Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that the identification envelope of a vote by mail ballot contain, among other things, the name of the person authorized to return it, the relationship of that person to the voter, and that persons signature. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots be received before the close of the polls on election day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time.

This bill would require a person designated to return a voters vote by mail ballot to return the ballot or put it in the mail no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day. The bill would also prohibit disqualifying a ballot solely because the person returning it did not provide on the identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that the identification envelope of a vote by mail ballot contain, among other things, the name of the person authorized to return it, the relationship of that person to the voter, and that persons signature. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots be received before the close of the polls on election day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time.

This bill would require a person designated to return a voters vote by mail ballot to return the ballot or put it in the mail no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day. The bill would also prohibit disqualifying a ballot solely because the person returning it did not provide on the identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that the identification envelope of a vote by mail ballot contain, among other things, the name of the person authorized to return it, the relationship of that person to the voter, and that persons signature. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots be received before the close of the polls on election day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time.

This bill would require a person designated to return a voters vote by mail ballot to return the ballot or put it in the mail no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day. The bill would also prohibit disqualifying a ballot solely because the person returning it did not provide on the identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots be received before the close of the polls on election day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time.

This bill would require a person designated to return a voters vote by mail ballot to return the ballot or put it in the mail no later than two three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than two three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots to be received before the close of the polls on election day. day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time.

This bill would require a person designated to return a voters vote by mail ballot to return the ballot no later than two days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned more than two days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day.

Existing law prescribes a system for the payment of benefits to unemployed individuals who meet specified eligibility criteria. Existing law requires an employer to post and maintain, in places readily accessible to employees, printed statements concerning benefit rights and other matters. Existing law disqualifies an individual for unemployment compensation benefits if the Director of Employment Development finds that the individual left his or her most recent work voluntarily without good cause or that he or she has been discharged for misconduct connected with his or her most recent work. Existing law also deems an individual not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits if the individual left his or her work because of a trade dispute.

Existing law prescribes a system for the payment of benefits to unemployed individuals who meet specified eligibility criteria. Existing law requires an employer to post and maintain, in places readily accessible to employees, printed statements concerning benefit rights and other matters.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 306

Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher)

As Amended Ver:June 20, 2018

Majority vote

Original Committee Reference: E. & R.

SUMMARY: Requires a person who is designated by a vote by mail (VBM) voter to return the voter's ballot to return the ballot in person or to put it in the mail no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever is sooner. Provides that a ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it is returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person receives it from the voter. Makes technical changes.

The Senate amendments:

1. Clarify that a person who is designated to return another voter's VBM ballot may return that ballot by mail.
2. Increase, from two days to three days, the amount of time that a designated person has under this bill to return a voter's VBM ballot after receiving it from that voter.
3. Specify that a VBM ballot shall not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return that ballot did not provide his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature on the VBM ballot identification envelope.

EXISTING LAW permits a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued it, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot drop-off location within the state, as specified.

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS: According to the author, "In 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 [(Gonzalez) Chapter 820] into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person…

"AB 306 would clarify both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill would require that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within [three] days, or the close of polls on election day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter's mail ballot will be counted on time."

AB 1921 (Gonzalez), Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016, permits a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified, and prohibits a designated person from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that person returns, as specified. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law generally allowed a voter to designate only specified family members or persons residing in the same household as the voter to return his or her VBM ballot.

While existing law does not specify a time period by which someone must deliver a VBM ballot that the person has been designated to return to the elections official, existing law does make it a misdemeanor for a person having charge of a completed VBM ballot to willfully interfere or cause interference with its return to the local elections official.

Existing law includes a variety of safeguards to protect against VBM ballot abuse or fraud. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the signature on file for that voter before the ballot can be counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted. Furthermore, state law includes extensive penalties for misconduct in connection with VBM ballots. For instance, criminal penalties are possible for committing fraud in connection with any vote cast, as specified; coercing or deceiving elders in casting a vote, as specified; interfering with the return of a VBM ballot or VBM ballot application, as specified; soliciting the vote of a VBM voter while the voter is voting, as specified; providing any valuable consideration to a person in exchange for that person voting or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; coercing or intimidating a voter to vote or refrain from voting in an election, or to vote or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; and fraudulently signing a VBM ballot envelope, as specified, among other provisions.

