CHAPTER _______

An act to amend Sections 2000, 2101, 2103, 2106, 2114, 2115, 2119, 2120, 2139, 2140, 2150, 2155.3, 2157, 2158, 2163, 2165, 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2168, 2183, 2184, 2185, 2187, 2188, 2188.1, 2188.5, 2191, 2193, 2194, 2196, 2200, 2201, 2202, 2206, 2208, 2209, 2210, 2211, 2212, 2221, 2224, 2225, 2226, 2227, 3009, 3010, 3011, 3019, 8401, 9030, 9114, 9115, 9308, 9309, 11224, 11225, 14202, 18104, and 18109 of, and to repeal Sections 2104, 2107, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2113, 2117, 2118, 2118.5, 2135, 2136, 2137, 2141, 2160, 2180, 2181, 2182, 2190, 2192, 2203, and 2204 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1020, Ridley-Thomas. Elections: voter registration.

Existing law provides that a person is entitled to register to vote if he or she is a United States citizen, a resident of California, not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next registration.

This bill would provide that a person is entitled to preregister to vote in an election if, among other things, that person is at least 16 years of age.

Existing law authorizes county elections officials, under specified circumstances and in order to promote and encourage voter registrations, to deputize as registrars qualified citizens to register voters anywhere within the county.

The bill would delete this authorization and make conforming changes to related provisions of law.

Existing law requires the county elections official to accept affidavits of registration at all times except during the 14 days immediately preceding an election and requires the county elections official to accept an affidavit of registration executed as part of a voter registration card in the forthcoming election if the affidavit is executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election and if a specified circumstance applies.

The bill would delete these provisions of law.

Existing law authorizes the county elections official of any county to receive the affidavit of registration of any elector who resides or claims residence in another county in this state and provides that this method of registration is effective for all elections occurring 29 or more days after receipt of the affidavit of registration. Existing law also sets forth the acceptance procedure for the county elections official in the event a voter provides notification of a change of address.

The bill would instead specify that registration by the above-described method would be effective for an election occurring 15 or more days after receipt of the affidavit of registration by the county elections official. The bill would also modify the procedure for the acceptance of affidavits of voter registration, reregistration, or notification of a transfer of registration for an election.

Existing law authorizes any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration to have the information relating to his or her residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit, or any list, roster, or index prepared therefrom, declared confidential upon a superior court order, as specified.

The bill would impose new requirements on county elections officials relating to voters moving into a new county who wish to apply for confidential voter status. By imposing new requirements on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law requires the county elections official to print a complete index and authorizes the official to print a continuing index, by precinct, to the affidavits of registration current at the date of printing. Each county elections official is also required to send to the Secretary of State a summary statement of the number of voters in the county.

The bill would modify these provisions of law and require that the county elections official provide an electronic copy of the index and of supplements to the index. The bill would also require a county elections official to provide detailed notice to the Secretary of State that specified voter information is available.

The bill would correct incorrect cross-references and delete obsolete provisions of law.

Existing law requires the county elections official to cancel voter registration at the signed, written request of the person registered, when the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established, upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, upon the production of a certified copy of a judgment directing that the cancellation be made, or upon the death of the person registered.

The bill would authorize the Secretary of State to cancel a person’s registration when the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established, upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and upon the death of the person registered.

In specified circumstances, existing law requires a court to determine whether a person is capable of completing an affidavit of registration or otherwise qualified to vote. If the court determines that the person is not capable of completing the affidavit or is not qualified to vote, the court is required to order the person to be disqualified from voting and to notify the county elections official. In the event a person’s right to register to vote is restored, the court is required to notify the county elections official.

The bill would instead require the court to notify the Secretary of State in the event a person is disqualified from voting or his or her right to register to vote is restored.

Existing law authorizes a county elections official to send an alternate residency confirmation postcard to a voter if the voter has not voted in an election within the preceding 4 years and his or her residence address, name, or party affiliation has not been updated during that time. A county elections official is required to send a forwardable notice to a voter to enable the voter to verify or correct residency information based on change-of-address data.

The bill would modify the form and content of the alternate residency confirmation postcard and forwardable notice.

Under existing law, any deputy registrar of voters having charge of affidavits of registration is guilty of a misdemeanor who knowingly neglects or refuses to return affidavits of registration.

