citation: ELEC § 2264

text:
(a) Every driver’s license application shall include a voter registration application. All of the following apply to the voter registration application included with the driver’s license application:

(1) The voter registration application shall require only the minimum information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and to enable the Secretary of State to assess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other procedures for elections.

(2) The voter registration application shall not require any information that duplicates information required for the driver’s license application, other than an additional signature or other information required by paragraph (3).

(3) The voter registration application shall include all of the following:

(A) A statement of the voter eligibility requirements, including those regarding citizenship.

(B) An attestation that the applicant meets each voter eligibility requirement.

(C) The signature of the applicant, under penalty of perjury.

(D) An opportunity to decline to register to vote.

(b) A voter who attests to the voter’s eligibility shall be registered to vote unless the voter affirmatively declines to register to vote.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 5. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


kind: section

code: ELEC

citation: ELEC § 2265

text:
(a) (1) The department, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish a schedule and method for the department to electronically provide to the Secretary of State the records specified in this section.

(2) The department and the Secretary of State shall develop and enter into an interagency agreement specifying how the department and the Secretary of State will cooperate to fulfill the requirements of this chapter. The agreement shall be updated as necessary, and the current version of the agreement shall be published on the internet website of the Secretary of State, except those parts of the agreement for which publication would compromise security.

(b) (1) The department shall provide to the Secretary of State, in a manner and method to be determined by the department in consultation with the Secretary of State, the following information associated with each person who submits a driver’s license application:

(A) Name.

(B) Date of birth.

(C) Either or both of the following, as contained in the department’s records:

(i) Residence address.

(ii) Mailing address.

(D) Digitized signature, as described in Section 12950.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(E) Telephone number, if available.

(F) Email address, if available.

(G) Language preference, if available.

(H) Political party preference, if available.

(I) Whether the person chooses to become a permanent vote by mail voter, if available.

(J) Whether the person affirmatively declined to become registered or preregistered to vote during a transaction with the department.

(K) A notation that the applicant has attested that the person meets all voter eligibility requirements, including United States citizenship, specified in Section 2101 and, as applicable, the preregistration eligibility requirements in subdivision (d) of Section 2102.

(L) Other information specified in regulations implementing this chapter.

(2) (A) A completed voter registration application included with a driver’s license application and accepted at the department shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State no later than 10 days after the department accepts it.

(B) A completed voter registration application accepted within five days of the last day to register to vote for a federal or statewide election shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State no later than five days after the date of acceptance.

(C) (i) For purposes of establishing the department’s transmittal deadlines required by this paragraph and by Section 20504(e) of Title 52 of the United States Code, the completed voter registration application included with the driver’s license application shall be deemed accepted on the date the completed voter registration application arrives at the department, whether by mail, in person, electronically, or in another manner, the application contains all of the information in paragraph (1) except to the extent paragraph (1) requires certain information to be provided only if available, and the department approves the documentation of identity submitted by the applicant that is required by the Vehicle Code for the type of license or identification card for which the applicant has applied.

(ii) This subparagraph shall become operative upon the completion of the Digital eXperience Platform project described in Item 2740-001-0044 of the Budget Act of 2021 (Chs. 21 and 69, Stats. 2021), or on July 1, 2025, whichever is earlier.

(3) (A) The department shall accept and transmit a completed voter registration application included with a driver’s license application as described in paragraph (2) even if, pursuant to the Vehicle Code, the driver’s license application is incomplete or the driver’s license or identification card associated with the voter who submitted the voter registration application is inactive due to a failure to pay fees, or any other reason that is unrelated to either of the following:

(i) The department’s approval of an applicant’s identity documentation pursuant to the Vehicle Code.

(ii) An elections official’s ability to prevent duplicate voter registrations or preregistrations, to assess the eligibility of the applicant, or to administer voter registration, preregistration, and other elections procedures.

(B) This paragraph shall become operative upon the completion of the Digital eXperience Platform project described in Item 2740-001-0044 of the Budget Act of 2021 (Chs. 21 and 69, Stats. 2021), or on July 1, 2025, whichever is earlier.

(4) (A) The department may provide the records described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary of State before the Secretary of State certifies that all of the conditions set forth in subdivision (e) of this section have been satisfied. Records provided pursuant to this paragraph shall only be used for purposes of outreach and education to eligible voters conducted by the Secretary of State.

(B) The Secretary of State shall provide materials created for purposes of outreach and education as described in this paragraph in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).

(c) The Secretary of State shall not sell, transfer, or allow any third party access to the information acquired from the department pursuant to this chapter without approval of the department, except as permitted by this chapter and Section 2194.

(d) The department shall not electronically provide records of a person who applies for or is issued a driver’s license pursuant to Section 12801.9 of the Vehicle Code because the person is unable to submit satisfactory proof that the person’s presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.

(e) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b), the department shall commence implementation of this section no later than one year after the Secretary of State certifies all of the following:

(1) The state has a statewide voter registration database that complies with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.).

(2) The Legislature has appropriated the funds necessary for the Secretary of State and the department to implement and maintain the California New Motor Voter Program.

(3) The regulations required by Section 2277 have been adopted.

(f) The department shall not electronically provide records pursuant to this section that contain a home address designated as confidential pursuant to Section 1808.2, 1808.4, or 1808.6 of the Vehicle Code.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department continue its best practice of sending notice to voters when there is a delay in processing completed voter registration applications. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the notices continue to provide information about alternative options for submitting a voter registration application.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 40. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)

division: 2. VOTERS

chapter: 4.5. California New Motor Voter Program

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


citation: ELEC § 2266

text:
(a) The willful, unauthorized disclosure of information obtained from the department pursuant to Section 2265 to any person, or the use of any false representation to obtain any of that information or the use of any of that information for a purpose other than as stated in Section 2265, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or both fine and imprisonment.

(b) The Secretary of State shall establish procedures to protect the confidentiality of the information acquired from the department pursuant to Section 2265. The disclosure of this information shall be governed by the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and the Secretary of State shall account for any disclosures, including those due to security breaches, in accordance with that act.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2264 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 4. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2267

text:
(a) If the records of a person designated in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265 constitute a completed voter registration application, the Secretary of State shall register the person to vote, or, as applicable, preregister the person to vote, unless any of the following conditions is satisfied:

(1) The person’s records, as described in Section 2265, reflect that the person affirmatively declined to become registered or preregistered to vote during a transaction with the department.

(2) The person’s records, as described in Section 2265, do not reflect that the person has attested to meeting all voter eligibility requirements specified in Section 2101 or, as applicable, all preregistration eligibility requirements in subdivision (d) of Section 2102.

(3) The Secretary of State determines that the person is ineligible to vote or, as applicable, will be ineligible to vote when the person reaches 18 years of age.

(b) If a person who is registered or preregistered to vote pursuant to this chapter does not provide a party preference, the person’s party preference shall be designated as “Unknown” on a voter registration index under Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) of Chapter 2, and the person shall otherwise be treated as a “No Party Preference” voter.