The Senate amendments clarify that a person who is designated to return a voter's VBM ballot may return that ballot by mail, and increase the amount of time that the designated person has under this bill to return that ballot from two days to three days. Additionally, the Senate amendments specify that although a VBM ballot identification envelope is required to contain certain specified information of any person who is authorized to return that ballot on the voter's behalf, the ballot shall not be disqualified solely because that information is missing. This bill, as amended in the Senate, is generally consistent with Assembly actions.

Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion of this bill.

Analysis Prepared by: Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094 FN: 0003590

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 306

Author:

: in Senate

Vote:

SENATE ELECTIONS & C.A. COMMITTEE: 4-1, 5/15/18

AYES: Stern, Allen, Hertzberg, Leyva

NOES: Anderson

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 59-3, 1/18/18 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill establishes a required time period of three days for a person designated by the voter to return his or her vote by mail (VBM) ballot and provides the ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after being received by the voter’s designee.

Senate Floor Amendments of 6/20/18 clarify that a ballot will not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return it did not provide on the identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Permits any registered voter to apply for, receive, and cast a VBM ballot.
2. Provides that a voter who casts a ballot in an election in accordance with the laws of the state shall have that vote counted.
3. Requires the VBM envelope to contain, among other information, the name of the person authorized by the voter to return a VBM ballot, the designated person’s signature, and the relationship between the designated person and the voter.
4. Requires that all VBM ballots cast shall be voted on or before the day of the election.
5. Permits a VBM voter to return his or her ballot by either:
   1. Mailing the ballot or returning the ballot in person to the elections official who issued the ballot.
   2. Delivering the ballot in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center.
   3. Delivering the ballot to a VBM ballot drop-off location.
6. Requires the VBM identification envelope to contain, among other information, the name of the person authorized by the voter to return the VBM ballot, the designee’s relationship to the voter, and the signature of the person returning the VBM ballot.
7. Allows a VBM voter who is unable to return the ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot drop-off location within the state before the close of the polls on Election Day.
8. Provides that if a VBM ballot is returned in a county that is not the county where the ballot was issued, the elections official must forward the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot no later than eight days after receipt.
9. Requires elections officials to establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of returned VBM ballots and to make this information available online or by phone.
10. Prohibits a person designated to return a VBM ballot from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person returns and prohibits an individual, group, or organization from providing compensation on this basis.
11. Defines “compensation” to mean any form of monetary payment, goods, services, benefits, promises or offers of employment, or any other form of consideration offered to another person in exchange for returning another voter’s VBM ballot.
12. Provides that any person in charge of a VBM ballot who knowingly and willingly engages in criminal acts related to that ballot as described under existing law, including, but not limited to, fraud, bribery, intimidation, and tampering with or failing to deliver the ballot in a timely fashion, is subject to the appropriate punishment pursuant to existing law.
13. Provides that any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year.
14. Provides that any person having charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

This bill:

1. Requires a person designated to return a voter’s VBM ballot to return the ballot no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on Election Day, whichever time period is shorter.
2. Provides that a VBM ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter.
3. Provides that a ballot will not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return it did not provide on the VBM identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.
4. Makes clarifying and technical changes.

Background

Vote by mail statistics. In 2001, the Legislature approved and Governor Davis signed AB 1520 (Shelley, Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001) which, among other provisions, authorized any voter to become a permanent absentee voter (currently known as a permanent VBM voter). As a result, California voters have increasingly used VBM ballots to vote in elections. Since 2012, a majority of ballots cast in either a primary or general election were done using a VBM ballot. For the 2016 general election, over eight million ballots or approximately 57.8 percent of the total votes cast were VBM ballots.

California Voter’s Choice Act. The increased utilization of VBM ballots is also expected to continue as additional legislation related to VBM ballots is passed and implemented. Beginning with the 2018 primary election, five counties (Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo) conducted elections using a new election model established through SB 450 (Allen, Chapter 832, Statutes of 2016). Among the provisions of SB 450, counties who have implemented the Voter’s Choice Act mail a VBM ballot to every registered voter and permit the return of those ballots at any vote center or drop-off location.

Existing precautions. In current statute, there are a number of precautions to protect against VBM ballot fraud or abuse. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the voter’s signature on file for that voter before the ballot is counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted.

