AB 2686: Elections: all-mailed ballot elections.

Existing law generally does not allow special elections to fill vacancies in state offices, the Legislature, or Congress to be conducted wholly by mail. Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2021, San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election or special consolidated election (1) to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy if the congressional or legislative district lies wholly within San Diego County, (2) to fill a vacancy in the legislative body or governing body, and (3) for certain local initiative and referendum measures.

This bill would authorize San Diego County to additionally conduct such an all-mailed ballot special election (1) to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy if the congressional or legislative district lies partially within San Diego County, and (2) for the recall of a local officer.

This bill would also authorize, until January 1, 2021, any county to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election or special consolidated election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy only if 50 percent or more of the total number of voters within the county are permanent vote by mail voters and the county board of supervisors adopts a resolution approving the countys participation in the pilot program. The bill would impose specific requirements for an all-mailed ballot special election or special consolidation election to be conducted under the pilot program. If a county conducts an all-mailed ballot special election or special consolidation election pursuant to these provisions, the bill would require the county to submit a report to the Legislature and the Secretary of State that includes certain information regarding the success of the election, including any statistics on the cost to conduct the election.