(c) If the Secretary of State receives from the department pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265 the records of a person who is currently registered to vote, the Secretary of State shall use the information in the records to update the voter’s registration information. If the Secretary of State does not receive information for the voter pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265 for which space is provided on the voter registration application, but that information was provided in the voter’s previous voter registration application, that information from the voter’s previous voter registration application shall remain part of the voter’s record.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2265 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 6. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2268

text: A person registered or preregistered to vote under this chapter may cancel the person’s voter registration or preregistration at any time by any method available to any other registered or preregistered voter.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2266 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 7. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2269

text:
This chapter does not affect the confidentiality of a person’s voter registration or preregistration information, which remains confidential pursuant to Section 2194 of this code and Section 7924.000 of the Government Code and for all of the following persons:

(a) A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking pursuant to Section 2166.5.

(b) A reproductive health care service provider, employee, volunteer, or patient pursuant to Section 2166.5.

(c) A public safety officer pursuant to Section 2166.7.

(d) A person with a life-threatening circumstance upon court order pursuant to Section 2166.

(e) A qualified worker pursuant to Section 2166.8.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 854, Sec. 3. (AB 3284) Effective January 1, 2025.)


citation: ELEC § 2270

text: If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered or preregistered to vote pursuant to this chapter in the absence of a violation by that person of Section 18100, that person’s registration or preregistration shall be presumed to have been effected with official authorization and not the fault of that person.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2268 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 9. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2271

text: If a person who is ineligible to vote becomes registered or preregistered to vote pursuant to this chapter and votes or attempts to vote in an election held after the effective date of the person’s registration or preregistration, that person shall be presumed to have acted with official authorization and shall not be guilty of fraudulently voting or attempting to vote pursuant to Section 18560, unless that person willfully votes or attempts to vote knowing that the person is not entitled to vote.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2269 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 10. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2272

text:
(a) The department shall designate an employee, known as the department’s National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) coordinator, who shall be responsible for the department’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of Section 20504 of Title 52 of the United States Code. The responsibilities of the department’s NVRA coordinator include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Ensuring the accurate processing and timely transmission of voter registration applications submitted to the department.

(2) Ensuring employees are trained pursuant to Section 2273.

(3) Coordinating with the Secretary of State’s NVRA coordinator to ensure the department’s compliance with this chapter and with Section 20504 of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(4) Ensuring that the interagency agreement required by Section 2265 is updated as necessary.

(5) Preparing monthly reports pursuant to Section 2274.

(6) Notifying the Secretary of State within three days of identifying any violations of this chapter or Section 20504 of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(7) Assisting with the preparation of the annual report required by Section 2276.

(b) The Secretary of State shall appoint an employee, known as the Secretary of State’s NVRA coordinator, who shall be responsible for the Secretary of State’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of Section 20504 of Title 52 of the United States Code. The responsibilities of the Secretary of State’s NVRA coordinator include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Monitoring voter registration records received from the department and identifying untimely registrations or other irregularities.

(2) Ensuring the accurate processing and timely transmission of voter registration applications received from the department.

(3) Ensuring employees are trained pursuant to Section 2273.

(4) Coordinating with the department’s NVRA coordinator to ensure the Secretary of State’s compliance with this chapter and with Section 20504 of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(5) Ensuring the interagency agreement required by Section 2265 is updated as necessary.

(6) Publishing the monthly reports required by Section 2274 on the Secretary of State’s internet website.

(7) Preparing the annual report required by Section 2276.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 12. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2273

text:
(a) The department’s NVRA coordinator shall ensure that each employee of the department who interacts with the California New Motor Voter Program shall, annually and as part of an initial new employee orientation, receive a training on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.). The training shall include, but is not limited to, instructing employees regarding processing voter information submitted to the department, acceptance rules, transmission deadlines, and procedures for identifying and reporting errors or delays.

(b) The Secretary of State’s NVRA coordinator shall ensure that each employee of the Secretary of State responsible for the receipt and processing of voter registration information from the department shall, annually and as part of an initial new employee orientation, receive a training on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.). The training shall include, but is not limited to, instructing employees regarding procedures for the regular monitoring of the timeliness of the receipt of registration data from department transactions and the protocol for reporting and addressing problems with the timeliness and quality of the voter registration data received from the department.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 13. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2274

text:
(a) The department, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall monitor the timeliness of the department’s transmittals to the Secretary of State pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265.

(b) By the 10th day of each calendar month, the department shall provide to the Secretary of State, in a manner and method to be determined by the department in consultation with the Secretary of State, all of the following information concerning voter registration from the preceding month:

(1) The number of completed voter registration applications transmitted to the Secretary of State after the deadlines specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265, if any.

(2) The number of notices sent pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 2265.

(3) The reasons for any irregularities in the processing of records specified in subdivision (b) of Section 2265 or in the transmittal of any completed voter registration applications after the deadlines described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2265.

(c) Within 10 days of receipt, the Secretary of State shall publish the information described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) on its internet website.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 14. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2275

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall establish a taskforce that includes all of the following members:

(1) The Secretary of State’s NVRA coordinator.

(2) The department’s NVRA coordinator.

(3) County elections officials.

(4) Individuals with demonstrated language accessibility experience for languages covered under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.).

(5) Representatives of the disability community and community organizations and individuals that advocate on behalf of, or provide services to, individuals with disabilities.

(6) Experts with demonstrated experience in the field of elections.

(7) Experts with demonstrated experience in the field of civic design.

(b) The Secretary of State shall convene the taskforce for meetings at least quarterly.

(c) The taskforce shall consult with the Secretary of State and the department on the development of the annual review required by Section 2276.

(d) The taskforce shall advise the Secretary of State and the department on the effective implementation of the California New Motor Voter Program.

This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2030, deletes or extends that date.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 378, Sec. 1. (AB 2127) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, by its own provisions.)


citation: ELEC § 2276

text:
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the department and the taskforce described in Section 2275, shall annually review the effectiveness of the California New Motor Voter Program and draft a written report. The written report shall, at a minimum, include all of the following:

(a) Information about trends of voters registering through the California New Motor Voter Program.

(b) An analysis of the information described in Section 2274 for the preceding year.

(c) A summary of any significant errors or delays during the preceding year with respect to processing or transmitting the records specified in subdivision (b) of Section 2265, and how those incidents were resolved.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 16. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2277

text:
The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations to implement this chapter, including regulations addressing both of the following:

(a) A process for canceling the registration or preregistration of a person who is ineligible to vote, but became registered or preregistered under the California New Motor Voter Program in the absence of any violation by that person of Section 18100.

(b) An education and outreach campaign informing voters about the California New Motor Voter Program that the Secretary of State will conduct to implement this chapter. The Secretary of State may use any public and private funds available for this and shall provide materials created for this outreach and education campaign in languages other than English, as required by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 2270 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 314, Sec. 11. (AB 796) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 2300

text:
(a) All voters, pursuant to the California Constitution and this code, shall be citizens of the United States. There shall be a Voter Bill of Rights for voters, available to the public, which shall convey all of the following to voters:

(1) (A) You have the right to cast a ballot if you are a valid registered voter.

