citation: ELEC § 1415

text:
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a city or city and county charter proposal proposed by the governing body of a city or city and county on its own motion that qualifies pursuant to Section 9255 shall be submitted to the voters at the next established statewide general election pursuant to Section 1200 occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election.

(2) The governing body of a city or city and county may direct that either of the following be submitted to the voters at the next regularly scheduled general municipal election pursuant to Section 1301, or at any established statewide general or statewide primary election pursuant to Section 1200 or 1201, occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election:

(A) A charter proposal that proposes to amend a charter in a manner that does not alter any procedural or substantive protection, right, benefit, or employment status of any local government employee or retiree or of any local government employee organization.

(B) A charter proposal that proposes to amend a charter solely to comply with a court injunction or consent decree or with federal or state voting rights laws.

(b) A city or city and county charter proposal that proposes to amend or repeal a charter and is proposed by a petition signed by 15 percent of the registered voters of a city or 10 percent of the registered voters of a city and county, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9255, shall be submitted to the voters at the next regularly scheduled general municipal election pursuant to Section 1301, or at any established statewide general or statewide primary election pursuant to Section 1200 or 1201, occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 184, Sec. 1. (SB 311) Effective January 1, 2014.)


kind: section

code: ELEC

citation: ELEC § 1500

text:
The established mailed ballot election dates are as follows:

(a) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each year.

(b) The last Tuesday in August of each year.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 58, Sec. 1. (AB 3259) Effective January 1, 2019.)

division: 1. ESTABLISHED ELECTION DATES

chapter: 6. Mail Ballot Elections

path: 1. ESTABLISHED ELECTION DATES > 6. Mail Ballot Elections


citation: ELEC § 2000

text:
(a) Every person who qualifies under Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution and who complies with this code governing the registration of electors may vote at any election held within the territory within which he or she resides and the election is held.

(b) Any person who will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election is eligible to register and vote at that election.

(c) Pursuant to Section 2102, any person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements to vote is eligible to preregister to vote, but is not eligible to vote until he or she is 18 years of age.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 1. (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.)

division: 2. VOTERS

chapter: 1. Voter Qualifications

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 2. VOTERS > 1. Voter Qualifications > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2020

text: The term of domicile is computed by including the day on which the person’s domicile commenced and by excluding the day of the election.

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

path: 2. VOTERS > 1. Voter Qualifications > 2. Determination of Residence and Domicile


citation: ELEC § 2021

text:
(a) A person who leaves his or her home to go into another state or precinct in this state for temporary purposes merely, with the intention of returning, does not lose his or her domicile.

(b) A person does not gain a domicile in any precinct into which he or she comes for temporary purposes merely, without the intention of making that precinct his or her home.

article: 2. Determination of Residence and Domicile


citation: ELEC § 2022

text: If a person moves to another state with the intention of making it his or her domicile, the voter loses his or her domicile in this state.


citation: ELEC § 2023

text: If a person moves to another state as a place of permanent residence, with the intention of remaining there for an indefinite time, he or she loses his or her domicile in this state, notwithstanding that he or she intends to return at some future time.


citation: ELEC § 2024

text: The mere intention to acquire a new domicile, without the fact of removal avails nothing, neither does the fact of removal without the intention.


citation: ELEC § 2025

text: A person does not gain or lose a domicile solely by reason of his or her presence or absence from a place while employed in the service of the United States or of this state, nor while engaged in navigation, nor while a student of any institution of learning, nor while kept in an almshouse, asylum or prison. This section shall not be construed to prevent a student at an institution of learning from qualifying as an elector in the locality where he or she domiciles while attending that institution, when in fact the student has abandoned his or her former domicile.


citation: ELEC § 2026

text:
The domicile of a Member of the Legislature or a Representative in the Congress of the United States shall be conclusively presumed to be at the residence address indicated on that person’s currently filed affidavit of registration, as long as the address is a residence under subdivision (c) of Section 349, notwithstanding that the member or representative may have another residence at which any of the following apply:

(a) A child for whom the member or representative is a parent, step-parent, foster parent, guardian, or caretaker is enrolled in school.

(b) The spouse, domestic partner, or intimate partner of the member or representative is located for employment.

(c) The member or representative receives mail or other postal or parcel deliveries.

(d) The member or representative owns, leases, or rents a dwelling.

(e) The member or representative claims a homeowner’s exemption or any other similar claim for tax purposes.

(f) The member or representative maintains accounts or pays for utilities, cable or satellite television, Internet service, home security service, home or landscape maintenance, or other similar services.

(g) The member or representative registers a vehicle or boat.

(h) The member or representative maintains policies of insurance.

(i) The member or representative has items of personal property.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 911, Sec. 1. (SB 1250) Effective January 1, 2019.)


citation: ELEC § 2027

text:
The place where a person’s family is domiciled is his or her domicile unless it is a place for temporary establishment for his or her family or for transient objects.

Residence in a trailer or vehicle or at any public camp or camping ground may constitute a domicile for voting purposes if the registrant complies with the other requirements of this article.


citation: ELEC § 2028

text: If a person has a family fixed in one place, and the person does business in another place, the former is the person’s place of domicile. However, if the person having a family fixed in one place, has taken up an abode in another place with the intention of remaining, and the person’s family does not so reside with the person, the person is a domiciliary where the person has so taken up the abode. For purposes of this section, a person may take up an abode at the same place at which the person does business.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 63, Sec. 1. (AB 679) Effective January 1, 2020.)


citation: ELEC § 2029

text: The domicile of one spouse shall not be presumed to be that of the other, but shall be determined independently in accordance with this article.


citation: ELEC § 2030

text: A domiciliary of this state who marries a person employed temporarily in this state in the service of the United States government, may elect to retain his or her domicile for the purpose of qualifying as an elector only, except that his or her domicile in this state shall terminate if the domiciliary qualifies as an elector in any other state or any territory.


citation: ELEC § 2031

text:
If a person has more than one residence and that person maintains a homeowner’s property tax exemption on the dwelling of one of the residences pursuant to Section 218 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the residence subject to the homeowner’s property tax exemption is that person’s domicile. However, this presumption shall not apply in the event any other residence is listed as the person’s current residence address on any driver’s license, identification card or vehicle registration issued to that person by, and on file with, the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If a person has more than one residence and that person claims a renter’s tax credit for one of the residences pursuant to Section 17053.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the residence subject to the renter’s tax credit is that person’s domicile. However, this presumption shall not apply in the event any other residence is listed as the person’s current residence address on any driver’s license, identification card, or vehicle registration issued to that person by, and on file with, the Department of Motor Vehicles.

