BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1249
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Date of Hearing: April 17, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS, REAPPORTIONMENT AND
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
John Longville, Chair
AB 1249 (Daucher) - As Introduced: February 23, 2001
SUBJECT : Absentee voting: identification envelope: postage.
SUMMARY : This bill requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to
reimburse county elections officials for any postage costs
associated with the return of absentee ballots. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires the Secretary of State to reimburse county elections
officials for any postage costs associated with the return of
absentee ballots for a five-year period.
2)Requires county election officials, within three years of
enactment of this section, to report to the SOS on the impact
of providing free postage to voters for returning absentee
ballots and absentee ballot applications.
3)Requires the SOS to report these findings to the Legislature.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires that counties administer an absentee ballot program,
and that any voter be eligible to apply for and vote an
absentee ballot.
2)Requires the state to reimburses counties for all costs
associated with their absentee ballot program. This
reimbursement includes postage costs associated with the
mailing of absentee ballot applications and ballots. The cost
of the postage to return the ballot is paid for by the voter.
FISCAL EFFECT : The Secretary of State reports that 2,739,155
absentee ballots were returned for the November 7, 2000
presidential election. At the current rate of postage ($.34)
the cost to the state for the ballots would have been $931,313.
Since more people request a ballot than actually return them the
cost to the state (without discounting for ballots handed in at
polling places) would be closer to $2 million.
AB 1249
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According to the Secretary of State, for the fiscal year
1999-2000, the state reimbursed counties $6.1 million for
expenses related to absentee ballot programs.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of the Bill : According to the author, "[r]ecent
substantial increases in requests for absentee applications
and the use of absentee ballots shows that this form of voting
helps voters to fit voting into their busy lifestyles.
Simplifying the process for voters to cast their votes should
help to encourage participation and increase voter turnout."
2)Mandate Claim : The committee may wish to consider whether the
SOS is the appropriate entity for providing the reimbursement.
Mechanisms are already in place in the State Controller's
office for the submission of reimbursement claims.
3)Voter Costs : The absentee ballot program required by the
state and implemented by county election officials is a fully
reimbursable mandate. The only portion of the program not
paid for by the state is the postage paid by voters to return
their absentee application and ballot.
4)Other States : Minnesota and Maine currently pay the cost for
absentee ballots to be returned.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Association of Clerks and Elections Officials
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Lloyd Levine / E., R. & C. A. / (916)
319-2094