In addition, if a voter did not receive, lost, or destroyed his or her original VBM ballot, the elections official is required to send a second VBM ballot when notified by the voter with a statement under penalty of perjury. The elections official keeps a record of each VBM ballot sent to and received from a voter and verifies, prior to counting any duplicate ballot, that the voters has not attempted to vote twice. If it is determined that a voter has attempted to vote twice, both ballots shall be void.

There are also protections against voting multiple times and interfering with a VBM’s return to a local election official. In regards to voting multiple times, any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year. For misconduct related to delivering a VBM ballot, any person in charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

Follow-up legislation for AB 1921. AB 306 is a follow-up legislation for AB 1921 (Gonzalez, Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016). AB 1921 permitted a voter who is unable to return his or her VBM ballot to designate any person to return the ballot. The bill also prohibited a designated person from receiving any compensation based on the number of ballots that person returns. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law specified that a voter may designate a person residing in the same household or a specified family member to return the voter’s VBM ballot.

Comments

According to the author, in 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person.

With voting by mail becoming increasingly popular among individual voters and counties, this change helped reduce arbitrary obstacles for individuals attempting to vote. However, as this change in law has been implemented during the 2017 special election in Assembly District 51 and going forward, concerns have been voiced that a designee might not return a voter’s ballot in a timely fashion, which could inadvertently mean that their vote is not counted.

While it is already the law that the person designated by a voter to submit a mail ballot must do so, some states have laws on the books to ensure that the designee of a voter returns the ballot quickly. This helps avoid any confusion on behalf of the voter when checking to see if their ballot has been counted, the designee as to what the obligations are, and get-out-the vote or other organizations tracking voter turnout.

AB 306 clarifies both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill requires that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within three days, or the close of polls on Election Day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter’s mail ballot will be counted on time.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 2883 (Harper, 2018), among other provisions, would have required a person designated by the voter to offer the voter with a receipt when the designated person receives the voter’s VBM ballot and provide a receipt to the voter upon request. AB 2883 failed in the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee with a vote of 2-5.

AB 1921 (Gonzalez, Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016), among other provisions, permitted a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified.

AB 2080 (Gordon, Chapter 501, Statutes of 2012) deleted the requirement that a voter be ill or disabled in order to have a family member or a person in the same household return a VBM ballot for that voter.

AB 1271 (Krekorian, 2009), AB 1096 (Umberg, 2005), and SB 462 (Karnette, 2001) all proposed to delete the requirement that a voter must be ill or disabled in order to designate another person to return that voter's VBM ballot, among other provisions. AB 1271 and AB 1096 were vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, who argued that the bills could lead to abuse of the system. SB 462 was vetoed by Governor Davis, who stated that it was "important to maintain the standard under current law that a person be ill or disabled to request that someone else submit" a voter's VBM ballot.

AB 1520 (Shelley, Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001), among other provisions, permitted any voter to apply to be a permanent absentee voter.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/20/18)

County of San Diego

Disability Rights California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/20/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 59-3, 1/18/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Daly, Eggman, Frazier, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Muratsuchi, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NOES: Brough, Harper, Patterson

NO VOTE RECORDED: Bigelow, Chen, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Mullin, Nazarian, Steinorth, Thurmond, Voepel, Waldron

Prepared by:

6/22/18 14:09:04

**** END ****

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 306

Author:

: in Senate

Vote:

SENATE ELECTIONS & C.A. COMMITTEE: 4-1, 5/15/18

AYES: Stern, Allen, Hertzberg, Leyva

NOES: Anderson

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 59-3, 1/18/18 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill establishes a required time period of three days for a person designated by the voter to return his or her vote by mail (VBM) ballot and provides the ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after being received by the voter’s designee.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Permits any registered voter to apply for, receive, and cast a VBM ballot.
2. Provides that a voter who casts a ballot in an election in accordance with the laws of the state shall have that vote counted.
3. Requires the VBM envelope to contain, among other information, the name of the person authorized by the voter to return a VBM ballot, the designated person’s signature, and the relationship between the designated person and the voter.
4. Requires that all VBM ballots cast shall be voted on or before the day of the election.
5. Permits a VBM voter to return his or her ballot by either:
   1. Mailing the ballot or returning the ballot in person to the elections official who issued the ballot.
   2. Delivering the ballot in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center.
   3. Delivering the ballot to a VBM ballot drop-off location.
6. Allows a VBM voter who is unable to return the ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot drop-off location within the state before the close of the polls on Election Day.
7. Provides that if a VBM ballot is returned in a county that is not the county where the ballot was issued, the elections official must forward the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot no later than eight days after receipt.
8. Requires elections officials to establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of returned VBM ballots and to make this information available online or by phone.
9. Prohibits a person designated to return a VBM ballot from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person returns and prohibits an individual, group, or organization from providing compensation on this basis.
10. Defines “compensation” to mean any form of monetary payment, goods, services, benefits, promises or offers of employment, or any other form of consideration offered to another person in exchange for returning another voter’s VBM ballot.
11. Provides that any person in charge of a VBM ballot who knowingly and willingly engages in criminal acts related to that ballot as described under existing law, including, but not limited to, fraud, bribery, intimidation, and tampering with or failing to deliver the ballot in a timely fashion, is subject to the appropriate punishment pursuant to existing law.
12. Provides that any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year.
13. Provides that any person having charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

This bill:

1. Requires a person designated to return a voter’s VBM ballot to return the ballot no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on Election Day, whichever time period is shorter.
2. Provides that a VBM ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter.
3. Makes clarifying and technical changes.

Background

Vote by mail statistics. In 2001, the Legislature approved and Governor Davis signed AB 1520 (Shelley, Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001) which, among other provisions, authorized any voter to become a permanent absentee voter (currently known as a permanent VBM voter). As a result, California voters have increasingly used VBM ballots to vote in elections. Since 2012, a majority of ballots cast in either a primary or general election were done using a VBM ballot. For the 2016 general election, over eight million ballots or approximately 57.8 percent of the total votes cast were VBM ballots.

California Voter’s Choice Act. The increased utilization of VBM ballots is also expected to continue as additional legislation related to VBM ballots is passed and implemented. Beginning in the 2018 primary election, five counties (Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo) will conduct elections using a new election model established through SB 450 (Allen, Chapter 832, Statutes of 2016). Among the provisions of SB 450, counties who have implemented the Voter’s Choice Act will mail a VBM ballot to every registered voter and permit the return of those ballots at any vote center or drop-off location.

Existing precautions. In current statute, there are a number of precautions to protect against VBM ballot fraud or abuse. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the voter’s signature on file for that voter before the ballot is counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted.

In addition, if a voter did not receive, lost, or destroyed his or her original VBM ballot, the elections official is required to send a second VBM ballot when notified by the voter with a statement under penalty of perjury. The elections official keeps a record of each VBM ballot sent to and received from a voter and verifies, prior to counting any duplicate ballot, that the voters has not attempted to vote twice. If it is determined that a voter has attempted to vote twice, both ballots shall be void.

There are also protections against voting multiple times and interfering with a VBM’s return to a local election official. In regards to voting multiple times, any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year. For misconduct related to delivering a VBM ballot, any person in charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

AB 1921. AB 306 is a follow-up legislation for AB 1921 (Gonzalez, Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016). AB 1921 permitted a voter who is unable to return his or her VBM ballot to designate any person to return the ballot. The bill also prohibited a designated person from receiving any compensation based on the number of ballots that person returns. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law specified that a voter may designate a person residing in the same household or a specified family member to return the voter’s VBM ballot.

Comments

According to the author, in 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person.

With voting by mail becoming increasingly popular among individual voters and counties, this change helped reduce arbitrary obstacles for individuals attempting to vote. However, as this change in law has been implemented during the 2017 special election in Assembly District 51 and going forward, concerns have been voiced that a designee might not return a voter’s ballot in a timely fashion, which could inadvertently mean that their vote is not counted.

While it is already the law that the person designated by a voter to submit a mail ballot must do so, some states have laws on the books to ensure that the designee of a voter returns the ballot quickly. This helps avoid any confusion on behalf of the voter when checking to see if their ballot has been counted, the designee as to what the obligations are, and get-out-the vote or other organizations tracking voter turnout.

AB 306 clarifies both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill requires that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within three days, or the close of polls on Election Day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter’s mail ballot will be counted on time.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 1921 (Gonzalez, Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016), among other provisions, permitted a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified.

AB 2883 (Harper, 2018), among other provisions, would have required a person designated by the voter to offer the voter with a receipt when the designated person receives the voter’s VBM ballot and provide a receipt to the voter upon request. AB 2883 failed in the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee with a vote of 2-5.