This section shall not be applicable to state or federal elected officials.


citation: ELEC § 2032

text: Except as provided in this article, if a person has more than one residence and that person has not physically resided at any one of the residences within the immediate preceding year, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that those residences in which he or she has not so resided within the immediate preceding year are merely residences as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 349 and not his or her domicile.


citation: ELEC § 2033

text: Whenever the house number or the mailing address of a voter has been changed and the voter’s domicile is the same, the public agency authorizing the change shall notify the county elections official in writing of the change and the county elections official shall make the change on the voter’s affidavit of registration and a new affidavit shall not be required.


citation: ELEC § 2034

text: A person domiciled in a house or apartment lying in more than one precinct shall be registered as domiciled in the precinct designated by the county elections official on the basis of the street address or other precinct the county elections official considers appropriate unless the person requests, either by letter or in person at the office of the county elections official, that he or she wishes to be domiciled for registration purposes in another precinct in which his or her house or apartment lies. In order to fulfill the requirements of this section, the letter of request shall include the name, signature, and residence address of the requester.


citation: ELEC § 2035

text: A person duly registered as a voter in any precinct in California who removes therefrom within 14 days prior to an election shall, for the purpose of that election, be entitled to vote in the precinct from which the person so removed until the close of the polls on the date of that election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 899, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)


citation: ELEC § 2050

text: This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Visually Impaired Voter Assistance Act of 1989.

article: 3. Visually Impaired Voters

path: 2. VOTERS > 1. Voter Qualifications > 3. Visually Impaired Voters


citation: ELEC § 2051

text: As used in this article, “visually impaired” means a person having central visual acuity not to exceed 20-200 in the better eye, with corrected lenses, or visual acuity greater than 20-200, but with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends at an angle of not greater than 20 degrees.

article: 3. Visually Impaired Voters


citation: ELEC § 2052

text: It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the fundamental right to vote of visually impaired individuals, and to make efforts to improve public awareness of the availability of state voter information guide audio recordings and improve their delivery to these voters.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 2. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 3. Visually Impaired Voters


citation: ELEC § 2053

text:
The Secretary of State shall establish a Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with the committee and consider the committee’s recommendations related to improving the accessibility of elections for voters with disabilities. The Secretary of State may implement the committee’s recommendations as he or she deems appropriate.

(a) The committee shall consist of the Secretary of State, his or her designees, and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State. The appointees shall have demonstrated experience with accessibility requirements for voters with disabilities or be a county elections official.

(b) The committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of State and shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish guidelines for reaching as many voters with disabilities as practical.

(2) Make recommendations for improving the availability and accessibility of election materials, including, but not limited to, state voter information guides, county voter information guides, and vote-by-mail ballots, and their delivery in print or alternative formats to voters with disabilities.

(3) Increase the distribution of public service announcements identifying the availability of election materials for voters with disabilities at least 45 days before any federal, state, and local election.

(4) Make recommendations for improving the accessibility of election materials made available on Internet Web sites that are in compliance with the most current, ratified standards under Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794d), as amended, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility.

(5) Promote the Secretary of State’s toll-free voter registration telephone line for citizens needing voter registration information, including information for individuals with disabilities, and the California State Library and regional library services for individuals who are unable to read conventional print due to a visual, intellectual, learning, physical, or any other disability.

(6) Make recommendations for providing voters with disabilities the same access and participation as is provided to other voters who are not disabled, including the ability to vote privately and independently.

(7) Establish subcommittees to further the scope and purposes of the committee as they relate to improving voter services and access for individuals with disabilities, including, but not limited to, visually impaired voters and deaf or hard of hearing voters.

(8) Promote the use of plain language and alternative formats for election materials.

(9) Make recommendations for materials to train poll workers on issues related to serving voters with disabilities and providing accessible voting locations.

(c) A member shall not receive compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for his or her reasonable and necessary expenses in connection with service on the committee.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 3. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 3. Visually Impaired Voters


citation: ELEC § 2100

text: A person shall not be registered except as provided in this chapter or Chapter 4.5, except upon the production and filing of a certified copy of a judgment of the superior court directing registration to be made.

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

chapter: 2. Registration

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2101

text:
(a) A person entitled to register to vote shall be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election.

(b) A person entitled to preregister to vote in an election shall be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned for the conviction of a felony, and at least 16 years of age.

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

(1) “Imprisoned” means currently serving a state or federal prison term.

(2) “Conviction” does not include a juvenile adjudication made pursuant to Section 203 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 320, Sec. 1. (AB 646) Effective January 1, 2021. Note: The operational condition in Sec. 10 of Ch. 320 was satisfied by approval of Prop. 17 (ACA 6) at the Nov. 3, 2020, election.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2102

text:
(a) Except as provided in Chapter 4.5, a person shall not be registered as a voter except by affidavit of registration. The affidavit of registration shall be mailed or delivered to the county elections official and shall set forth all of the facts required to be shown by this chapter. A properly executed affidavit of registration shall be deemed effective upon receipt of the affidavit by the county elections official if received on or before the 15th day before an election to be held in the registrant’s precinct. A properly executed affidavit of registration shall also be deemed effective upon receipt of the affidavit by the county elections official if any of the following apply:

(1) The affidavit is postmarked on or before the 15th day before the election and received by mail by the county elections official.

(2) The affidavit is submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles or accepted by any other public agency designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) on or before the 15th day before the election.

(3) The affidavit is delivered to the county elections official by means other than those described in paragraphs (1) and (2) on or before the 15th day before the election.

(4) The affidavit is submitted electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2196 on or before the 15th day before the election.

(b) For purposes of verifying a signature on a recall, initiative, or referendum petition or a signature on a nomination paper or any other election petition or election paper, a properly executed affidavit of registration shall be deemed effective for verification purposes if both of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) The affidavit is signed on the same date or a date before the signing of the petition or paper.

(2) The affidavit is received by the county elections official on or before the date on which the petition or paper is filed.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the affidavit of registration required under this chapter shall not be taken under sworn oath, but the content of the affidavit shall be certified as to its truthfulness and correctness, under penalty of perjury, by the signature of the affiant.

(d) A person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements to vote may submit his or her affidavit of registration as prescribed by this section. A properly executed affidavit of registration made pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed effective as of the date the affiant will be 18 years of age, if the information in the affidavit of registration is still current at that time. If the information provided by the affiant in the affidavit of registration is not current at the time that the affidavit of registration would otherwise become effective, for his or her registration to become effective, the affiant shall provide the current information to the proper county elections official as prescribed by this chapter.

(e) An individual with a disability who is otherwise qualified to vote may complete an affidavit of registration with reasonable accommodations as needed.

(f) An individual with a disability who is under a conservatorship may be registered to vote if he or she has not been disqualified from voting.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 364, and Stats. 2014, Ch. 909, Sec. 6.5) by Stats. 2015, Ch. 736, Sec. 3.5. (SB 589) Effective January 1, 2016. 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 § 2103

text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the election board of each county, in order to promote and encourage voter registrations, shall establish a sufficient number of registration places throughout the county, and outside the county courthouse, for the convenience of persons desiring to register, to the end that registration may be maintained at a high level.

(b) It is also the intent of the Legislature that county elections officials, in order to promote and encourage voter registrations, shall enlist the support and cooperation of interested citizens and organizations in such a way as to reach most effectively every resident of the county.