The bill would instead specify that any individual or organization having charge of affidavits of registration who knowingly neglects or refuses to return affidavits of registration is guilty of a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.

The bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 2150, 2208, and 2209 of the Elections Code, proposed by SB 589, that would become operative only if SB 589 and this bill are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, and this bill is chaptered last. The bill would also incorporate additional changes to Section 3019 of the Elections Code, proposed by AB 477, that would become operative only if AB 477 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, and this bill is chaptered last.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

This bill, except as specified, would become operative only if the Secretary of State certifies that the state has a statewide voter registration database that complies with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 2000 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2000.  

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

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

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

SEC. 2.  

Section 2101 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2101.  

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

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

SEC. 3.  

Section 2103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2103.  

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

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

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

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

SEC. 4.  

Section 2104 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 5.  

Section 2106 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 619 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:

2106.  

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

SEC. 6.  

Section 2106 of the Elections Code, as enacted by Section 2 of Chapter 920 of the Statutes of 1994, is amended to read:

2106.  

Any program adopted by a county pursuant to Section 2103 or 2105, that is designed to encourage the registration of electors, shall, with respect to any printed literature or media announcements made in connection with these programs, contain this statement: “A person entitled to register to vote must be a United States citizen, a resident of California, not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the election.”

SEC. 7.  

Section 2107 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 7 of Chapter 909 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.

SEC. 8.  

Section 2107 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 8 of Chapter 909 of the Statutes of 2014, is repealed.

SEC. 9.  

Section 2108 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 10.  

Section 2109 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 11.  

Section 2110 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 12.  

Section 2113 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 13.  

Section 2114 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2114.  

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

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

SEC. 14.  

Section 2115 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2115.  

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

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

SEC. 15.  

Section 2117 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 16.  

Section 2118 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 17.  

Section 2118.5 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 18.  

Section 2119 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2119.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d) and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 3400) and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 3, the county elections official shall accept affidavits of registration at all times except during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, when registration shall cease for that election as to electors residing in the territory within which the election is held.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(f) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 19.  

Section 2119 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2119.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 2170), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 3400) and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 3, the county elections official shall accept affidavits of registration at all times except during the 14 days immediately preceding an election, when registration shall cease for that election as to electors residing in the territory within which the election is held.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 20.  

Section 2120 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2120.  

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

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

SEC. 21.  

Section 2135 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 22.  

Section 2136 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 23.  

Section 2137 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 24.  

Section 2139 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2139.  

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

SEC. 25.  

Section 2140 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2140.  

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

SEC. 26.  

Section 2141 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 27.  

Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 8 of Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 2009, is amended to read:

2150.  

(a) The affidavit of registration shall show:

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

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

(3) The affiant’s place of residence, residence telephone number, if furnished, and email address, if furnished. No person shall be denied the right to register because of his or her failure to furnish a telephone number or email address, and shall be so advised on the voter registration card.

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

(5) The affiant’s date of birth to establish that he or she will be at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the next election.

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

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

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

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

(8) The affiant’s political party preference.

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

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

(b) The affiant shall certify the content of the affidavit as to its truth and correctness, under penalty of perjury, with the signature of his or her name and the date of signing. If the affiant is unable to write, he or she shall sign with a mark or cross.

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

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

(e) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space to permit the affiant to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

(f) The Secretary of State may continue to supply existing affidavits of registration to county elections officials prior to printing new or revised forms that reflect the changes made to this section by the act that added this subdivision.

SEC. 27.5.  

Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 8 of Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 2009, is amended to read:

2150.  

(a) The affidavit of registration shall show:

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

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

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

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

(5) The affiant’s date of birth to establish that he or she will be at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the next election.

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

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

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

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

(8) The affiant’s political party preference.

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

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

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

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

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

(e) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space to permit the affiant to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

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

SEC. 28.  

Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 619 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:

2150.  

(a) The affidavit of registration shall show:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(8) The affiant’s political party preference.

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

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

(b) The affiant shall certify the content of the affidavit as to its truth and correctness, under penalty of perjury, with the signature of his or her name and the date of signing. If the affiant is unable to write, he or she shall sign with a mark or cross.

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

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

(e) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space to permit the affiant to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

(f) The Secretary of State may continue to supply existing affidavits of registration to county elections officials prior to printing new or revised forms that reflect the changes made to this section by the act that added this subdivision.

SEC. 28.5.  

Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 619 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:

2150.  

(a) The affidavit of registration shall show:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(8) The affiant’s political party preference.

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

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

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

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

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

(e) The affidavit of registration shall also contain a space to permit the affiant to apply for permanent vote by mail status.

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

SEC. 29.  

Section 2155.3 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2155.3.  

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

(b) The voter preregistration notice required by subdivision (a) shall be substantially in the following form:


VOTER PREREGISTRATION NOTICE


Thank you for preregistering to vote. You may vote in any election held on or after your 18th birthday.

Your party preference is: (Name of political party)

Before any election in which you are eligible to vote, you will receive a sample ballot and voter pamphlet by mail.

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


SEC. 30.  

Section 2157 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2157.  

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

(1) Contain the information prescribed in Section 2150.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 31.  

Section 2158 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2158.  

County elections officials shall do all of the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 32.  

Section 2160 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 33.  

Section 2163 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2163.  

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

SEC. 34.  

Section 2165 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2165.  

Affidavits of registration shall be processed immediately.

SEC. 35.  

Section 2166 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.  

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

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

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

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

(3) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, obtain an order from the superior court of the new county pursuant to subdivision (a). The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

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

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

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not provided a court order to the new county during the 60-day period.

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

SEC. 36.  

Section 2166.5 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.5.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 37.  

Section 2166.7 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.7.  

(a) If authorized by his or her county board of supervisors, a county elections official shall, upon application of a public safety officer, make confidential that officer’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

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

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

(f) “A public safety officer” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a), (d), (e), (f), or (j) of Section 6254.24 of the Government Code.

SEC. 38.  

Section 2168 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2168.  

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

SEC. 39.  

Section 2180 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 40.  

Section 2181 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 41.  

Section 2182 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 42.  

Section 2183 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2183.  

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

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

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

SEC. 43.  

Section 2184 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2184.  

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

SEC. 44.  

Section 2185 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2185.  

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

SEC. 45.  

Section 2187 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2187.  

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

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

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

(3) The number registered as preferring nonqualified parties.

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

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

(A) A supervisorial district.

(B) Congressional district.

(C) Senate district.

(D) Assembly district.

(E) Board of Equalization district.

(F) Cities and unincorporated areas.

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

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

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

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

(3) Not less than seven days prior to the primary election, with respect to voters registered before the 14th day prior to the primary election.

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

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

(6) Not less than seven days prior to the general election, with respect to voters registered before the 14th day prior to the general election.

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

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

SEC. 46.  

Section 2188 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2188.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

(5) The specific information requested.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 47.  

Section 2188.1 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2188.1.  

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

SEC. 48.  

Section 2188.5 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2188.5.  

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

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

SEC. 49.  

Section 2190 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 50.  

Section 2191 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2191.  

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

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

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

SEC. 51.  

Section 2192 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 52.  

Section 2193 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2193.  

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

SEC. 53.  

Section 2194 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2194.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 2194.1, the affidavit of voter registration information identified in Section 6254.4 of the Government Code:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 54.  

Section 2196 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2196.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(B) His or her date of birth.

(C) The last four digits of his or her social security number.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) If an applicant cannot electronically submit the information required pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), he or she shall nevertheless be able to complete the 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.

SEC. 55.  

Section 2200 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2200.  

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

SEC. 56.  

Section 2201 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2201.  

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

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

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

(3) Upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned or on parole for conviction of a felony.

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

(5) Upon the death of the person registered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(3) Upon the death of the person registered.

SEC. 57.  

Section 2202 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2202.  

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

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

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

SEC. 58.  

Section 2203 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 59.  

Section 2204 of the Elections Code is repealed.

SEC. 60.  

Section 2206 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2206.  

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

SEC. 61.  

Section 2208 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2208.  

(a) A person shall be deemed mentally incompetent, and therefore disqualified from voting, if, during the course of any of the proceedings set forth below, the court finds that the person is not capable of completing an affidavit of voter registration in accordance with Section 2150 and any of the following apply:

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

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

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

(4) A person has plead not guilty by reason of insanity, has been found to be not guilty pursuant to Section 1026 of the Penal Code, and is deemed to be gravely disabled at the time of judgment as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) If the proceeding under the Welfare and Institutions Code is heard by a jury, the jury shall unanimously find that the person is not capable of completing an affidavit of voter registration before the person shall be disqualified from voting.