(B) A valid registered voter means a United States citizen who is a resident in this state, who is at least 18 years of age and not serving a state or federal prison term for conviction of a felony, and who is registered to vote at their current residence address.

(2) You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not listed on the voting rolls.

(3) You have the right to cast a ballot if you are present and in line at the polling place before the close of the polls.

(4) You have the right to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.

(5) (A) You have the right to receive a new ballot if, before casting your ballot, you believe you made a mistake.

(B) If at any time before you finally cast your ballot, you feel you have made a mistake, you have the right to exchange the spoiled ballot for a new ballot. Vote by mail voters may also request and receive a new ballot if they return their spoiled ballot to an elections official before the closing of the polls.

(6) You have the right to receive assistance in casting your ballot, if you are unable to vote without assistance.

(7) You have the right to return a completed vote by mail ballot to any precinct in the county.

(8) You have the right to election materials in another language, if there are sufficient residents in your precinct to warrant production.

(9) (A) You have the right to ask questions about election procedures and observe the election process.

(B) You have the right to ask questions of the precinct board and elections officials regarding election procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the appropriate official for an answer. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, the precinct board or elections officials may discontinue responding to questions.

(10) You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent activity to a local elections official or to the Secretary of State’s office.

(b) Beneath the Voter Bill of Rights there shall be listed a toll-free telephone number to call if a person has been denied a voting right or to report election fraud or misconduct.

(c) The Secretary of State may do both of the following:

(1) Develop regulations to implement and clarify the Voter Bill of Rights set forth in subdivision (a).

(2) Revise the wording of the Voter Bill of Rights as necessary to ensure the use of clear and concise language free from technical terms.

(d) The Voter Bill of Rights set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be made available to the public before each election and on election day, at a minimum, as follows:

(1) The Voter Bill of Rights shall be printed in the state voter information guide, pursuant to Section 9084, in a minimum of 12-point type. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) may be printed in a smaller point type than the rest of the Voter Bill of Rights.

(2) Posters or other printed materials containing the Voter Bill of Rights shall be included in precinct supplies pursuant to Section 14105.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 320, Sec. 8. (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.)

chapter: 5. Voter Bill of Rights

path: 2. VOTERS > 5. Voter Bill of Rights


citation: ELEC § 2301

text:
(a) An international election observer may be provided uniform and nondiscriminatory access to all stages of the election process that are open to the public, including the public review period for the certification of a ballot marking system, the processing and counting of vote by mail ballots, the canvassing of ballots, and the recounting of ballots. An international election observer shall not interfere with a voter in the preparation or casting of the voter's ballot, with a precinct board member or an elections official in the performance of his or her duties, or with the orderly conduct of an election.

(b) For purposes of this section, “international election observer” means a person who witnesses the administration of an election in this state and who is an official representative of an international organization such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or the Organization of American States.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 822, Sec. 1. (AB 2021) Effective January 1, 2017.)


citation: ELEC § 2302

text: A voter or any other person shall not be prohibited from using an electronic device, including a smartphone, tablet, or other handheld device, at a polling place provided that the use of the device does not result in a violation of Section 14221, 14224, 14291, 18370, 18502, 18540, 18541, or any other provision of this code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 561, Sec. 1. (AB 1707) Effective January 1, 2020.)


citation: ELEC § 2400

text: It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, to facilitate compliance with the requirements set forth in the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) relating to voter registration services.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 15. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)

chapter: 6. Voter Registration Agencies

path: 2. VOTERS > 6. Voter Registration Agencies


citation: ELEC § 2401

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

(a) “Voter preference form” means the form described in Section 20506(a)(6)(B) of Title 52 of the United States Code.

(b) “Voter registration agency” means either of the following:

(1) A department, division, or office of state or local government, or a program supported by state funds, that is designated by executive order of the Governor or pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) as a voter registration agency.

(2) A private entity under contract with a designated voter registration agency to provide services or assistance on behalf of the designated voter registration agency.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 16. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2402

text:
(a) The Secretary of State is the chief state elections official responsible for coordination of the state’s responsibilities under the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(b) The Secretary of State shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to implement this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 17. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2403

text:
(a) A voter registration agency shall comply with the applicable duties and responsibilities of a voter registration agency set forth in the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(b) A voter registration agency, with each application for service or assistance and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance, and in accordance with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), shall provide to an applicant all of the following:

(1) A voter preference form.

(2) A voter registration card, unless the applicant, in writing, declines to register to vote.

(3) Assistance in completing the voter registration card, unless the applicant refuses the assistance.

(c) For purposes of subdivision (b), an applicant’s failure to respond to the question of whether he or she would like to register to vote does not constitute a declination to register.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 18. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2404

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall do all of the following:

(1) Coordinate with each county elections official and voter registration agency to implement this chapter.

(2) Prepare written training materials that describe the responsibilities of a county elections official and voter registration agency pursuant to this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(3) Contact a voter registration agency if the agency is not complying with the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(4) Coordinate with each state agency that evaluates the performance of an agency designated as a voter registration agency, including doing both of the following:

(A) Communicate to the state agency the requirements of, and best practices for complying with, this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(B) Assist the state agency in its effort to help a voter registration agency comply with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(b) The Secretary of State may do any of the following:

(1) Conduct a review of a voter registration agency’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(2) Conduct a review of a county elections official’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) if the county elections official fails to timely submit a report pursuant to Section 2407, or if a report indicates that the county elections official is not complying with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(3) Post the results of a review conducted pursuant to this subdivision on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 19. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2405

text:
(a) A county elections official shall be responsible for coordinating with the Secretary of State and each applicable voter registration agency within the county to administer the voter registration services required pursuant to this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

(b) The county elections official shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide voter registration cards to a voter registration agency upon request of the voter registration agency.

(2) Maintain a record of the number of voter registration cards provided to and received from each voter registration agency, and each office or site of the voter registration agency.

(3) Assist a voter registration agency, upon request, in conducting a training program for its employees based on the training materials prepared by the Secretary of State on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 20. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2406

text:
(a) A voter registration agency shall do all of the following:

(1) Notify the county elections official of each applicable county of the location of each of the voter registration agency’s offices or sites within the county.

(2) Designate an agency employee to be responsible for the agency’s compliance with this section.

(3) Request voter registration cards from the applicable county elections official, as needed.

(4) Take steps to ensure that the voter registration agency, and each office or site of the voter registration agency, has a sufficient supply of voter preference forms and voter registration cards available, including voter preference forms 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.

(5) Ensure that each employee of the voter registration agency who may provide voter registration services completes, at least once per year, a training based on the training materials prepared by the Secretary of State on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.). The voter registration agency may incorporate this training into any other training program provided by the voter registration agency for its employees.

(b) A voter registration agency may conduct a review of the agency, or an office or site of the agency, as necessary, to ensure compliance with this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 21. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2407

text: Within 10 days after the beginning of each calendar month, a county elections official shall report to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, the number of voter registration cards received from each voter registration agency and from each office or site thereof. The Secretary of State shall post the information contained in each report received from a county elections official on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 505, Sec. 2. (SB 35) Effective January 1, 2013.)


citation: ELEC § 2408

text:
(a) A voter registration agency that allows a person to apply online for service or assistance, or to submit a recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance online, shall implement a process and infrastructure that allows an applicant to electronically submit a voter preference form to the voter registration agency, and 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).