(c) It is also the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote. Therefore, appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to registration by citizens who lack sufficient skill in English to register without assistance.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that county elections officials be permitted to distribute affidavits of registration and voter registration cards, in all languages required by Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, by using the county’s Internet Web site.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 3. (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 § 2105

text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to maintain voter registration at the highest possible level.

(b) A county that does not satisfy the conditions to conduct an all-mailed ballot election pursuant to Section 4005 shall design and implement a voter education and outreach plan pursuant to this section. The purpose of the plan shall be to identify and register qualified electors who are not registered to vote and to encourage participation in the electoral process.

(c) Each voter education and outreach plan shall, at a minimum, provide information to the public about online voter registration, preregistration opportunities, vote by mail procedures, ballot tracking services, options for military and overseas voters, options for voters with disabilities, options for in-person voting opportunities, language accessibility, and key election dates and deadlines.

(d) (1) The Secretary of State shall provide county elections officials a template for their voter education and outreach plans.

(2) (A) The Secretary of State shall make the most current version of each voter education and outreach plan available on the Secretary of State’s internet website.

(B) The county elections official shall make the most current version of its voter education and outreach plan available on the county elections internet website.

(3) County elections officials shall submit any amendments to their voter education and outreach plans to the Secretary of State by October 1 of each odd-numbered year.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 301, Sec. 2. (AB 1411) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall do both of the following:

(1) Establish and maintain on the department’s Internet Web site a hyperlink to the Internet Web site at which information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history may be found.

(2) Post, in each parole office where parolees are seen, a notice that contains the Internet Web site address at which information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history may be found.

(b) Each county probation department shall do both of the following:

(1) Establish and maintain on the county probation department’s Internet Web site a hyperlink to the Internet Web site at which information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history may be found.

(2) Post, in each probation office where probationers are seen, a notice that contains the Internet Web site address at which information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history may be found.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 796, Sec. 1. (AB 1344) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide each person on parole under its jurisdiction, upon that person’s request made at any time during the parole, information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history.

(b) Each county probation department is encouraged to notify persons that a printed version of information regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history who are under the department’s supervision is available upon request.

(c) Each county probation department shall provide each person under the department’s supervision, upon the person’s request, information provided by the Secretary of State regarding voting rights for persons with a criminal history.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 320, Sec. 2. (AB 646) Effective January 1, 2021. Note: The operational condition in Sec. 10 of Ch. 320 was satisfied by approval of Prop. 17 (ACA 6) at the Nov. 3, 2020, election.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) A state or local juvenile detention facility, including, but not limited to, a juvenile hall, juvenile ranch, juvenile camp, or a facility of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice, shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify each individual housed in the facility who is of age to register to vote and not in prison for the conviction of a felony.

(2) Provide an affidavit of registration to each individual housed in the facility who is of age to register to vote and not in prison for the conviction of a felony by doing either of the following:

(A) Providing the individual a paper affidavit of registration.

(B) Directing the individual to an affidavit of registration provided on the internet website of the Secretary of State.

(3) Assist each individual housed in the facility who is of age to register to vote and not in prison for the conviction of a felony with the completion of the affidavit of registration, unless the individual declines assistance.

(b) A facility providing paper affidavits of registration pursuant to subdivision (a) shall do either of the following:

(1) Assist the individual who completed the voter registration card in returning the completed card to the county elections official.

(2) Accept any completed voter registration card and transmit the card to the county elections official.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 320, Sec. 3. (AB 646) Effective January 1, 2021. Note: The operational condition in Sec. 10 of Ch. 320 was satisfied by approval of Prop. 17 (ACA 6) at the Nov. 3, 2020, election.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2106

text: A program adopted by a county pursuant to Section 2103 or 2105, that is designed to encourage the registration of electors, shall contain the following statement in printed literature or media announcements made in connection with the program: “A person entitled to register to vote must be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not currently imprisoned in a state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the election. A person may preregister to vote if that person is a United States citizen, a resident of California, not currently imprisoned in a state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony, and at least 16 years of age.” A county elections official may continue to use existing materials before printing new or revised materials required by any changes to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 320, Sec. 4. (AB 646) Effective January 1, 2021. Note: The operational condition in Sec. 10 of Ch. 320 was satisfied by approval of Prop. 17 (ACA 6) at the Nov. 3, 2020, election.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2111

text: A person may prove he or she is a citizen by his or her certification under penalty of perjury on the affidavit of registration.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2112

text: Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the fact that a person certifies to his or her United States citizenship by signing his or her affidavit of registration shall be deemed evidence of citizenship for voting purposes only.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2114

text:
The county elections official of any county in this state may receive the affidavit of registration of any elector who resides or claims residence in another county in this state. The affidavit shall be forwarded to the county elections official of the county in which the elector resides. The county elections official of the county in which the elector resides shall use the affidavit of registration received from the other county as his or her permanent record of registration.

Registration by this method shall be effective for all elections occurring 15 or more days after receipt of the affidavit of registration by the county elections official to which the affidavit is mailed or delivered by the elector.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 13. (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 § 2115

text:
Whenever a voter, between the time of that person’s last registration and the time for the closing of registration for any given election, has lawfully changed his or her surname, the voter shall reregister under the new or changed name. The voter shall make an additional statement at the time of reregistration, giving the name under which he or she was last registered.

This additional statement shall be given in the prior registration portion of the affidavit of registration before the affidavit is signed, and shall be deemed a part of the affidavit. Upon reregistration, the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 14. (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 § 2116

text:
(a) Whenever a voter, between the time of that person’s last voter registration and the time for the closing of registration for any given election, has changed his or her residence address by moving, the voter shall execute a new affidavit of registration or a notice or a letter of the change of address as permitted in Section 2119, in order to be eligible to vote at the next election.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a voter who has changed his or her residence address by moving may vote at the election immediately following the change of residence if he or she is entitled to vote under Section 2035 or 14311.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1123, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2119

text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 2170), the county elections official shall accept affidavits of registration at all times except during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, when registration shall cease for that election as to electors residing in the territory within which the election is held.

(b) Transfers of registration for an election may be made from one precinct to another precinct in the same county, from one county to another county, or for a residence address change within the same precinct at any time registration is in progress in the precinct or county to which the elector seeks to transfer. In lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration for a change of address, the county elections official shall accept a notice, a letter of the change of address signed by a voter as the voter is registered, or written notice.

The former address shall be maintained with the voter record and the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated.

(c) If the reregistration or transfer is from one county to another county, the county elections official of the county in which the voter was formerly registered shall be notified and the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated.

(d) The county elections official shall accept an affidavit of registration or a notification for the forthcoming election and shall immediately update the address on the voter’s affidavit of registration accordingly if the affidavit of registration or notification is executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election and if any of the following apply:

(1) The mailed affidavit of registration or notification is postmarked on or before the 15th day prior to the election and received by mail by the county elections official before the close of the polls on election day.