(c) If an order establishing a conservatorship is made and in connection with the order it is found that the person is not capable of completing an affidavit of voter registration, the court shall forward the order and determination to the Secretary of State and the county elections official of the person’s county of residence in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State.

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

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

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

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

SEC. 61.5.  

Section 2208 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2208.  

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

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

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

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

(4) A person has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, has been found to be not guilty pursuant to Section 1026 of the Penal Code, and is deemed to be gravely disabled at the time of judgment as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

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

(c) If an order establishing a conservatorship is made and in connection with the order it is found by clear and convincing evidence that the person cannot communicate, with or without reasonable accommodations, a desire to participate in the voting process, the court shall forward the order and determination to the Secretary of State and the county elections official of the person’s county of residence in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State.

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 62.  

Section 2209 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2209.  

(a) For conservatorships established pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 1400) of the Probate Code, the court investigator shall, during the yearly or biennial review of the conservatorship as required by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1850) of Part 3 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, review the person’s capability of completing an affidavit of voter registration in accordance with Section 2150.

(b) (1) If the person had been disqualified from voting by reason of being incapable of completing an affidavit of voter registration, the court investigator shall determine whether the person has become capable of completing the affidavit in accordance with Section 2150 and subdivision (d) of Section 2208, and the investigator shall so inform the court.

(2) If the investigator finds that the person is capable of completing the affidavit in accordance with Section 2150 and subdivision (d) of Section 2208, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the person is in fact capable of completing the affidavit. If the person is found to be capable of completing the affidavit, the person’s right to register to vote shall be restored, and the court shall so notify the Secretary of State and the county elections official in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State.

(c) If the person had not been found to be incapable of completing an affidavit of voter registration, and the court investigator determines that the person is no longer capable of completing the affidavit in accordance with Section 2150 and subdivision (d) of Section 2208, the investigator shall so notify the court. The court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the person is capable of completing an affidavit of voter registration in accordance with Section 2150 and subdivision (d) of Section 2208. If the court determines that the person is not so able, the court shall order the person to be disqualified from voting pursuant to Section 2208, and the court shall so notify the Secretary of State and the county elections official in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State.

SEC. 62.5.  

Section 2209 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2209.  

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

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

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

SEC. 63.  

Section 2210 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2210.  

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

(b) When the conservatorship described in subdivision (a) terminates after one year, the person’s right to register to vote shall also be automatically restored and notification shall be made to the Secretary of State and the county elections official in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State. If a petition is filed for the reappointment of the conservator, a new determination shall be made as to whether the person should be disqualified from voting.

(c) If the right to vote is restored pursuant to Section 5358.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or if the conservatorship is terminated in a proceeding held pursuant to Section 5364 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the court shall notify the Secretary of State and the county elections official of the person’s county of residence in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State that the person’s right to register to vote is restored.

SEC. 64.  

Section 2211 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2211.  

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

(b) Upon the order of commitment to a treatment facility referred to in subdivision (a), the court shall notify the Secretary of State and the county elections official of the person’s county of residence in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State and order the person to be disqualified from voting or registering to vote.

(c) If the person is later released from the public or private treatment facility, the court shall notify the Secretary of State and the county elections official of the person’s county of residence in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State that the right of the person to register to vote is restored.

SEC. 65.  

Section 2212 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2212.  

The clerk of the superior court of each county, on the basis of the records of the court, shall furnish to the Secretary of State and the county elections official in the format prescribed by the Secretary of State, not less frequently than the first day of every month, a statement showing the names, addresses, and dates of birth of all persons who have been convicted of felonies since the clerk’s last report. The Secretary of State or county elections official shall cancel the affidavits of registration of those persons who are currently imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony. The clerk shall certify the statement under the seal of the court.

SEC. 66.  

Section 2221 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2221.  

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

(1) The affidavits of registration of persons whose residency confirmation postcards are returned by the post office as undeliverable and who have no forwarding address shall be placed in the inactive file pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2226. These persons shall be mailed the confirmation notices described in subdivision (c) of Section 2225.

(2) The affidavits of registration of persons for whom forwarding addresses within the county or outside the county are received shall be immediately updated to reflect the new address provided by the post office and the former address shall be maintained with the voter record. These persons shall be mailed the confirmation notices described in subdivision (b) of Section 2225.