AB 2080 (Gordon, Chapter 501, Statutes of 2012) deleted the requirement that a voter be ill or disabled in order to have a family member or a person in the same household return a VBM ballot for that voter.

AB 1271 (Krekorian, 2009), AB 1096 (Umberg, 2005), and SB 462 (Karnette, 2001) all proposed to delete the requirement that a voter must be ill or disabled in order to designate another person to return that voter's VBM ballot, among other provisions. AB 1271 and AB 1096 were vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, who argued that the bills could lead to abuse of the system. SB 462 was vetoed by Governor Davis, who stated that it was "important to maintain the standard under current law that a person be ill or disabled to request that someone else submit" a voter's VBM ballot.

AB 1520 (Shelley, Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001), among other provisions, permitted any voter to apply to be a permanent absentee voter.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/16/18)

County of San Diego

Disability Rights California

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/16/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 59-3, 1/18/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Daly, Eggman, Frazier, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Muratsuchi, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NOES: Brough, Harper, Patterson

NO VOTE RECORDED: Bigelow, Chen, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Kiley, Lackey, Mathis, Mullin, Nazarian, Steinorth, Thurmond, Voepel, Waldron

Prepared by:

5/16/18 10:58:24

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

ELECTIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Senator Henry Stern, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: 306 Hearing Date: 5/15/18

Subject:

DIGEST

This bill establishes a required time period of three days for a person designated by the voter to return his or her vote by mail (VBM) ballot and provides the ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after being received by the voter’s designee.

ANALYSIS

Existing law:

1. Permits any registered voter to apply for, receive, and cast a VBM ballot.
2. Provides that a voter who casts a ballot in an election in accordance with the laws of the State shall have that vote counted.
3. Requires the VBM envelope to contain, among other information, the name of the person authorized by the voter to return a VBM ballot, the designated person’s signature, and the relationship between the designated person and the voter.
4. Requires that all VBM ballots cast shall be voted on or before the day of the election.
5. Permits a VBM voter to return his or her ballot by either:
   1. Mailing the ballot or returning the ballot in person to the elections official who issued the ballot.
   2. Delivering the ballot in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center.
   3. Delivering the ballot to a VBM ballot drop-off location.
6. Allows a VBM voter who is unable to return the ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot drop-off location within the state before the close of the polls on Election Day.
7. Provides that if a VBM ballot is returned in a county that is not the county where the ballot was issued, the elections official must forward the ballot to the elections official who issued the ballot no later than eight days after receipt.
8. Requires elections officials to establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of returned VBM ballots and to make this information available online or by phone.
9. Prohibits a person designated to return a VBM ballot from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person returns and prohibits an individual, group, or organization from providing compensation on this basis.
10. Defines “compensation” to mean any form of monetary payment, goods, services, benefits, promises or offers of employment, or any other form of consideration offered to another person in exchange for returning another voter’s VBM ballot.
11. Provides that any person in charge of a VBM ballot who knowingly and willingly engages in criminal acts related to that ballot as described under existing law, including, but not limited to, fraud, bribery, intimidation, and tampering with or failing to deliver the ballot in a timely fashion, is subject to the appropriate punishment pursuant to existing law.
12. Provides that any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year.
13. Provides that any person having charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

This bill:

1. Requires a person designated to return a voter’s VBM ballot to return the ballot no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on Election Day, whichever time period is shorter.
2. Provides that a VBM ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it was returned more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter.
3. Makes clarifying and technical changes.

BACKGROUND

Vote by Mail Statistics. In 2001, the Legislature approved and Governor Davis signed AB 1520 (Shelley), Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001, which, among other provisions, authorized any voter to become a permanent absentee voter (currently known as a permanent VBM voter). As a result, California voters have increasingly used VBM ballots to vote in elections. Since 2012, a majority of ballots cast in either a primary or general election were done using a VBM ballot. For the 2016 general election, over 8 million ballots or approximately 57.8 percent of the total votes cast were VBM ballots.

California Voter’s Choice Act. The increased utilization of VBM ballots is also expected to continue as additional legislation related to VBM ballots is passed and implemented. Beginning in the 2018 primary election, five counties (Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo) will conduct elections using a new election model established through SB 450 (Allen), Chapter 832, Statutes of 2016. Among the provisions of SB 450, counties who have implemented the Voter’s Choice Act will mail a VBM ballot to every registered voter and permit the return of those ballots at any vote center or drop-off location.