(2) The affidavit of registration or notification is submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles or accepted by any other public agency designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) on or before the 15th day prior to the election.

(3) The affidavit of registration or notification is delivered to the county elections official by means other than those described in paragraphs (1) and (2) on or before the 15th day prior to the election.

(4) The affidavit is submitted electronically on the internet website of the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2196 on or before the 15th day prior to the election.

(e) If the registration, reregistration, or notification is executed during the 14 days before an election or is executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election, but does not meet any of the conditions set forth in subdivision (d), the registration of the voter or the update to the registration of the voter shall be immediately processed, but the voter will not be eligible to vote in that election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 109, Sec. 3. (AB 2582) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) From the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day, in lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration for a change of address within the same county, the county elections official shall accept a written request by a voter that contains all of the following:

(1) The voter’s printed name.

(2) The voter’s former residence address.

(3) The voter’s new residence address.

(4) A certification by the voter of the content of the written request as to its truthfulness and correctness, under penalty of perjury.

(5) The voter’s signature and date of execution.

(b) The written request shall be delivered to the county elections official’s office or to any location that offers conditional voter registration and at which a ballot can be issued. Following delivery to such a location, the county elections official shall issue a ballot in accordance with the following:

(1) A nonprovisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies:

(A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, and the voter either has not been issued a vote by mail ballot or the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are satisfied.

(B) The voter appears at a location that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, the location can provide the voter with a ballot for the voter’s precinct, the entire county has established connectivity between locations, and the location at which the voter appears verifies that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election and notes in the voter’s record that the voter cast a ballot.

(2) A provisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies:

(A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, the voter has been issued a vote by mail ballot, and the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are not satisfied.

(B) The voter appears at a location, other than the voter’s precinct, that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, but the entire county has not established connectivity between locations such that the location is unable to verify that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election.

(c) Upon receipt of a properly executed written request described in subdivision (a), the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated and the written request shall be maintained with the voter’s record.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 1, Sec. 1. (SB 207) Effective February 13, 2020.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2120

text:
(a) If the county elections official receives a letter from a voter stating that the voter has moved to a new address in another county in the state and the voter provides the new address, the elections official shall immediately update the voter’s registration and the former address shall be maintained with the voter record.

(b) If the county elections official receives a letter from a voter stating that the voter has moved to a new address in another county in the state and the voter does not provide the new address, the elections official shall cancel the old registration for any election occurring at least 15 days after the receipt of the letter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 20. (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 § 2121

text: No fees may be charged for registration.

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

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2122

text:
The county elections official may cause to be written or printed upon the top margin, or in the body of the affidavit, in addition to any matter provided for in this code, any words necessary or convenient to designate the precinct, district, or political subdivision for which the affidavit is taken, or to indicate any removal or transfer of registration. Any other reasonable memoranda may be added that is necessary or convenient to enable the county elections official to perform his or her duties in assorting or classifying or handling affidavits with correctness and dispatch. However, the memoranda shall not include notations, whether coded or not, that indicate that the registrant has signed a particular initiative, referendum, or recall petition unless the notations are made other than on the body of the affidavit of registration. Any memoranda, notations, devices, computer data, or other means or material employed by the elections official indicating which petition or petitions have been signed by any registrant shall be destroyed as soon as practicable after the certification of the results of the election for which the memoranda, notations, devices, computer data, or other means or material was used, or if no election is held, as soon as practicable after the final certification of the elections official showing the results of the examination of the petition. In no event shall the memoranda, notations, devices, computer data, or other means or material be retained for more than 30 days.

The memoranda, notations, devices, computer data, or other means or material employed by the elections official indicating which petition or petitions have been signed by any registrant shall be available for the use of the elections official and his or her staff only and then only for the purposes for which they were prepared. Except as previously provided, they shall not be made available to any person or entity, public or private, for any purpose whatsoever.

Memoranda added to the body of the affidavit of registration, which are not applicable to the requirements of Section 2150, shall not be deemed a portion of the affidavit.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2123

text: In accordance with Section 11 of the initiative act approved by a majority of the voters at the general election held on November 4, 1930, (Statutes of 1931, p. lxxxiii) and entitled “An act to amend Sections 1083a, 1094, 1095a, 1097, 1103, 1105, 1106, 1115, 1120, and to repeal Sections 1228 and 1229 of the Political Code, relating to registration of electors and conduct of elections,” no amendment by the Legislature shall provide for a general biennial or other periodic reregistration of voters.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2124

text: The Secretary of State shall, by regulation, adopt uniform standards for proof of residency, which shall apply in all instances where voters and new registrants are required by law to prove residency.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 809, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 2130

text: From moneys appropriated by the Legislature, the Controller shall allocate and disburse to the counties the amounts necessary to reimburse them for net costs incurred by them in complying with the voter registration provisions, including the provisions authorizing voter registration by mail and voter outreach programs, as set forth in Chapter 704 of the Statutes of 1975, as amended. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Controller, shall develop a formula for the reimbursement of these costs. The Controller shall prescribe the forms for filing claims pursuant to this section. These claims shall be submitted to the Controller by February 15 in the year following the fiscal year in which the costs were incurred.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 402, Sec. 2. (AB 2797) Effective January 1, 2011.)

article: 2. Reimbursable Voter Outreach Costs

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 2. Reimbursable Voter Outreach Costs


citation: ELEC § 2131

text:
The Secretary of State may provide grants to local elections officials, nonprofit corporations, and unincorporated associations for the following purposes:

(a) To conduct voter outreach and voter education programs, in accordance with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-252), using funds provided to the state by Sections 101 and 251 of that act.

(b) To increase accessibility for eligible voters with disabilities, in accordance with the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-252), using funds provided to the state by Section 261 of that act.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 809, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 2. Reimbursable Voter Outreach Costs


citation: ELEC § 2138

text: Individuals and organizations distributing voter registration cards pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158 and who receive completed voter registration cards from voters shall return the completed cards to the county elections official or shall deposit the cards in the postal service within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, of receipt from a voter.

article: 3. Registration Procedures

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 3. Registration Procedures


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, an affiant’s driver’s license number, identification card number, social security number, and signature contained on an affidavit of registration are confidential and shall not be disclosed by an individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158, or by a person entrusted with an affidavit of registration from an elector pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2158. However, this subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit a person entrusted with an affidavit of registration from an elector pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2158 from returning the affidavit to the individual or organization that distributed the voter registration card pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158.

(b) An individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158, a person entrusted with an affidavit of registration from an elector pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2158, or an individual or organization that assists with the submission of an affidavit of registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State shall comply with both of the following:

(1) Shall not use affidavit of registration information for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including for any of the following:

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

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

(C) Reproduction in print, broadcast visual or audio, or display on the Internet.