(b) All updates to affidavits of registration made pursuant to this section shall be reflected on the voter index as required by Section 2191.

SEC. 67.  

Section 2224 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2224.  

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

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

“IMPORTANT NOTICE”

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

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

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

(c) A county using the alternate residency confirmation procedure shall notify all voters of the procedure in the sample ballot pamphlet or in a separate mailing.

SEC. 68.  

Section 2225 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2225.  

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

Notification received through NCOA or Operation Mail that a voter has moved and has given no forwarding address shall not require the mailing of a forwardable notice to that voter.

(b) If postal service change-of-address data indicates that the voter has moved to a new residence address in California, the forwardable notice shall be in substantially the following form:


“We have received notification that you have moved to a new residence address in California. You will be registered to vote at your new address unless you notify our office within 15 days that the address to which this card was mailed is not a change of your permanent residence. You must notify our office by either returning the attached postage-paid postcard, or by calling toll free. If this is not a permanent residence, and if you do not notify us within 15 days, you may be required to provide proof of your residence address in order to vote at future elections.”


(c) If postal service change-of-address data received from a nonforwardable mailing indicates that a voter has moved and left no forwarding address, a forwardable notice shall be sent in substantially the following form:


“We are attempting to verify postal notification that the voter to whom this card is addressed has moved and left no forwarding address. If the person receiving this card is the addressed voter, please confirm your continued residence or provide current residence information on the attached postage-paid postcard within 15 days. If you do not return this card and continue to reside in California, you may be required to provide proof of your residence address in order to vote at future elections and, if you do not offer to vote at any election in the period between the date of this notice and the second federal general election following this notice, your voter registration will be cancelled and you will have to reregister in order to vote.”


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

SEC. 69.  

Section 2226 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2226.  

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

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

(2) If the mailings have been returned as undeliverable, or if the voter fails to confirm his or her address as required by Section 2224, the county elections official may place the voter’s name on the inactive file of registered voters who do not receive election materials and are not included in calculations to determine the number of signatures required for qualification of candidates and measures, precinct size, or other election administration-related processes.

(b) The voter registration of any voter whose name has been placed on the inactive file of registered voters for failure to respond to an address verification mailing required by Section 2225, and who does not offer to vote or vote at any election between the date of the mailing and two federal general elections after the date of that mailing, may be canceled.

(c) Any voter whose name has been placed on the inactive file of registered voters and offers to vote at any election between the date of the verification notice, and two federal general elections after the date of notice, or who notifies the elections official of a continued residency, shall be removed from the inactive file and placed on the active voter file.

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

SEC. 70.  

Section 2227 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2227.  

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

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

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

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

(c) (1) Notwithstanding Section 2194 of this code or Section 6254.4 of the Government Code, and except as provided in paragraph (2), a county elections official may disclose a registered voter’s name and residence address to a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees pursuant to, and in accordance with, this section.

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

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

(e) Based on change-of-address data received from a consumer credit reporting agency or its licensees, the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, which may be in the form of a postcard, to the registered voter to enable the voter to verify or correct address information. The forwardable notice shall be in substantially the following form:


“We have received notification that you have moved to a new residence address in ____ County. You will remain registered to vote at your old address unless you notify our office that the address to which this card was mailed is a change of your permanent residence. Please notify our office in writing by returning the attached postage-paid postcard. If this is not a permanent residence, and you do not wish to change your address for voting purposes, please disregard this notice.”


(f) The county elections official shall take all of the following actions as appropriate:

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

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

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

SEC. 71.  

Section 3009 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3009.  

(a) Upon receipt of any vote by mail ballot application signed by the voter that arrives within the proper time, the elections official should determine if the signature and residence address on the ballot application appear to be the same as that on the original affidavit of registration. The elections official may make this signature check upon receiving the voted ballot, but the signature must be compared before the vote by mail voter ballot is canvassed.

(b) If the elections official deems the applicant entitled to a vote by mail voter’s ballot he or she shall deliver by mail or in person the appropriate ballot. The ballot may be delivered to the applicant, his or her spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, or a person residing in the same household as the vote by mail voter, except that in no case shall the ballot be delivered to an individual under 16 years of age. The elections official shall deliver the vote by mail ballot to the applicant’s spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, or a person residing in the same household as the vote by mail voter only if that person signs a statement attested to under penalty of perjury that provides the name of the applicant and his or her relationship to the applicant, and affirms that he or she is 16 years of age or older, and is authorized by the applicant to deliver the vote by mail ballot.