(b) If a person indicates on his or her electronic voter preference form that he or she would like to register to vote, the person shall be informed that he or she may register to vote through one of the following options, if applicable:

(1) Submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2196.

(2) Complete an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site, print a hard copy of the completed affidavit, and mail or deliver the hard copy of the completed affidavit to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county elections official pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2196.

(c) A voter registration agency may take steps to ensure that the information entered into a person’s electronic application for service or assistance, or his or her electronic recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance, will be automatically transferred to the electronic affidavit of voter registration if the person indicates that he or she would like to register to vote.

(d) The Secretary of State shall take steps to ensure that the electronic affidavit of voter registration is available, and may be electronically submitted and verified, in all languages in which a county is required to provide voting materials pursuant to 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.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 22. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)


citation: ELEC § 2500

text: As used in this chapter, an “election management system” is a system that is used by a county in the state to track voter registration or voter preferences, including, for example, a voter’s vote-by-mail status.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 268, Sec. 1. (AB 829) Effective January 1, 2014.)

chapter: 7. Election Management Systems

path: 2. VOTERS > 7. Election Management Systems


citation: ELEC § 2501

text:
(a) No later than January 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the vendor of an election management system shall cause an exact copy of the source code for each component of the election management system, including complete build and configuration instructions and related documents for compiling the source code into object code, to be deposited into an approved escrow facility. The vendor shall place in escrow source codes for each version of the election management system in use in a county in the state.

(b) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations relating to all of the following:

(1) The definition of source code components of an election management system, including source code for all firmware and software of the election management system. Firmware and software shall include commercial off-the-shelf or other third-party firmware and software that is available and able to be disclosed by the vendor of the election management system.

(2) Specifications for the escrow facility, including security and environmental specifications necessary for the preservation of the election management system source codes.

(3) Procedures for submitting election management system source codes.

(4) Criteria for access to election management system source codes.

(5) Requirements for the vendor to include in the materials deposited in escrow build and configuration instructions and documents so that a neutral third party may create, from the source codes in escrow, executable object codes identical to the code installed on the election management system.

(c) The Secretary of State shall have reasonable access to the materials placed in escrow, under the following circumstances:

(1) In the course of an investigation or prosecution regarding election management system equipment or procedures.

(2) Upon a finding by the Secretary of State that an escrow facility or escrow company is unable or unwilling to maintain materials in escrow in compliance with this section.

(3) For any other purpose deemed necessary to fulfill the provisions of this code or Section 12172.5 of the Government Code.

(d) The Secretary of State may seek injunctive relief requiring the elections officials, approved escrow facility, or any vendor or manufacturer of an election management system to comply with this section and related regulations. Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County.

(e) This section applies to all elections.


citation: ELEC § 2550

text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “electronic poll book” means an electronic list of registered voters that may be transported to the polling location. An electronic poll book shall contain all of the following voter registration data:

(1) Name.

(2) Address.

(3) Precinct.

(4) Party preference.

(5) Whether or not the voter has been issued a vote by mail ballot.

(6) Whether or not the vote by mail ballot has been recorded as received by the elections official.

(b) An electronic poll book shall not be used unless it has been certified by the Secretary of State.

(c) The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish electronic poll book standards and regulations governing the certification and use of electronic poll books.

(d) The Secretary of State shall not certify an electronic poll book unless it fulfills the requirements of this section and the Secretary of State’s standards and regulations. The Secretary of State may impose additional conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 605, Sec. 2. (SB 1328) Effective September 25, 2024.)


citation: ELEC § 2600

text: The Secretary of State shall establish a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee which shall meet no less than four times each calendar year. The committee shall consist of no less than 15 members and be comprised of the Secretary of State and his or her designee or designees and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State. The appointees shall have demonstrated language accessibility experience, have knowledge of presenting election materials to voters using plain language methods or another method that is easy for voters to access and understand, or be a county elections official or his or her designee. At least three county elections officials shall be appointed to the committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with and consider the recommendations of the committee. The committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 92. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

chapter: 8. Language Accessibility

path: 2. VOTERS > 8. Language Accessibility


citation: ELEC § 2700

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall establish a Native American Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with the committee to consider the committee’s recommendations related to improving the accessibility of elections for Native American voters. The Secretary of State may implement the committee’s recommendations as appropriate.

(b) The committee shall consist of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State’s designees, and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State. Each appointee shall have demonstrated experience with voting rights or be a county elections official.

(c) 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 Native American voters 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 Native American voters.

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

(4) Promote to Native American voters the Secretary of State’s toll-free voter registration telephone line for citizens needing voter registration information.

(5) Make recommendations for providing Native American voters with information regarding voter registration and voting processes, and voting rights.

(6) Make recommendations to improve the recruitment of Native American poll workers.

(7) Establish subcommittees to further the scope and purposes of the committee as they relate to improving voter services and access for Native American voters.

(8) Make recommendations for providing information and services to Native American voters regarding language assistance.

(9) Promote the use of plain language and alternative formats for election materials distributed to Native American voters.

(10) Make recommendations for materials to train poll workers on issues related to serving Native American voters.

(d) A member shall not receive compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for the member’s reasonable and necessary expenses in connection with service on the committee.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 124, Sec. 25. (AB 938) Effective January 1, 2022.)

chapter: 9. Native American Voters

path: 2. VOTERS > 9. Native American Voters


citation: ELEC § 3000

text: This division shall be liberally construed in favor of the vote by mail voter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2008.)

path: 3. VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING > 1. Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, for each election, the elections official shall, no later than 29 days before the day of the election, begin mailing the materials specified in Section 3010 to every registered voter. The elections official shall have five days to mail a ballot to each person who is registered to vote on the 29th day before the day of the election and five days to mail a ballot to each person who is subsequently registered to vote. The elections official shall not discriminate against any region or precinct in choosing which ballots to mail first within the prescribed five-day mailing period.

(b) The distribution of vote by mail ballots to all registered voters does not prevent a voter from voting in person at a polling place, vote center, or other authorized location.

(c) Consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2226, this section is not intended and shall not be construed to authorize a voter with an inactive voter registration status to receive a vote by mail ballot for an election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 1. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)

division: 3. VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING

chapter: 1. Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures


citation: ELEC § 3001

text: No later than 29 days before the day of the election, the county elections official shall begin mailing the materials required by Section 3010. The county elections official shall have five days to mail a ballot to each active registered voter by the 29th day before the day of the election and five days for each voter who registers to vote after that date. The county elections official shall not discriminate against any region or precinct in the county in choosing which ballots to mail first within the prescribed five-day mailing period.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 1. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3002

text: All persons granted confidentiality pursuant to Section 2166 shall (1) be required to vote by mail ballot, and (2) in addition to the required residence address, provide a valid mailing address to the county elections official to be used in place of the residence address.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 2. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3003

text: The vote by mail ballot shall be available to any registered voter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2008.)


citation: ELEC § 3004

text: A county elections official shall place a notice in an office within the county where applications are taken for federal passports or where military enlistments are received to inform potential military or overseas voters of their right to a vote by mail voter’s ballot and where to obtain registration materials.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 3. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3005

text:
(a) Whenever, on the 88th day before the election, there are 250 or less persons registered to vote in any precinct, the elections official may furnish each voter with a vote by mail ballot along with a statement that there will be no polling place for the election. The elections official shall also notify each voter of the location of the two nearest polling places in the event the voter chooses to return the ballot on or before election day.