(2) Shall employ reasonable security measures, including employing administrative and physical safeguards, and, for affidavit of registration information available in an electronic form, technical safeguards, to protect the voter registration information from unlawful disclosure and misuse.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 593, Sec. 1. (AB 1446) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 3. Registration Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2139

text: On the day of the close of registration for any election all individuals and organizations that have submitted plans for distribution shall immediately return all completed affidavits of registration in their possession to the county elections official. Unused affidavits shall be returned upon completion of the distribution plan.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 24. (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: 3. Registration Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2140

text: The county elections official shall report to the district attorney of the county, under oath, the name of any individuals or organizations that have submitted plans for distribution who have not complied with this article.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 25. (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: 3. Registration Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2142

text:
(a) If the county elections official refuses to register a qualified elector in the county, the elector may proceed by action in the superior court to compel his or her registration. In an action under this section, as many persons may join as plaintiffs as have causes of action.

(b) If the county elections official has not registered a qualified elector who claims to have registered to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other public agency designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), the elector may proceed by action in the superior court to compel his or her registration. In an action under this section, as many persons may join as plaintiffs as have causes of action.

(c) No fee shall be charged by the clerk of the court for services rendered in an action under this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 84. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 3. Registration Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2143

text: Costs shall not be recovered against the county elections official in any action under this chapter, unless it is alleged in the complaint, and established on the trial, that the county elections official knowingly and willfully violated his or her duty.

article: 3. Registration Procedures


citation: ELEC § 2145

text: This article shall be known and may be cited as the Student Voter Registration Act of 2003.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 819, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 3.5. Student Voter Registration

path: 2. VOTERS > 2. Registration > 3.5. Student Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2146

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall annually provide every high school, community college, and California State University and University of California campus with voter registration forms. The Secretary of State shall provide additional forms to a school, free of charge, if so requested by a school.

(b) The Secretary of State shall provide a written notice with each registration form describing eligibility requirements and informing each student that he or she may return the completed form in person or by mail to the elections official of the county in which the student resides or to the Secretary of State.

(c) (1) (A) Every community college and California State University campus that operates an automated class registration system on or before January 1, 2008, shall, through an automated program, in coordination with the Secretary of State, permit students, during the class registration process, to apply to register to vote online by submitting an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.

(B) A community college or California State University campus that does not operate an automated class registration system on or before January 1, 2008, shall, within two years of implementing an automated class registration system, through an automated program in coordination with the Secretary of State, permit students, during the class registration process, to apply to register to vote online by submitting an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.

(2) As soon as a community college or California State University or University of California campus complies with paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may continue, at his or her discretion, to provide the campus with voter registration forms unless the campus requests not to receive the voter registration forms.

(3) The University of California is encouraged to comply with this subdivision.

(d) The Secretary of State shall submit to the Legislature, on or before January 1 of each year, a report on its student voter registration efforts pursuant to this article. This report shall include estimates as to how many voter registration forms were sent to high schools, community colleges, and California State University and University of California campuses; how many voter registration forms were submitted; and how many electronic affidavits of voter registration were submitted by students pursuant to subdivision (c).

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that every eligible high school and college student receive a meaningful opportunity to apply to register to vote. It is also the intent of the Legislature that every school do all in its power to ensure that students are provided the opportunity and means to apply to register to vote. This may include providing voter registration forms at the start of the school year, including voter registration forms with orientation materials; placing voter registration forms at central locations, including voter registration forms with graduation materials; or providing hyperlinks to, and the Internet Web site address of, the Secretary of State’s electronic voter registration system in notices sent by electronic mail to students and placed on the Internet Web site of the high school, college, or university.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 593, Sec. 2. (AB 1446) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 3.5. Student Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2147

text: No later than July 1, 2018, the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall implement a process and the infrastructure to allow a person who enrolls online at the institution to submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State in accordance with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 2196). The University of California is encouraged to coordinate with the Secretary of State pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 417, Sec. 2. (AB 2455) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 3.5. Student Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2148

text:
(a) Every high school, community college, and California State University campus shall designate a contact person and provide his or her address, telephone number, and e-mail address, when possible, to the Secretary of State for the Secretary of State to contact in order to facilitate the distribution of voter registration cards, as provided under this article.

(b) The University of California is encouraged to comply with this subdivision.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 481, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)

article: 3.5. Student Voter Registration


text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall promote and seek to improve student voter registration rates and participation by developing a Students Vote Project to implement the requirements of Section 66852 of the Education Code.

(b) Through the Students Vote Project, the Secretary of State shall provide to the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California, or campuses thereof, the materials and resources required by Section 66852 of the Education Code, including print calendars with civic- and election-related dates.

(c) The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain an internet web page for the Students Vote Project, which shall include the dates and information required to be distributed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 66852 of the Education Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 559, Sec. 3. (AB 963) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 3.5. Student Voter Registration


citation: ELEC § 2150

text:
(a) The affidavit of registration shall show:

(1) The facts necessary to establish the affiant as an elector.

(2) The affiant’s name at length, including the person’s given name, and a middle name or initial, or if the initial of the given name is customarily used, then the initial and middle name. The affiant’s given name may be preceded, at the affiant’s option, by the designation of “Miss,” “Ms.,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.” A person shall not be denied the right to register because of that person’s failure to mark a prefix to the given name and shall be so advised on the voter registration card. This subdivision shall not be construed as requiring the printing of prefixes on an affidavit of registration.

(3) The affiant’s place of residence, residence telephone number, if furnished, and email address, if furnished. A person shall not be denied the right to register because of the person’s failure to furnish a telephone number or email address, and shall be so advised on the voter registration card.

(4) The affiant’s mailing address, if different from the place of residence.

(5) The affiant’s date of birth to establish that the affiant will be at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the next election. In the case of an affidavit of registration submitted pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2102, the affiant’s date of birth to establish that the affiant is at least 16 years of age.

(6) The state or country of the affiant’s birth.

(7) (A) In the case of an affiant who has been issued a current and valid driver’s license, the affiant’s driver’s license number.

(B) In the case of any other affiant, other than an affiant to whom subparagraph (C) applies, the last four digits of the affiant’s social security number.

(C) If a voter registration affiant has not been issued a current and valid driver’s license or a social security number, the state shall assign the affiant a number that will serve to identify the affiant for voter registration purposes. If the state has a computerized list in effect under this paragraph and the list assigns unique identifying numbers to registrants, the number assigned under this subparagraph shall be the unique identifying number assigned under the list.

(8) The affiant’s political party preference.

(9) That the affiant is currently not imprisoned for the conviction of a felony.

(10) A prior registration portion indicating whether the affiant has been registered at another address, under another name, or as preferring another party. If the affiant has been so registered, the affiant shall give an additional statement giving that address, name, or party.

(b) The affiant shall certify the content of the affidavit of registration as to its truthfulness and correctness, under penalty of perjury, with the signature of the affiant’s name and the date of signing. If the affiant is unable to write, the affiant shall sign with a mark or cross. An affiant who is an individual with a disability may complete the affidavit with reasonable accommodations as needed.

(c) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space that would enable the affiant to state the affiant’s ethnicity or race, or both. An affiant shall not be denied the ability to register because the affiant declines to state the affiant’s ethnicity or race.