(c) If the elections official determines that an application does not contain all of the information prescribed in Section 3001 or 3006, or for any other reason is defective, and the elections official is able to ascertain the voter’s address, the elections official shall, within one working day of receiving the application, mail the voter a vote by mail voter’s ballot together with a notice. The notice shall inform the voter that the voter’s vote by mail voter’s ballot shall not be counted unless the applicant provides the elections official with the missing information or corrects the defects prior to, or at the time of, receipt of the voter’s executed vote by mail voter’s ballot. The notice shall specifically inform the voter of the information that is required or the reason for the defects in the application, and shall state the procedure necessary to remedy the defective application.

If the voter substantially complies with the requirements contained in the elections official’s notice, the voter’s ballot shall be counted.

In determining from the records of registration if the signature and residence address on the application appear to be the same as that on the original affidavit of registration, the elections official or registrar of voters may use facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

SEC. 72.  

Section 3010 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3010.  

The elections official shall deliver to each qualified applicant:

(a) The ballot for the precinct in which he or she 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.

(b) All supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot.

No officer of this state may make any charge for services rendered to any voter under this chapter.

SEC. 73.  

Section 3011 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3011.  

(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 he or she 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 his or her own handwriting in order for the ballot to be counted.

(8) A statement that the voter has neither applied, nor intends to apply, for a vote by mail voter’s ballot from any other jurisdiction for the same election.

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

(10) The relationship to the voter of the person authorized to return the vote by mail ballot.

(11) The signature of the person authorized to return the vote by mail ballot.

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

SEC. 74.  

Section 3019 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3019.  

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

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

(2) The signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voter’s signature, that is part of the voter’s registration record, and that the elections official has determined compares with the signature on the voter’s affidavit of registration or any previous affidavit of registration of the voter. The elections official may make this determination by reviewing a series of signatures appearing on official forms in the voter’s registration record that have been determined to compare, that demonstrates the progression of the voter’s signature, and makes evident that the signature on the identification envelope is that of the voter.

(b) In comparing signatures pursuant to subdivision (a), the elections official may use facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with the law.

(c) (1) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures compare, he or she shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in his or her office.

(2) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The cause of the rejection shall be written on the face of the identification envelope.

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

(e) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, an elections official is authorized to use signature verification technology. If signature verification technology determines the signatures do not compare, the elections official shall not reject the ballot unless he or she visually examines the signatures and verifies that the signatures do not compare.

(f) 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.

SEC. 74.5.  

Section 3019 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3019.  

(a) Upon receipt of 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:

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

(2) 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.

(b) In comparing signatures pursuant to subdivision (a), the elections official may use facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with the law.

(c) (1) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures compare, he or she shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in his or her office.

(2) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The cause of the rejection shall be written on the face of the identification envelope.

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

(e) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, an elections official may use signature verification technology. If signature verification technology determines the signatures do not compare, the elections official shall not reject the ballot unless he or she visually examines the signatures and verifies that the signatures do not compare.

(f) (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 before 5 p.m. on the eighth day after the election.

(ii) Before 5 p.m. on the eighth day after the election, completes and submits an unsigned ballot statement in substantially the following form:

 

“UNSIGNED BALLOT STATEMENT

 

I,   , am a registered voter of __________ County,

State of California. I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I requested and returned a vote by mail ballot and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. 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 Signature    


 Address”         

 

(iii) Before the close of the polls on election day, completes and submits an unsigned ballot statement, in the form described in clause (ii), to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box.

(B) If timely submitted, the elections official shall accept any completed unsigned ballot statement. Upon receipt of the unsigned ballot statement, the elections official shall compare the voter’s signature on the statement in the manner provided by this section.

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

(ii) If the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted.

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

(2) Instructions shall accompany the unsigned ballot statement in substantially the following 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 so that it can reach the elections official of the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5 p.m. on the eighth day after the election.

2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s Signature).

3. Place the statement into a mailing envelope addressed to your local elections official. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed statement to the elections official. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and that the address of the elections official is correct.