Existing Precautions. In current statute, there are a number of precautions to protect against VBM ballot fraud or abuse. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the voter’s signature on file for that voter before the ballot is counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted.

In addition, if a voter did not receive, lost, or destroyed his or her original VBM ballot, the elections official is required to send a second VBM ballot when notified by the voter with a statement under penalty of perjury. The elections official keeps a record of each VBM ballot sent to and received from a voter and verifies, prior to counting any duplicate ballot, that the voters has not attempted to vote twice. If it is determined that a voter has attempted to vote twice, both ballots shall be void.

There are also protections against voting multiple times and interfering with a VBM’s return to a local election official. In regards to voting multiple times, any person who votes more than once, attempts to vote more than once, or impersonates or attempts to impersonate a voter at an election is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years, or in county jail not exceeding one year. For misconduct related to delivering a VBM ballot, any person in charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both.

Previous Legislation. AB 306 is a follow-up legislation for AB 1921 (Gonzalez), Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016. AB 1921 permitted a voter who is unable to return his or her VBM ballot to designate any person to return the ballot. This bill also prohibited a designated person from receiving any compensation based on the number of ballots that person returns. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law specified that a voter may designate a person residing in the same household or a specified family member to return the voter’s VBM ballot.

COMMENTS

1. According to the author: In 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person.

With voting by mail becoming increasingly popular among individual voters and counties, this change helped reduce arbitrary obstacles for individuals attempting to vote. However, as this change in law has been implemented during the 2017 special election in Assembly District 51 and going forward, concerns have been voiced that a designee might not return a voter’s ballot in a timely fashion, which could inadvertently mean that their vote is not counted.

While it is already the law that the person designated by a voter to submit a mail ballot must do so, some states have laws on the books to ensure that the designee of a voter returns the ballot quickly. This helps avoid any confusion on behalf of the voter when checking to see if their ballot has been counted, the designee as to what the obligations are, and get-out-the vote or other organizations tracking voter turnout.

AB 306 would clarify both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill would require that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within three days, or the close of polls on Election Day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter’s mail ballot will be counted on time.

RELATED/PRIOR LEGISLATION

AB 1921 (Gonzalez), Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016, among other provisions, permitted a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified.

AB 2883 (Harper) of 2018, among other provisions, would require a person designated by the voter to offer the voter with a receipt when the designated person receives the voter’s VBM ballot and provide a receipt to the voter upon request. AB 2883 failed in the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee with a vote of 2-5.

AB 2080 (Gordon), Chapter 508, Statutes of 2012, deleted the requirement that a voter be ill or disabled in order to have a family member or a person in the same household return a VBM ballot for that voter.

AB 1271 (Krekorian) of 2009, AB 1096 (Umberg) of 2005, and SB 462 (Karnette) of 2001, all proposed to delete the requirement that a voter must be ill or disabled in order to designate another person to return that voter's VBM ballot, among other provisions. AB 1271 and AB 1096 were vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger, who argued that the bills could lead to abuse of the system. SB 462 was vetoed by Governor Davis, who stated that it was "important to maintain the standard under current law that a person be ill or disabled to request that someone else submit" a voter's VBM ballot.

AB 1520 (Shelley), Chapter 922, Statutes of 2001, among other provisions, permitted any voter to apply to be a permanent absentee voter.

PRIOR ACTION

POSITIONS

Sponsor: Author

Support: Disability Rights California

Oppose: None Received

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 306

Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher)

As Amended Ver:January 11, 2018

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Requires a person who is designated by a vote by mail (VBM) voter to return the voter's ballot to deliver it no later than two days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever is sooner. Provides that a ballot will not be disqualified from being counted solely because it is returned more than two days after the designated person receives it from the voter. Makes technical changes.

EXISTING LAW permits a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued it, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot dropoff location within the state, as specified.

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS: According to the author, "In 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 [Gonzalez, Chapter 820] into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person…

"AB 306 would clarify both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill would require that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within two days, or the close of polls on election day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter's mail ballot will be counted on time."