(b) A precinct shall not be divided in order to conform to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 4. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3010

text:
(a) The elections official shall deliver all of the following to each qualified applicant:

(1) The ballot for the precinct in which the voter resides. In primary elections, this shall also be accompanied by the ballot for the central committee of the party for which the voter has disclosed a preference, if any.

(2) All supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot, including an identification envelope with prepaid postage for the return of the vote by mail ballot.

(b) An officer of this state shall not make a charge for services rendered to a voter under this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 120, Sec. 1. (AB 216) Effective January 1, 2019.)


citation: ELEC § 3011

text:
(a) The identification envelope shall contain all of the following:

(1) A declaration, under penalty of perjury, stating that the voter resides within the precinct in which the voter is voting and is the person whose name appears on the envelope.

(2) The signature of the voter.

(3) The residence address of the voter as shown on the affidavit of registration.

(4) The date of signing.

(5) A notice that the envelope contains an official ballot and is to be opened only by the canvassing board.

(6) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that voting twice constitutes a crime.

(7) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that the voter must sign the envelope in the voter’s own handwriting in order for the ballot to be counted.

(8) A statement that the voter has neither voted nor intends to vote a ballot from any other jurisdiction for the same election.

(9) The name and signature of the person authorized by the voter to return the vote by mail ballot pursuant to Section 3017.

(10) A statement next to where the voter signs that the county elections official is required to compare the voter’s signature appearing on the identification envelope with the signatures appearing in the voter’s registration record, which may include the signature appearing on the voter’s driver’s license or state identification card.

(b) Except at a primary election for partisan office, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the voter’s party preference may not be stamped or printed on the identification envelope.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (9) of subdivision (a), a ballot shall not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return it did not provide on the identification envelope their name or signature.

(d) County elections officials may continue to use existing supplies prior to printing new identification envelopes that reflect the changes made to this section by the act adding this subdivision.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 307, Sec. 1. (SB 3) Effective January 1, 2026.)


citation: ELEC § 3012

text: Whenever the elections official is required to mail a vote by mail voter’s ballot to any elector and the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is a point outside the territorial limits of the United States, the elections official shall mail the vote by mail voter’s ballot to the elector by airmail and, if under any law of the United States official election ballots may be mailed without the payment of postage, the elections official shall so mail them.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2008.)


citation: ELEC § 3013

text: Upon delivering or mailing a vote by mail voter’s ballot, the elections official shall enter on the affidavit of registration the type of ballot and the date of delivering or mailing. Before the election the elections official shall send to the inspector of each precinct in their county or city a list of the voters in that precinct receiving ballots under the provisions of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 13. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3014

text:
(a) The elections official shall provide a replacement ballot to any voter upon receipt of a replacement ballot request from the voter. Both of the following apply to a request made pursuant to this subdivision:

(1) The voter making the request shall provide to the elections official personal identifying information that matches the information contained on the voter’s affidavit of registration, including their first and last name, residence address, and date of birth.

(2) Prior to issuing a replacement ballot, the elections official shall advise the requester as follows: “Only the registered voter themself may request a replacement ballot. A request for a replacement ballot that is made by any person other than the registered voter is a criminal offense.”

(b) The elections official shall provide a replacement ballot to the voter’s representative upon receipt of a written request, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, signed by the voter under penalty of perjury, requesting that a ballot be provided to the voter’s representative. A ballot shall not be provided until both of the following occur:

(1) The elections official shall compare the signature on the written request with the signature or signatures in the voter’s record.

(2) The authorized representative shall sign an acknowledgment of receipt of the voter’s ballot.

(c) The voter shall mark the ballot, place it in the identification envelope, fill out and sign the identification envelope, and return the ballot pursuant to Section 3017. These ballots shall be processed and counted in the same manner as other vote by mail ballots.

(d) The elections official shall keep a record of each vote by mail voter ballot sent to and received from a voter and shall verify, prior to counting any duplicate ballot, that the voter has not attempted to vote twice. If it is determined that a voter has attempted to vote twice, both ballots shall be void.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 650, Sec. 1. (AB 398) Effective January 1, 2024.)


citation: ELEC § 3015

text:
(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 14310, vote by mail voters who return to the polling place designated for their home precincts on or before election day, or go to a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or to the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted, shall be permitted to vote nonprovisional ballots if either of the following conditions is satisfied:

(1) They surrender their vote by mail voter ballots to the inspector of the precinct board, a member of the vote center election board, or the elections official.

(2) They are unable to surrender their vote by mail voter ballots pursuant to paragraph (1) but the precinct board, vote center election board, or elections official does all of the following:

(A) Verifies that they have not returned their vote by mail ballots.

(B) Notates their voter records to ensure that their vote by mail ballots are not cast or tabulated after they vote at the polls.

(b) The precinct board and vote center election board shall return the unused vote by mail voters’ ballots surrendered pursuant to subdivision (a) to the elections official in an envelope designated for this purpose.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 22. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: ELEC § 3016

text: Vote by mail voters who return to the polling place designated for their home precincts on or before election day, or go to a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or to the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted, shall be issued a provisional ballot in accordance with Section 14310 if neither of the conditions in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 is satisfied.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 22.5. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)


text:
(a) No later than 29 days before the day of the election, any voter using a vote by mail ballot may, prior to the close of the polls on election day, vote the ballot at the office of the elections official or a satellite location. The voter shall vote the ballot in the presence of an officer of the elections official or in a voting booth, at the discretion of the elections official, but in no case may their vote be observed.

(b) For a statewide election, a county that does not conduct an election pursuant to Section 4005 shall provide at least one early voting location on the Saturday before the day of the election that is open for a minimum of six hours.

(c) (1) For purposes of subdivisions (a) and (b), the elections official shall do all of the following:

(A) Provide at least one voting unit that is certified or conditionally approved by the Secretary of State to allow voters with disabilities the access required under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.).

(B) Permit a voter to vote their vote by mail ballot as provided in Section 3016.5.

(C) Provide notice of any satellite location not later than two weeks before voting may occur at the satellite location.

(2) For purposes of the early voting location described in subdivision (b), the elections official shall also permit a voter to do all of the following:

(A) Return the voter’s vote by mail ballot.

(B) Register to vote, update the voter’s voter registration, and vote pursuant to Section 2170.

(C) Receive and vote a provisional ballot pursuant to Section 3016 or Article 5 (commencing with Section 14310) of Chapter 3 of Division 14.