4. Alternatively, you may submit your completed statement by facsimile transmission to 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) An elections official shall include the unsigned ballot statement and instructions described in this subdivision on his or her Internet Web site, and shall provide the elections official’s mailing address and facsimile transmission number on the Internet Web page containing the statement and instructions.

(g) 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.

SEC. 75.  

Section 8401 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

8401.  

(a) Upon receiving the nomination paper if, from the examination of such pursuant to Section 8400, more than 500 signatures have been signed on the nomination paper petition, the elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in such a manner that every signature filed with the elections official shall be given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 90 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the nomination paper sufficient, the elections official shall examine and verify each signature filed.

(c) In determining from the records of registration, what number of valid signatures are signed on the nomination paper, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles is permitted by law.

(d) The elections official shall attach to the nomination paper, a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the candidate of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the nomination paper.

(e) If the nomination paper is found insufficient, no action shall be taken on the nomination paper. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures, shall not preclude the submission later of an entirely new nomination paper to the same effect.

(f) If the nomination paper is found to be sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination.

SEC. 76.  

Section 9030 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9030.  

(a) Each section of the petition shall be filed with the elections official of the county or city and county in which it was circulated, but all sections circulated in any county or city and county shall be filed at the same time. Once filed, no petition section shall be amended except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Within eight days after the filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall determine the total number of signatures affixed to the petition and shall transmit this information to the Secretary of State. If the total number of signatures filed with all elections officials is less than 100 percent of the number of qualified voters required to find the petition sufficient, the Secretary of State shall so notify the proponents and the elections officials, and no further action shall be taken with regard to the petition.

(c) If the number of signatures filed with all elections officials is 100 percent or more of the number of qualified voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the Secretary of State shall immediately so notify the elections officials.

(d) Within 30 days after this notification, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall determine the number of qualified voters who have signed the petition. If more than 500 names have been signed on sections of the petition filed with an elections official, the elections official shall use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures, as determined by the Secretary of State. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in such a manner that every signature filed with the elections official shall be given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 3 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater. In determining from the records of registration what number of qualified voters have signed the petition, the elections official may use any facsimiles of voters’ signatures provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(e) The elections official, upon the completion of the examination, shall immediately attach to the petition, except the signatures thereto appended, a properly dated certificate, showing the result of the examination, and shall immediately transmit the petition and the certificate to the Secretary of State. A copy of this certificate shall be filed in the elections official’s office.

(f) If the certificates received from all elections officials by the Secretary of State establish that the number of valid signatures does not equal 95 percent of the number of qualified voters needed to find the petition sufficient, the petition shall be deemed to have failed to qualify, and the Secretary of State shall immediately so notify the proponents and the elections officials.

(g) If the certificates received from all elections officials by the Secretary of State total more than 110 percent of the number of qualified voters needed to find the petition sufficient, the Secretary of State shall certify that the measure is qualified for the ballot as provided in Section 9033.

SEC. 77.  

Section 9114 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9114.  

Except as provided in Section 9115, within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall examine the petition, and from the records of registration ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters. A certificate showing the results of this examination shall be attached to the petition.

In determining the number of valid signatures, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

The elections official shall notify the proponents of the petition as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

If the petition is found insufficient, no further action shall be taken. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures, shall not preclude the filing of a new petition on the same subject, at a later date.

If the petition is found sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the board of supervisors at the next regular meeting of the board.

SEC. 78.  

Section 9115 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9115.  

(a) Within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if, from the examination of petitions pursuant to Section 9114 shows that more than 500 signatures have been signed on the petition, the elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn so that every signature filed with the elections official shall be given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500, or 3 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 95 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the elections official shall, within 60 days from the date of the filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, examine and verify the signatures filed. If the elections official determines, prior to completing the examination of each signature filed, that the petition is signed by the requisite number of qualified voters to declare the petition sufficient, the elections official may terminate the verification of the remaining unverified signatures.

(c) In determining from the records of registration, what number of valid signatures are signed on the petition, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(d) The elections official shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of this examination and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(e) If the petition is found insufficient, no action shall be taken on the petition. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures shall not preclude the filing later of an entirely new petition to the same effect.

(f) If the petition is found to be sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the board of supervisors at the next regular meeting of the board.

SEC. 79.  

Section 9308 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9308.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 9309, within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the district elections official shall examine the petition, and from the records of registration ascertain whether the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters. A certificate showing the results of this examination shall be attached to the petition.