(d) If a person assists the affiant in completing the affidavit of registration, that person shall sign and date the affidavit below the signature of the affiant.

(e) The Secretary of State may continue to supply existing affidavits of registration to county elections officials before printing new or revised forms that reflect the changes made to this section by Chapter 508 of the Statutes of 2007.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 14, Sec. 1. (SB 504) Effective March 31, 2022.)

article: 4. Forms

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


citation: ELEC § 2151

text:
(a) At the time of registering and of transferring registration, an elector may disclose the name of the political party that he or she prefers. The name of that political party shall be stated in the affidavit of registration and the index.

(b) (1) The voter registration card shall inform the affiant that an elector may decline to disclose a political party preference, but a person shall not be entitled to vote the ballot of a political party at a primary election for President of the United States or for a party committee unless he or she has disclosed the name of the party that he or she prefers or unless he or she has declined to disclose a party preference and the political party, by party rule duly noticed to the Secretary of State, authorizes a person who has declined to disclose a party preference to vote the ballot of that political party. The voter registration card shall further inform the affiant that a registered voter may vote for any candidate at a primary election for state elective office or congressional office, regardless of the disclosed party preference of the registrant or the candidate seeking that office or the refusal of the registrant or candidate to disclose a party preference.

(2) The voter registration card shall include a listing of all qualified political parties. As part of that listing, the voter registration card shall also contain an option that permits the affiant to decline to disclose a party preference. This option shall be placed at the end of the listing of qualified political parties.

(c) A person shall not be permitted to vote the ballot of a party or for delegates to the convention of a party other than the party disclosed as preferred in his or her registration, except as provided by Section 2152 or unless he or she has declined to disclose a party preference and the party, by party rule duly noticed to the Secretary of State, authorizes a person who has declined to disclose a party preference to vote the party ballot or for delegates to the party convention.

(d) As of the effective date of the statute that added this subdivision, any voter who previously stated a political party affiliation when registering to vote shall be deemed to have disclosed that same party as his or her political party preference unless the voter files a new affidavit of registration disclosing a different political party preference or no political party preference. Any voter who previously declined to state a party affiliation shall be deemed to have declined to disclose a party preference unless the voter files a new affidavit of registration disclosing a different political party preference.

(e) The Secretary of State may continue to supply existing affidavits of registration prior to printing new or revised forms that reflect the changes required pursuant to any amendment made to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 3, Sec. 5. (AB 1413) Effective February 10, 2012.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2152

text:
(a) Whenever any voter has declined to disclose or has changed the voter’s party preference prior to the close of registration for an election, the voter may either so disclose or have a change recorded by executing a new affidavit of registration and completing the prior registration portion of the affidavit.

(b) From the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day, in lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration to disclose or have a change recorded for a voter’s political party preference, the county elections official shall accept a written request by a voter that discloses or changes the voter’s political party preference and that contains all of the following:

(1) The voter’s printed name.

(2) The voter’s current residence address.

(3) The voter’s new political party preference.

(4) A certification by the voter of the content of the written request as to its truthfulness and correctness, under penalty of perjury.

(5) The voter’s signature and date of execution.

(c) The written request shall be delivered to the county elections official’s office or to any location that offers conditional voter registration and at which a ballot for the political party for which the voter disclosed a preference can be issued. Following delivery to such a location, the county elections official shall issue a ballot in accordance with the following:

(1) A nonprovisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies:

(A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, and the voter either has not been issued a vote by mail ballot or the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are satisfied.

(B) The voter appears at a location that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, the location can provide the voter with a ballot for the voter’s precinct, the entire county has established connectivity between locations, and the location at which the voter appears verifies that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election and notes in the voter’s record that the voter cast a ballot.

(2) A provisional ballot shall be issued to the voter if either of the following applies:

(A) The voter appears at the voter’s precinct, the voter’s name is found on the roster, the voter has been issued a vote by mail ballot, and the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 are not satisfied.

(B) The voter appears at a location, other than the voter’s precinct, that is equipped with an electronic poll book or other means to determine the voter’s precinct, but the entire county has not established connectivity between locations such that the location is unable to verify that the voter has not cast a ballot at another location for the election.

(d) Upon receipt of a properly executed written request described in subdivision (b), the registration of the voter shall be immediately updated and the written request shall be maintained with the voter’s record.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 1, Sec. 2. (SB 207) Effective February 13, 2020.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2153

text:
(a) Except as provided in Section 2154, the affidavit of registration shall show all the facts required to be stated.

(b) If the affidavit does not contain all of the information required, the county elections official shall attempt to contact the affiant and collect the missing information.

(c) If the affidavit does not contain all of the information required, and the county elections official is not able to collect the missing information, but the mailing address of the affiant is legible, the county elections official shall inform the affiant of the reason for rejection and shall send to the affiant either of the following:

(1) A new voter registration card.

(2) Any other document, as determined by the elections official, on which the affiant may provide the missing information. An affiant who provides information pursuant to this paragraph shall certify under penalty of perjury that the information provided is true and correct.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 118, Sec. 1. (AB 1730) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2154

text:
In the event that the county elections official receives an affidavit of registration, executed under penalty of perjury, that does not include portions of the information for which space is provided, the county elections official shall apply the following rebuttable presumptions:

(a) If no middle name or initial is shown, it shall be presumed that none exists.

(b) If no party preference is shown, it shall be presumed that the affiant has declined to disclose a party preference. The county elections official shall designate the affiant’s party preference as “Unknown” on a roster under Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) and the affiant shall otherwise be treated as a “No Party Preference” voter.

(c) If no execution date is shown, it shall be presumed that the affidavit was executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election, provided that (1) the affidavit is received by the county elections official on or before the 15th day before the election, or (2) the affidavit is postmarked on or before the 15th day before the election and received by mail by the county elections official.

(d) If the affiant fails to identify his or her state of birth within the United States, it shall be presumed that the affiant was born in a state or territory of the United States if the birthplace of the affiant is shown as “United States,” “U.S.A.,” or other recognizable term designating the United States. The affiant’s failure to furnish his or her place of birth shall not preclude his or her affidavit of registration from being deemed complete.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 10. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2155

text:
Upon receipt of a properly executed affidavit of registration or address correction notice or letter pursuant to Section 2119, Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220), or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), the county elections official shall send the voter a voter notification by nonforwardable, first-class mail, address correction requested. The voter notification shall state the party preference for which the voter has registered in the following format:

Party: (Name of political party)

The voter notification shall be substantially in the following form:

VOTER NOTIFICATION

You are registered to vote. The party preference you chose, if any, is on this card. This card is being sent as a notification of:

1. Your recently completed affidavit of registration.

OR,

2. A change to your registration because of an official notice that you have moved. If your residence address has not changed or if your move is temporary, please call or write to our office immediately.

OR,

3. Your recent registration with a change in party preference. If this change is not correct, please call or write to our office immediately.You may vote in any election held 15 or more days after the date on this card.