(D) Receive a replacement ballot upon verification that a ballot for the same election has not been received from the voter by the county elections official. If the county elections official is unable to determine if a ballot for the same election has been received from the voter, the county elections official may issue a provisional ballot.

(E) Vote a regular, provisional, or replacement ballot using accessible voting equipment that provides for a private and independent voting experience.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 296, Sec. 2. (AB 1249) Effective January 1, 2026.)


text:
(a) A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the office of the county elections official, a satellite location, the polling place designated for the voter’s home precinct, or a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The county elections official or their staff, including any staff managing a satellite location, a precinct board, or a vote center election board, as applicable, has real-time access to the county elections official’s election management system, and does both of the following:

(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.

(B) Changes the status of the voter in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.

(2) After the voter’s status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216.

(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.

(b) A ballot cast pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.

(c) The elections official shall provide notice of any satellite location not later than two weeks before voting may occur at the satellite location.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 296, Sec. 3. (AB 1249) Effective January 1, 2026.)


text: The county elections official shall permit any voter to cast a ballot using a certified remote accessible vote by mail system, regardless of whether the voter is a voter with disabilities or a military or overseas voter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 3. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3017

text:
(a) (1) All vote by mail ballots cast under this division shall be voted on or before the day of the election. After marking the ballot, the vote by mail voter shall do any of the following:

(A) Return the ballot by mail or in person to the elections official who issued the ballot.

(B) Return the ballot in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state.

(C) Return the ballot to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location within the state that is provided pursuant to Section 3025 or 4005.

(2) A vote by mail voter who is unable to return the ballot may designate another person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location within the state that is provided pursuant to Section 3025 or 4005. The person designated shall return the ballot in person, or put the ballot in the mail, no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. Notwithstanding subdivision (d), a ballot shall not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day.

(3) The ballot must be received by the elections official who issued the ballot, the precinct board, or the vote by mail ballot dropoff location before the close of the polls on election day. If a vote by mail ballot is returned to a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, that is located in a county that is not the county of the elections official who issued the ballot, the elections official for the county in which the vote by mail ballot is returned shall forward the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot no later than eight days after receipt.

(b) The elections official shall establish procedures to ensure the secrecy of a ballot returned to a polling place and the security, confidentiality, and integrity of any personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used pursuant to this section.

(c) On or before March 1, 2008, the elections official shall establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of voted vote by mail ballots and to make this information available by means of online access using the county’s elections division Internet Web site. If the county does not have an elections division Internet Web site, the elections official shall establish a toll-free telephone number that may be used to confirm the date a voted vote by mail ballot was received.

(d) The provisions of this section are mandatory, not directory, and a ballot shall not be counted if it is not delivered in compliance with this section.

(e) (1) A person designated to return a vote by mail ballot shall not receive any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person returns and an individual, group, or organization shall not provide compensation on this basis.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph, “compensation” means any form of monetary payment, goods, services, benefits, promises or offers of employment, or any other form of consideration offered to another person in exchange for returning another voter’s vote by mail ballot.

(3) A person in charge of a vote by mail ballot and who knowingly and willingly engages in criminal acts related to that ballot as described in Division 18 (commencing with Section 18000), including, but not limited to, fraud, bribery, intimidation, and tampering with or failing to deliver the ballot in a timely fashion, is subject to the appropriate punishment specified in that division.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 203, Sec. 2. (AB 306) Effective January 1, 2019.)


citation: ELEC § 3019

text:
(a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official shall compare the signature on the identification envelope with either of the following to determine if the signatures compare:

(A) The signature appearing on the voter’s affidavit of registration or any previous affidavit of registration of the voter.

(B) The signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voter’s signature and that is part of the voter’s registration record.

(2) All of the following apply to the comparison of signatures pursuant to this section, including the comparison of a voter’s signature on a signature verification statement, an unsigned identification envelope statement, or a combined vote by mail ballot signature verification statement and unsigned identification envelope statement, with the signature that is part of the voter’s registration record:

(A) A presumption exists that the signature on the identification envelope, signature verification statement, unsigned identification envelope statement, or provisional ballot envelope is the voter’s signature and that the vote will be counted.

(B) An exact match is not required for an elections official to determine that a voter’s signature is valid. The fact that signatures share similar characteristics is sufficient to determine that a signature is valid.

(C) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the elections official shall consider explanations for discrepancies between signatures that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, explanations include a variation in signature style over time and the haste with which a signature is written.

(D) When comparing signatures, an elections official shall not review or consider any of the following:

(i) A voter’s party preference, race, or ethnicity.

(ii) A voter’s identifying information including gender, name, or address, except to confirm the identity of the voter.

(iii) The amount of time spent reviewing a signature.

(E) The elections official may consider characteristics of the written signature that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, characteristics include the slant of the signature, letter formation, and whether the signature is printed or written in cursive.

(F) The elections official may use facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with the law.

(G) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, an elections official may use signature verification technology. If signature verification technology determines that the signatures do not compare, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).

(H) The variation of a signature caused by the substitution of initials for the first or middle name, or both, is not grounds for the elections official to determine that the signatures do not compare.

(I) A signature made using a mark such as an “X,” or made by a signature stamp, shall be presumed valid and shall be accepted if the signature meets the requirements of Section 354.5.

(b) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.

(c) (1) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signature possesses multiple, significant, and obvious differing characteristics when compared to all signatures in the voter’s registration record, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2).

(2) If the elections official makes the determination described in paragraph (1), the signature shall be rejected only if two additional elections officials each find beyond a reasonable doubt that the signature differs in multiple, significant, and obvious respects from all signatures in the voter’s registration record. If the officials determine that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The elections official shall write the cause of the rejection on the face of the identification envelope only after completing the procedures described in subdivision (d).

(d) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (E), on or before the next business day after a determination pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) that a voter’s signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), but not later than the applicable notification deadline after the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice to the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return a signature verification statement.

(B) If an elections official has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter whose signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), the elections official shall notify the voter by telephone, a text message, or email of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature. If an elections official calls the voter and the voter does not answer, the elections official shall attempt to leave a voicemail message.

(C) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may send additional written notices to a voter identified pursuant to subdivision (c), and may also notify the voter in person or by other means of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature.

(D) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may use any information in a county’s election management system, or otherwise in the elections official’s possession, for the purpose of notifying the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature.

(E) If it is impracticable under the circumstances for the elections official to send the notice described in subparagraph (A) on or before the next business day, including in the event of technological failure, the elections official shall send the notice as soon as practicable, but not later than the applicable notification deadline after the election.