(b) In determining the number of valid signatures, the district elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(c) The district elections official shall notify the proponents of the petition as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(d) If the petition is found insufficient, no further action shall be taken. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures, shall not preclude the filing of a new petition on the same subject, at a later date.

(e) If the petition is found sufficient, the district elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing board of the district at the next regular meeting of the board.

SEC. 80.  

Section 9309 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9309.  

(a) Within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if, from the examination of petitions pursuant to Section 9308, more than 500 signatures have been signed on the petition, the district elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in such a manner that every signature filed with the elections official shall be given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. A random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 3 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 95 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the district elections official, within 60 days from the date of the filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall examine and verify each signature filed.

(c) In determining from the records of registration, what number of valid signatures are signed on the petition, the district elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(d) The district elections official shall attach to the petition, a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(e) If the petition is found insufficient, no action shall be taken on the petition. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures shall not preclude the filing later of an entirely new petition to the same effect.

(f) If the petition is found to be sufficient, the district elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing board of the district at the next regular meeting of the board.

SEC. 81.  

Section 11224 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

11224.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 11225, within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall examine the petition, and from the records of registration, ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters. If the elections official’s examination shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient. If the number of valid signatures is less than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(b) In determining the number of valid signatures, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(c) The elections official shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(d) If the petition is found sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing board at its next regular meeting.

SEC. 82.  

Section 11225 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

11225.  

(a) Within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if, from the examination of petitions pursuant to Section 11222, more than 500 signatures have been signed on the petition, the elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in a manner so that every signature filed with the elections official shall have an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than 110 percent of the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient.

(c) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 90 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the elections official shall examine and verify each signature filed. If the elections official’s examination of each signature shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient. If the number of valid signatures is less than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(d) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is less than 90 percent of the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(e) In determining from the records of registration the number of valid signatures signed on the petition, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(f) The elections official shall attach to the petition, a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(g) If the petition is found insufficient, no action shall be taken on the petition. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures shall not preclude the filing later of an entirely new petition to the same effect.

(h) If the petition is found to be sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing body at its next regular meeting.

SEC. 83.  

Section 14202 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

14202.  

Before opening the polls, the precinct board shall post in separate, convenient places at or near the polling place, and of easy access to the voters, not less than two of the copies of the index to the affidavits of registration for that precinct. The copies of the index may be by street address in numerical order.

SEC. 84.  

Section 18104 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

18104.  

Any individual or organization having charge of affidavits of registration is guilty of a misdemeanor who knowingly neglects or refuses to return affidavits of registration as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 2135) of Chapter 2 of Division 2. The county elections official shall report to the district attorney of the county, under oath, the names of any individuals or organizations who have failed to return the affidavits. The district attorney shall take appropriate civil or criminal action.

SEC. 85.  

Section 18109 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

18109.  

(a) It is a misdemeanor for a person in possession of information identified in Section 2138.5, or obtained pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of this code or Section 6254.4 of the Government Code, knowingly to use or permit the use of all or any part of that information for any purpose other than as permitted by law.

(b) It is a misdemeanor for a person knowingly to acquire possession or use of voter registration information from the Secretary of State or a county elections official without first complying with Section 2188.

SEC. 86.  

(a) Section 27.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 8 of Chapter 1 of the Statutes of 2009, proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 589. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 2150 of the Elections Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 589, in which case Section 27 of this bill shall not become operative.

(b) Section 28.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 2150 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 619 of the Statutes of 2014, proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 589. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 2150 of the Elections Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 589, in which case Section 28 of this bill shall not become operative.

(c) Section 61.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 2208 of the Elections Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 589. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 2208 of the Elections Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 589, in which case Section 61 of this bill shall not become operative.

(d) Section 62.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 2209 of the Elections Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 589. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 2209 of the Elections Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 589, in which case Section 62 of this bill shall not become operative.

(e) Section 74.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 3019 of the Elections Code proposed by both this bill and Assembly Bill 477. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 3019 of the Elections Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 477, in which case Section 74 of this bill shall not become operative.

SEC. 87.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SEC. 88.  

(a) This act shall become operative only if the Secretary of State certifies that 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.).

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any of Sections 27.5, 28.5, 61.5, 62.5, and 74.5 that becomes operative pursuant to Section 86 shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

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