AB 1921 (Gonzalez), Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016, permits a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified, and prohibits a designated person from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that person returns, as specified. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law generally allowed a voter to designate only specified family members or persons residing in the same household as the voter to return his or her VBM ballot.

While existing law does not specify a time period by which someone must deliver a VBM ballot that the person has been designated to return to the elections official, existing law does make it a misdemeanor for a person having charge of a completed VBM ballot to willfully interfere or cause interference with its return to the local elections official.

Existing law includes a variety of safeguards to protect against VBM ballot abuse or fraud. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the signature on file for that voter before the ballot can be counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted. Furthermore, state law includes extensive penalties for misconduct in connection with VBM ballots. For instance, criminal penalties are possible for committing fraud in connection with any vote cast, as specified; coercing or deceiving elders in casting a vote, as specified; interfering with the return of a VBM ballot or VBM ballot application, as specified; soliciting the vote of a VBM voter while the voter is voting, as specified; providing any valuable consideration to a person in exchange for that person voting or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; coercing or intimidating a voter to vote or refrain from voting in an election, or to vote or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; and fraudulently signing a VBM ballot envelope, as specified, among other provisions.

Please see the policy committee analysis for a full discussion of this bill.

Analysis Prepared by: Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094 FN: 0002518

Date of Hearing: January 10, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING

Marc Berman, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 306 (

Author:Gonzalez Fletcher) – As Amended Ver:January 3, 2018

SUBJECT: Vote by mail ballots.

SUMMARY: Requires a person who is designated by a vote by mail (VBM) voter to return the voter's ballot to deliver it no later than two days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever is sooner. Makes technical changes.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Permits any registered voter to apply for and receive a VBM ballot.
2. Requires a VBM voter to sign the VBM ballot return envelope, as specified. Requires a county elections official, upon receiving a VBM ballot, to compare the signature on the envelope with a signature appearing in the voter's registration record, as specified. Prohibits a VBM ballot from being counted if the signature on the envelope does not compare to a signature in the voter's registration record.
3. Requires a VBM ballot to be received by the elections official from whom it was obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of polls on election day. Provides, notwithstanding this requirement, that a VBM ballot is considered to be timely cast if it is received by the voter's elections official via United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day if specified conditions are satisfied.
4. Permits a VBM voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot to the elections official who issued it, to the precinct board at a polling place or vote center within the state, or to a VBM ballot dropoff location within the state, as specified. Prohibits a person designated to return a VBM ballot from receiving any form of compensation based on the number of ballots that the person has returned, and prohibits an individual, group, or organization from providing compensation on that basis.
5. Provides that if a VBM ballot is returned to a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or to a VBM ballot dropoff location, that is located in a county that is not the county of the elections official who issued the ballot, the elections official for the county in which the VBM ballot is returned shall forward the ballot to the elections official who issued it no later than eight days after receipt.
6. Provides that a VBM ballot shall not be counted if it is delivered to the elections official in violation of specified provisions of law.
7. Provides that any person having charge of a completed VBM ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor, as specified.
8. Requires an elections official to establish procedures to ensure the secrecy of a VBM ballot returned to a precinct polling place and the security, confidentiality, and integrity of any related personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used.
9. Provides, in the California Constitution, that a voter who casts a vote in an election in accordance with the laws of this State shall have that vote counted.

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill has been keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose of the Bill: According to the author:

In 2016, the Governor signed AB 1921 into law, which allowed voters to designate a person of their own choosing to return a completed mail ballot to the proper drop-off location or post office. The bill also prohibited individual canvassers or volunteers from engaging in any sort of paid-per ballot or performance-based compensation schemes based on the number of ballots deposited or collected by that person.

With voting by mail becoming increasingly popular among individual voters and counties, this change helped reduce arbitrary obstacles for individuals attempting to vote. However, as this change in law has been implemented during the special election in Assembly District 51, concerns have been voiced by voters that a designee might not return their ballot in a timely fashion, which could inadvertently mean that their vote is not counted.

While it is already the law that the person designated by a voter to submit a mail ballot must do so, some states have laws on the books to ensure that the designee of a voter returns the ballot quickly. For instance, Iowa requires the designee to return the ballot within 72 hours or by close of the polls, whichever is sooner.