(2) The notice and instructions shall be in substantially the following form. The elections official shall insert the date of the applicable receipt deadline after the election where indicated on the form.“READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.1. We have determined that the signature you provided on your vote by mail ballot does not compare with the signature(s) on file in your voter record. In order to ensure that your vote by mail ballot will be counted, the signature verification statement must be completed and returned as soon as possible.2. The signature verification statement must be received by the elections official of the county where you are registered to vote no later than 5 p.m. on [elections official to insert date of the applicable receipt deadline after the election]. 3. You must sign your name where specified on the signature verification statement (Voter’s Signature).4. Place the signature verification statement into the postage-paid return envelope if it is included with these instructions. If a return envelope is not included with these instructions, use your own mailing envelope addressed to your local elections official. Mail, deliver, or have the completed statement delivered to the elections official. If you mail your completed statement using your own envelope, be sure there is sufficient postage and that the address of the elections official is correct.5. If you do not wish to send the signature verification statement by mail or have it delivered, you may submit your completed statement by email or facsimile transmission to your local elections official, or by other electronic means made available by your local elections official, or submit your completed statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box before the close of the polls on election day.”(3) The notice and instructions shall be translated in all languages required in that county by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).

(4) The elections official shall not reject a vote by mail ballot identified pursuant to subdivision (c) if each of the following conditions are satisfied:

(A) The voter delivers, in person, by mail, by fax, by email, or by other means, a signature verification statement signed by the voter and the elections official receives the statement no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election, or the voter, before the close of the polls on election day, completes and submits a signature verification statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box.

(B) Upon receipt of the signature verification statement, the elections official shall compare the signature on the statement with the signature on file in the voter’s record. The elections official shall not delay the comparison until later in the canvass.

(i) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.

(ii) If, under the standards and procedures of subdivision (c), a determination is made that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The elections official shall write the cause of the rejection on the face of the identification envelope.

(5) The signature verification statement shall be in substantially the following form and may be included on the same page as the notice and instructions specified in paragraph (2):“SIGNATURE VERIFICATION STATEMENTI,, am a registered voter of __________ County,State of California. I declare under penalty of perjury that I received and returned a vote by mail ballot. I am a resident of the precinct in which I have voted, and I am the person whose name appears on the vote by mail ballot envelope. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in connection with voting, or if I aid or abet fraud or attempt to aid or abet fraud in connection with voting, I may be convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years. I understand that my failure to sign this statement means that my vote by mail ballot will be invalidated. Voter’s SignatureAddress” (6) If the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the official shall use the signature in the signature verification statement, even if returned untimely, to update the voter’s signature for future elections, including updating the signature database.

(7) A voter may work with a nongovernmental entity to complete the requirements of this subdivision.

(8) The signature verification statement shall contain, where the voter signs, a statement that the county elections official is required to compare the voter’s signature appearing on the signature verification statement with the signatures appearing in the voter’s registration record, which may include the signature appearing on the voter’s driver’s license or state identification card.

(e) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any other law, if an elections official determines that a voter has failed to sign the identification envelope, the elections official shall not reject the vote by mail ballot if the voter does any of the following:

(i) Signs the identification envelope at the office of the elections official during regular business hours no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election.

(ii) No later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election, completes and submits an unsigned identification envelope statement in substantially the following form:“UNSIGNED IDENTIFICATION ENVELOPE STATEMENTI,, am a registered voter of __________ County,State of California. I declare under penalty of perjury that I received and returned a vote by mail ballot and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I am a resident of the precinct in which I have voted, and I am the person whose name appears on the vote by mail ballot envelope. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in connection with voting, or if I aid or abet fraud or attempt to aid or abet fraud in connection with voting, I may be convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years. I understand that my failure to sign this statement means that my vote by mail ballot will be invalidated. Voter’s SignatureAddress” (iii) Before the close of the polls on election day, completes and submits an unsigned identification envelope statement, in the form described in clause (ii), to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box.

(B) (i) Except as provided in clause (v), or before the next business day after discovering that a voter has failed to sign the identification envelope, but not later than the applicable notification deadline after the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice and instructions to the voter of the opportunity to provide a signature no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the applicable receipt deadline after the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return the unsigned identification envelope statement.

(ii) If an elections official has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter who has failed to sign the identification envelope, the elections official shall notify the voter by telephone, a text message, or email of the opportunity to provide a signature. If an elections official calls the voter and the voter does not answer, the elections official shall attempt to leave a voicemail message.

(iii) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may send additional written notices to a voter identified pursuant to this subdivision, and may also notify the voter in person or by other means of the opportunity to provide a signature.

(iv) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may use any information in the county’s election management system, or otherwise in the elections official’s possession, for the purpose of notifying the voter of the opportunity to provide a signature.

(v) If it is impracticable under the circumstances for the elections official to send the notice described in clause (i) on or before the next business day, including in the event of technological failure, the elections official shall send the notice as soon as practicable, but not later than the applicable notification deadline after the election.

(C) If timely submitted, the elections official shall accept any completed unsigned identification envelope statement. Upon receipt of the unsigned identification envelope statement, the elections official shall compare the voter’s signature on the statement in the manner provided by this section. The elections official shall not delay the comparison until later in the canvass.

(i) If the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall attach the unsigned identification envelope statement to the identification envelope and deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.

(ii) If, under the standards and procedures of subdivision (c), a determination is made that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the elections official shall provide notice to the voter pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d).

(D) An elections official may use methods other than those described in subparagraph (A) to obtain a voter’s signature on an unsigned identification envelope statement.

(E) If the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the official shall use the signature in the unsigned identification envelope statement, even if returned untimely, to update the voter’s signature for future elections, including updating the signature database.

(2) Instructions shall accompany the unsigned identification envelope statement in substantially the following form. The elections official shall insert the date of the applicable receipt deadline after the election where indicated on the form.“READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE STATEMENT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.

1. In order to ensure that your vote by mail ballot will be counted, your statement should be completed and returned as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on [elections official to insert date of the applicable receipt deadline after the election]. 2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s Signature).3.Place the statement into the postage-paid return envelope if it is included with these instructions. If a return envelope is not included with these instructions, use your own mailing envelope addressed to your local elections official. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed statement to the elections official. If you mail your completed statement using your own envelope, be sure there is sufficient postage and that the address of the elections official is correct.4. If you do not wish to send the statement by mail or have it delivered, you may submit your completed statement by facsimile or email transmission to your local elections official, or by other electronic means made available by your local elections official, or submit your completed statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box before the close of the polls on election day.”(3) The notice and instructions shall be translated in all languages required in that county by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).

(4) A voter may work with a nongovernmental entity to complete the requirements of this subdivision.

(5) The identification envelope statement shall contain, where the voter signs, a statement that the county elections official is required to compare the voter’s signature appearing on the identification envelope statement with the signatures appearing in the voter’s registration record, which may include the signature appearing on the voter’s driver’s license or state identification card.

(f) The Secretary of State shall publish on their internet website a single, combined vote by mail ballot signature verification statement and unsigned ballot identification envelope statement. An elections official shall include the combined statement developed by the Secretary of State, or a combined statement developed by the elections official that meets the requirements of this section, along with the instructions provided in this section for the completion of the statement, on the elections official’s internet website and shall provide the elections official’s mailing address, email address, and facsimile transmission number on the internet webpage containing the statement and instructions. The elections official shall accept the combined statement from a voter for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) or subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). An elections official may mail the combined statement to a voter pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) in lieu of the signature verification statement or unsigned ballot identification envelope statement.