Your name will appear on the roster kept at the polls.

Please contact our office if the information shown on the reverse side of this card is incorrect.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 58, Sec. 2. (AB 3259) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 4. Forms


text:
(a) In lieu of the voter notification required by Section 2155, a person under 18 years of age who submits an affidavit of registration pursuant to Section 2101 or subdivision (d) of Section 2102, as amended by Chapter 619 of the Statutes of 2014, shall be sent a voter preregistration notice upon a determination that the affidavit of registration is properly executed and that the person otherwise satisfies all eligibility requirements to vote, except that he or she is under 18 years of age. The county elections official shall send the voter preregistration notice by nonforwardable, first-class mail, address correction requested.

(b) The voter preregistration notice required by subdivision (a) shall be substantially in the following form: VOTER PREREGISTRATION NOTICE Thank you for preregistering to vote. You may vote in any election held on or after your 18th birthday.

Your party preference is: (Name of political party)

Before any election in which you are eligible to vote, you will receive a state voter information guide and county voter information guide by mail.

If the information on this card is incorrect, please contact our office or update your preregistration at the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 29) by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 5. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017. Note: The condition in Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 86, was satisfied by the certification by the Secretary of State on September 26, 2016.)

article: 4. Forms


text: An elections official may, upon receipt of a properly executed affidavit of registration or address correction notice or letter pursuant to Section 2119, Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220) of Chapter 3, or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), or an affidavit of registration pursuant to Section 2101 or subdivision (d) of Section 2102, notify the sender by text message or email that his or her voter registration information has been received and that he or she will receive a subsequent notification pursuant to Section 2155 or 2155.3.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 29, Sec. 1. (AB 4) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 4. Forms


text:
(a) The Secretary of State may, in coordination with county elections officials who choose to participate, develop specific procedures to address complaints related to voter registration, including procedures to promptly reregister voters who believe their registration was changed improperly.

(b) The procedures adopted pursuant to this section shall not provide any exemption to laws related to voter registration within the 15 days prior to an election.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 316, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2156

text: The Secretary of State shall print, or cause to be printed, the blank forms of the voter notification prescribed by Section 2155 and the voter preregistration notice prescribed by Section 2155.3. The Secretary of State shall supply the forms to the county elections official in quantities and at times requested by the county elections official. The Secretary of State may continue to supply, and the county elections officials may continue to use, existing forms prior to printing new or revised forms as required by any changes to Section 2155 or 2155.3.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 619, Sec. 5. (SB 113) Effective January 1, 2015. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2014, Ch. 619, Sec. 8.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2157

text:
(a) Subject to this chapter, the paper affidavit of registration shall be in a form prescribed by regulations adopted by the Secretary of State. The affidavit shall comply with all of the following:

(1) Contain the information prescribed in Section 2150.

(2) Contain, near the signature line of the affiant, 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 affidavit of registration.

(3) Allow for the inclusion of informational language to meet the specific needs of that county, including, but not limited to, the return address of the elections official in that county, and a telephone number at which a voter can obtain elections information in that county.

(4) Be included on one portion of a multipart card, to be known as a voter registration card, the other portions of which shall include information sufficient to facilitate completion and mailing of the affidavit. The affidavit portion of the multipart card shall be numbered according to regulations adopted by the Secretary of State. For purposes of facilitating the distribution of voter registration cards as provided in Section 2158, there shall be attached to the affidavit portion a receipt. The receipt shall be separated from the body of the affidavit by a perforated line.

(5) Contain, in a type size and color of ink that is clearly distinguishable from surrounding text, a statement identical or substantially similar to the following:

“Certain voters facing life-threatening situations may qualify for confidential voter status. For more information, please contact the Secretary of State’s Safe At Home program or visit the Secretary of State’s website.”

(6) Contain, in a type size and color of ink that is clearly distinguishable from surrounding text, a statement that the use of voter registration information for commercial purposes is a misdemeanor pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2194 and Section 18109, and any suspected misuse shall be reported to the Secretary of State.

(7) Contain a toll-free fraud hotline telephone number maintained by the Secretary of State that the public may use to report suspected fraudulent activity concerning misuse of voter registration information.

(8) Be returnable to the county elections official as a self-enclosed mailer with postage prepaid by the Secretary of State.

(b) Nothing contained in this division shall prevent the use of voter registration cards and affidavits of registration in existence on the effective date of this section and produced pursuant to regulations of the Secretary of State, and all references to voter registration cards and affidavits in this division shall be applied to the existing voter registration cards and affidavits of registration.

(c) The Secretary of State may continue to supply existing affidavits of registration prior to printing new or revised forms that reflect the changes required pursuant to this section or Section 2150.

(d) An affidavit of registration shall not be submitted electronically on a county’s internet website. However, a county may provide a hyperlink on the county’s internet website to the Secretary of State’s electronic voter registration system.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 102, Sec. 1. (AB 1619) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 4. Forms


text: It is the intent of the Legislature that a voter be fully informed of the permissible uses of personal information supplied by him or her for the purpose of completing a voter registration affidavit.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 726, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)

article: 4. Forms


text:
In order that a voter be fully informed of the permissible uses of personal information supplied by him or her for the purpose of completing a voter registration affidavit, local elections officials shall post on any local elections official’s Internet Web site relating to voter information, and the Secretary of State shall print in the state voter information guide and post on his or her Internet Web site, a statement identical or substantially similar to the following:

“Information on your voter registration affidavit will be used by elections officials to send you official information on the voting process, such as the location of your polling place and the issues and candidates that will appear on the ballot. Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law and is a misdemeanor. Voter information may be provided to a candidate for office, a ballot measure committee, or other persons for election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State. Driver’s license and social security numbers, or your signature as shown on your voter registration card, cannot be released for these purposes. If you have any questions about the use of voter information or wish to report suspected misuse of such information, please call the Secretary of State’s Voter Protection and Assistance Hotline.

“Certain voters facing life-threatening situations may qualify for confidential voter status. For more information, please contact the Secretary of State’s Safe At Home program or visit the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site.”

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 6. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2158

text:
County elections officials shall do all of the following:

(a) Provide voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 for the registration of voters at his or her office and in a sufficient number of locations throughout the county for the convenience of persons desiring to register, to the end that registration may be maintained at a high level. The cards shall be available in all languages required by Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.

(b) Provide voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 in sufficient quantities to any individuals or organizations that wish to distribute the cards other than to persons who have been convicted of violating this section within the last five years. Individuals and organizations shall be permitted to distribute voter registration cards anywhere within the county.

(1) An individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 shall obtain the voter registration cards from the county elections official or the Secretary of State. The individual or organization shall comply with all applicable regulations established by the Secretary of State when distributing the cards.

(2) If, after completing his or her voter registration card, an elector entrusts it to another person, the latter shall sign and date the attached, numbered receipt indicating his or her address and telephone number, if any, and give the receipt to the elector. Failure to comply with this paragraph shall not cause the invalidation of the registration of a voter.

