. If this is not a permanent residence, and you do not wish to change your address for voting purposes, please disregard this notice.” (f) The county elections official shall take all of the following actions as appropriate:

(1) If a voter responds to the forwardable notice sent pursuant to subdivision (e) or otherwise verifies in a signed writing that the voter has moved to a new residence address in California, the county elections official shall verify the signature on the response by comparing it to the signature on file for the voter and, if appropriate, immediately update the voter’s registration record with the new residence address.

(2) If a voter does not respond to the forwardable notice sent pursuant to subdivision (e) and does not otherwise verify in a signed writing that the voter has moved to a new residence address, the elections official shall not update the status of the voter’s registration to inactive or cancel the voter registration.

(g) For purposes of this section, “consumer credit reporting agency” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 1785.3 of the Civil Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 300, Sec. 3. (AB 1392) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 2. Residency Confirmation Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2240

text: From moneys appropriated by the Legislature, the Controller shall reimburse counties for additional costs incurred by counties for purging voter registration files pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220).

article: 3. Reimbursable File Maintenance

path: 2. VOTERS > 3. Cancellation and Voter File Maintenance > 3. Reimbursable File Maintenance


citation: ELEC § 2241

text: Any claim submitted to the Controller pursuant to this article shall state that the county had reimbursable costs and the number of registered voters in the county as determined by the Secretary of State under subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 2187. The claims shall be made to the Controller by October 31 of the even-numbered year in which a direct primary and general election are held.

article: 3. Reimbursable File Maintenance


citation: ELEC § 2250

text: On and after July 1, 2007, in any document mailed by a state agency that offers a person the opportunity to register to vote pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) that state agency shall include a notice informing prospective voters that if they have not received voter registration information within 30 days of requesting it, they should contact their local elections office or the office of the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 88. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

chapter: 4. Motor Voter

path: 2. VOTERS > 4. Motor Voter


citation: ELEC § 2260

text: This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California New Motor Voter Program.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 729, Sec. 3. (AB 1461) Effective January 1, 2016.)

chapter: 4.5. California New Motor Voter Program

path: 2. VOTERS > 4.5. California New Motor Voter Program


citation: ELEC § 2261

text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Voter registration is one of the biggest barriers to participation in our democracy.

(b) In 1993, Congress enacted the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), commonly known as the “Motor Voter Law,” with findings recognizing that the right of citizens to vote is a fundamental right; it is the duty of federal, state, and local governments to promote the exercise of the right to vote; and the primary purpose of the act is to increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact the California New Motor Voter Program to provide California citizens additional opportunities to participate in democracy through exercise of their fundamental right to vote.


citation: ELEC § 2262

text:
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Completed voter registration” and “completed voter registration application” mean the part of the driver’s license application containing the voter registration application for an applicant who has not affirmatively declined to register to vote, the transmittal of which is not prohibited by subdivision (f) of Section 2265, and which includes the minimum information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and preregistrations, to assess the eligibility of the applicant, and to administer voter registration, preregistration, and other procedures for elections.

(b) “Department” means the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(c) “Driver’s license application” means a driver’s license or identification card application, renewal, or notification of a change of address pursuant to Section 12800, 12815, 13000, or 14600 of the Vehicle Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 39. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)


citation: ELEC § 2263

text:
(a) The Secretary of State and the department shall establish the California New Motor Voter Program for the purpose of increasing opportunities for voter registration by any person who is qualified to be a voter under Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution.

(b) This chapter shall not be construed as requiring the department to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting. The Secretary of State is solely responsible for determining eligibility for voter registration, voter preregistration, and voting.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2262 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 1. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)