AB 306 would clarify both for voters and for those they might designate to turn in their mail ballot for them that ballots must be turned in promptly. This bill would require that if a voter has chosen to designate someone else to turn in their mail ballot for them, that person must do so within two days, or the close of polls on election day, whichever comes first. This would help ensure that voters have flexible options available to them for how to turn in their ballots, that these options are trustworthy, and that a voter's mail ballot will be counted on time.

1. VBM Ballot Return and Previous Legislation: AB 1921 (Gonzalez), Chapter 820, Statutes of 2016, permits a VBM voter to who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate any person to return the ballot, as specified, and prohibits a designated person from receiving any form of compensation based on the number ballots that person returns, as specified. Prior to the enactment of AB 1921, California law generally allowed a voter to designate only specified family members or persons residing in the same household as the voter to return his or her VBM ballot.
   
   While existing law does not specify a time period by which someone must deliver a VBM ballot that the person has been designated to return to the elections official, existing law does make it a misdemeanor for a person having charge of a completed VBM ballot to willfully interfere or cause interference with its return to the local elections official.
2. Existing Vote by Mail Safeguards: Existing law includes a variety of safeguards to protect against VBM ballot abuse or fraud. When a VBM ballot is received by an elections official, existing law requires the elections official to compare the signature on the VBM ballot envelope with the signature on file for that voter before the ballot can be counted. If the signatures do not compare, the ballot is not counted. Furthermore, state law includes extensive penalties for misconduct in connection with VBM ballots. For instance, criminal penalties are possible for committing fraud in connection with any vote cast, as specified; coercing or deceiving elders in casting a vote, as specified; interfering with the return of a VBM ballot or VBM ballot application, as specified; soliciting the vote of a VBM voter while the voter is voting, as specified; providing any valuable consideration to a person in exchange for that person voting or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; coercing or intimidating a voter to vote or refrain from voting in an election, or to vote or refraining from voting for a particular person or measure, as specified; and fraudulently signing a VBM ballot envelope, as specified, among other provisions.
3. Vote by Mail Data: Since California law was amended in 2001 to allow any voter to become a permanent VBM voter (known at the time as a "permanent absentee voter,") the percentage of voters who vote using a ballot that was mailed to them generally has increased from election-to-election. In fact, in each statewide election going back to the 2012 primary election, a majority of ballots cast in the election were cast on a VBM ballot. In the 2016 statewide general election, 57.8% of ballots were cast on a VBM ballot, including a majority of the ballots in 55 of the state's 58 counties.
   
   The percentage of voters who cast VBM ballots is expected to continue to climb in future elections as recent policy changes are implemented. Specifically, SB 450 (Allen), Chapter 832, Statutes of 2016, enacted the California Voter's Choice Act, which permits counties to conduct elections in which all voters are mailed ballots, and voters have the opportunity to vote on those ballots or to vote in person at a vote center for a period of 10 days leading up to election day. Five counties (Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo) are expected to conduct elections under this system in 2018, while additional counties may begin using this system in 2020.
4. Disqualification of Ballots and Potential Amendment: As detailed above, the section of law that this bill amends—Section 3017 of the Elections Code—provides that a VBM ballot "shall not be counted if it is not delivered in compliance with this section." If a person who was designated to return a voter's VBM ballot failed to return it within the timeline, that provision could be interpreted to require the ballot to be disqualified.
   
   California law generally errs on the side of counting ballots in situations where a voter substantially complies with the law, where any non-compliance with the law is outside the control of the voter, and where there is no evidence of fraud or tampering with the ballot. For example, Article II, Section 2.5 of the California Constitution provides that "[a] voter who casts a vote in an election in accordance with the laws of this State shall have that vote counted." Similarly, Section 3000 of the Elections Code requires state laws governing VBM voting to be "liberally construed in favor of the [VBM] voter," and Section 14312 of the Elections Code requires state laws governing provisional balloting to be "liberally construed in favor of the provisional voter."
   
   The author has indicated that the purpose of this bill in proposing a deadline for a designated person to return a voter's VBM ballot is to ensure that a voter's ballot is counted on time. It appears contrary to the intent of this bill to create the potential for a VBM ballot to be disqualified if the voter's designated representative fails to meet the deadline imposed by this bill. To better achieve the author's intent, the author and the committee may wish to consider amending this bill to specify that a representative's failure to return a VBM ballot by the deadline imposed by this bill will not result in the invalidation of that ballot.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Ethan Jones / E. & R. / (916) 319-2094