(3) An individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 shall give a voter registration card to any elector requesting it, provided that the individual or organization has a sufficient number of cards.

(4) If distribution of voter registration cards pursuant to this subdivision is undertaken by mailing cards to persons who have not requested the cards, the person mailing the cards shall enclose a cover letter or other notice with each card instructing the recipients to disregard the cards if they are currently registered voters.

(c) Mail a voter registration card immediately to a person who wishes to register to vote and requests a voter registration card.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 31. (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 § 2159

text:
(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2158, any person who, in exchange for money or other valuable consideration, assists another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, shall sign in his or her handwriting and affix directly on the affidavit of registration his or her full name, telephone number, and address, and the name and telephone number of the person, company, or organization, if any, that agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration for the completed affidavit of registration. Failure to comply with this section shall not cause the invalidation of the registration of the voter.

(b) Any person who in exchange for money or other valuable consideration assists another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, and knowingly misrepresents himself or herself as having helped register another to vote on a registration form is guilty of a misdemeanor, pursuant to Section 18108.1.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 377, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.)

article: 4. Forms


text:
A person, company, or other organization that agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration, whether on a per-affidavit basis or otherwise, to a person who assists another person to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration or by assisting with the submission of an affidavit of registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State, shall do all of the following:

(a) Maintain a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all individuals that the person, company, or other organization has agreed to compensate for assisting others to register to vote, and shall provide to each person receiving that consideration a written statement of that person’s personal responsibilities and liabilities under Sections 2138, 2138.5, 2139, 2150, 2158, 2159, 18100, 18101, 18103, 18106, 18108, 18108.1, and 18108.5. Receipt of the written statement shall be acknowledged, in writing, by the person receiving the consideration, and the acknowledgment shall be kept by the person, company, or organization that agrees to compensate that person. All records required by this subdivision shall be maintained for a minimum of three years, and shall be made available to the elections official, the Secretary of State, or an appropriate prosecuting agency, upon demand. As an alternate to maintaining the records required by this subdivision, the records may be filed with the county elections official, who shall retain those records for a minimum of three years. The county elections official may charge a fee, not to exceed actual costs, for storing records pursuant to this subdivision.

(b) Not render any payment or promised consideration unless the information specified in Section 2159 has been affixed personally on the affidavit in the handwriting of the person with whom the agreement for payment was made.

(c) At the time of submission of paper affidavits to an elections official, identify and separate those affidavits into groups that do and that do not comply with the requirements of Sections 2150 and 2159. A signed acknowledgment shall be attached to each group of affidavits identifying a group as in compliance with Sections 2150 and 2159, and a group as not in compliance with either Section 2150 or 2159, or both.

(d) Failure to comply with this section shall not cause the invalidation of the registration of the voter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 593, Sec. 5. (AB 1446) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2160

text:
(a) A county elections official may use a provisional ballot envelope as an affidavit of registration.

(b) A county elections official who intends to use a provisional ballot envelope as an affidavit of registration shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide a provisional ballot envelope that sets forth facts necessary to establish the voter as an elector and that contains all of the information required by Sections 2150 and 2151.

(2) Print an affidavit number on the provisional ballot envelope.

(3) Provide notice to the Secretary of State no later than the 15th day before any election that provisional ballot envelopes will be used as affidavits of registration in that election.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 113, Sec. 2. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2161

text: The Secretary of State shall print, or cause to be printed, the blank forms of the affidavits of registration and voter registration cards prescribed by this code. The Secretary of State shall bind and number, or cause to be bound and numbered, affidavits of registration and voter registration cards as required by this code. The Secretary of State shall supply the forms to the county elections official in quantities and at times as requested by the county elections official.

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

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2162

text:
(a) No affidavits of registration other than those provided by the Secretary of State to the county elections officials, provisional ballot envelopes that comply with Section 2160, or the national voter registration forms authorized pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) shall be used for the registration of voters.

(b) A voter registration card shall not be altered, defaced, or changed in any way, other than by the insertion of a mailing address and the affixing of postage, if mailed, or as otherwise specifically authorized by the Secretary of State, before distribution of the cards.

(c) The affidavit portion of a voter registration card shall not be marked, stamped, or partially or fully completed by a person other than an elector attempting to register to vote or by a person assisting the elector in completing the affidavit at the request of the elector.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 113, Sec. 3. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2163

text: The Secretary of State shall prepare an appropriate voter registration logo that may be displayed by offices, stores, and other establishments indicating the availability of voter registration for the public. The Secretary of State, upon request, shall provide these logos free of charge to any interested person or organization.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 33. (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 § 2164

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall pay all postage for all of the following:

(1) Mailing of the voter notification and the address correction service pursuant to Section 2153.

(2) Return to the county elections official of the affidavits of registration pursuant to Section 2157.

(3) Mailing of blank voter registration cards pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2158.

(4) Any mailing of blank voter registration cards pursuant to programs adopted under Section 2105.

(b) All payments made pursuant to this section shall be made directly from funds appropriated to the Secretary of State for this purpose.

article: 4. Forms


citation: ELEC § 2165

text: Affidavits of registration shall be processed immediately.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 34. (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 § 2166

text:
(a) Any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration may have the information relating to his or her residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, declared confidential upon order of a superior court issued upon a showing of good cause that a life-threatening circumstance exists to the voter or a member of the voter’s household, and naming the county elections official as a party.

(b) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections or until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the court or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of his or her residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

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

(3) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, obtain an order from the superior court of the new county 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 (2) of subdivision (b), 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 provided a court order to the new county during the 60-day period.

(c) No action in negligence may be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information which is the subject of this section unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 35. (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


text:
(a) Any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration may have the information relating to their residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, declared confidential upon presentation of certification that the person is a participant in the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking program pursuant to Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 6205) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, or a participant in the Address Confidentiality for Reproductive Health Care Service Providers, Employees, Volunteers, Patients, and Other Individuals Who Face Threats or Violence Because of Work for a Public Entity program pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 6215) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(b) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections and all subsequent reregistrations inside or outside the county until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of their residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

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

(c) 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 unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person granted confidentiality upon receipt by the county elections official of a written notice by the address confidentiality program manager of the withdrawal, invalidation, expiration, or termination of the program participant’s certification.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 554, Sec. 1. (SB 1131) Effective September 26, 2022.)

article: 4. Forms


text:
(a) If authorized by the county board of supervisors, a county elections official shall, upon application of a public safety officer, make confidential that officer’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 public safety officer shall contain a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the person is a public safety officer as defined in subdivision (f) and that a life-threatening circumstance exists to the officer or a member of the officer’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) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections or until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of the voter’s residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

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

(3) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, if available in the 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 (2), 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) No action in negligence may 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 unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(f) “A public safety officer” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a), (d), (e), (f), or (j) of Section 7920.535 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 854, Sec. 1. (AB 3284) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 4. Forms