(g) A local elections official offering other electronic means for submission of a statement described in this section shall establish appropriate privacy and security protocols that ensure that the information transmitted is received directly and securely by the elections official and is only used for the stated purposes of verifying the signature on the voter’s ballot.

(h) A ballot shall not be removed from its identification envelope until the time for processing ballots. A ballot shall not be rejected for cause after the identification envelope has been opened.

(i) For purposes of this section, “certification of the election” means the date the particular elections official submits a certified statement of the results of the election to the governing body pursuant to Section 15372, even if that occurs before the deadline to submit the certified statement of the election results set forth in Section 15372.

(j) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) For a regularly scheduled statewide election, “applicable notification deadline” means 14 calendar days after the election and “applicable receipt deadline” means 22 calendar days after the election.

(2) For an election that is not a regularly scheduled statewide election, “applicable notification deadline” means eight calendar days before certification of the election and “applicable receipt deadline” means two calendar days before certification of the election.

(k) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, including when using signature verification software or other technology, an elections official shall adhere to all applicable regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

(l) An elections official is authorized to use contact information provided on a voter’s affidavit of registration to contact a voter for purposes consistent with this section.

(m) If an elections official establishes procedures that the official uses when comparing signatures pursuant to this section, the elections official shall post the procedures used on their internet website or provide them upon request at their office. In accordance with subdivision (k), any such procedures shall adhere to regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

(n) An elections official shall accept a form in satisfaction of the requirements of subdivision (d) or (e) if the form was developed by the Secretary of State or by an elections official pursuant to subdivision (d), (e), or (f). An elections official shall not accept a form created by any individual, organization, or entity other than the Secretary of State or an elections official.

(o) An elections official that places a vote by mail ballot drop box, as defined in Section 3025, at their office location to receive ballots, shall also use that drop box after the election in order to receive the form by which the voter provides a signature pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), as applicable, provided that the drop box used after the election contains a clear and conspicuous label that it is to be used for this limited purpose and not for acceptance of late ballots.

(p) Notwithstanding Section 15 or any other law, if the last day for the performance of any act provided for or required by this section is a holiday, as defined in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the deadline to perform the act shall not be continued to the next business day.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 307, Sec. 2.5. (SB 3) Effective January 1, 2026.)


text:
(a) A county elections official shall establish a free access system that allows a vote by mail voter to learn if the voter’s vote by mail ballot was counted and, if not, the reason why the ballot was not counted. For each election, the elections official shall make the free access system available to a vote by mail voter upon completion of the official canvass and for 30 days after completion of the official canvass.

(b) For purposes of establishing the free access system for vote by mail ballots required by subdivision (a), a county elections official may use the free access system for provisional ballots established by the county pursuant to Section 302 of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 21082).

(c) If a county elections official elects not to mail a county voter information guide to a voter pursuant to Section 13305, the elections official shall use any savings achieved to offset the costs associated with establishing the free access system for vote by mail ballots required by subdivision (a).

(d) When a county elections official updates the county’s election management system or voter look-up tool on the county’s internet website with new voter information, the elections official shall provide the updated information to the Secretary of State to update the information that the Secretary of State provides to the public.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 107. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)


text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall maintain a system to allow a vote by mail voter to track the voter’s vote by mail ballot through the mail system and as the vote by mail ballot is processed by the county elections official. A county elections official shall use this system unless the county makes available to voters a different vote by mail ballot tracking system that meets or exceeds the level of service provided by the Secretary of State’s system. The system shall, at a minimum, be accessible to voters with disabilities and allow a voter to register to receive information via email or text message from the county elections official about the status of the voter’s vote by mail ballot, including all of the following information:

(1) A notification when the ballot has been delivered by the county elections official to the United States Postal Service.

(2) A notification of the date, based on information from the United States Postal Service, that the voter’s ballot is expected to be delivered to the voter.

(3) A notification if the voter’s ballot is returned as undeliverable to the county elections official by the United States Postal Service.

(4) A notification when the voter’s completed ballot has been received by the county elections official.

(5) A notification that the voter’s completed ballot has been counted, or, if the ballot cannot be counted, a notification of the reason why the ballot could not be counted and instructions of any steps that the voter can take in order to have the ballot counted. If the ballot cannot be counted because the voter’s signature did not compare or the identification envelope is missing a signature, as described in subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 3019, and the voter has opted in to receive notifications by text or email, the notification shall include an internet website link to the required form for verifying or providing a signature, as applicable, and instructions for completion.

(6) A reminder of the deadline for the voter to return the voter’s ballot if the county elections official has not received a voter’s completed ballot by specified dates as determined by the county elections official.

(b) The Secretary of State shall make the system maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) available for use by each county. A county elections official may use the system for the purpose of complying with Section 3019.5.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 279, Sec. 3. (AB 827) Effective January 1, 2026.)


citation: ELEC § 3020

text:
(a) All vote by mail ballots cast under this division shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voter’s elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:

(1) The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.

(2) If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.

(c) For purposes of this section, “bona fide private mail delivery company” means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 5. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)


text:
(a) Upon the declaration of an out-of-state emergency by the Governor and the issuance of an executive order authorizing an out-of-state emergency worker to cast a ballot outside of their home precinct, a county elections official shall, upon request of an out-of-state emergency worker pursuant to this chapter, issue a vote by mail ballot to the out-of-state emergency worker using a process to be determined by that elections official. The process shall include all of the following:

(1) Authorization for a vote by mail ballot and accompanying voting materials to be sent to an out-of-state emergency worker by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic transmission, as requested by the out-of-state emergency worker. An elections official may use reasonable facsimiles of the county voter information guides sent to voters as vote by mail ballots.

(2) A requirement that an out-of-state emergency worker mark the vote by mail ballot provided to them, place it in the vote by mail ballot identification envelope, and return the vote by mail ballot to the elections official from whom it was obtained. If no identification envelope is provided, the envelope used to return the vote by mail ballot to the elections official shall include the information required by subdivision (a) of Section 3011 and a statement signed under penalty of perjury that the voter is an out-of-state emergency worker.

(b) In order to be counted, a vote by mail ballot cast pursuant to this section shall be received in compliance with Section 3020.

(c) An elections official shall receive and canvass vote by mail ballots cast pursuant to this section by the same procedure as for all other vote by mail ballots cast pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 16. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 3023

text: Each ballot that is delivered pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by a state voter information guide, unless the voter has already been provided a state voter information guide. The state voter information guide shall display the Internet Web site address for a voter to check the status of his or her vote by mail or provisional ballot.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 85, Sec. 1. (AB 1044) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: ELEC § 3024

text: The cost to administer vote by mail ballots where issues and elective offices related to school districts, as defined by Section 17519 of the Government Code, are included on a ballot election with noneducation issues and elective offices shall not be fully or partially prorated to a school district. The Commission on State Mandates shall delete school districts, county boards of education, and community college districts from the list of eligible claimants in the Parameters and Guidelines for the Absentee Ballot Mandates.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2008.)