AB 13: Elections: Election Day holiday: voting by mail.

(1)Existing law requires the statewide general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. Existing law designates specific days as holidays in this state.

This bill would add the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of any even-numbered year to the list of state holidays. By increasing the duties of local officials in connection with the creation of a new state holiday, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.

(2)Existing law requires county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for all elections, as provided. Existing law authorizes any county to conduct an all-mailed ballot election if certain requirements are met. Existing law also authorizes military and overseas voters to vote by mail.

This bill would repeal the provisions requiring county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter and authorizing a county to conduct an all-mailed ballot election. The bill would instead authorize a voter who is not a military or overseas voter to request a vote by mail ballot only if the voter has an illness or disability that prevents the voter from going to the polls on the date of the election. To receive a vote by mail ballot, a voter who has an illness or disability would be required to submit an application, signed under penalty of perjury, that is received by the county elections official at least 7 days before the date of the election. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. to request a vote by mail ballot for any election, as specified. The bill would also authorize a voter to apply to become a permanent vote by mail voter, in which case the voter would receive a vote by mail ballot for every election.

(3)Existing law authorizes a voter who is unable to return their ballot to designate any other person to return the ballot, as specified.

This bill would restrict the persons a voter may authorize to return the voters ballot to only the voters spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or a person residing in the same household as the voter.

(4)Under existing law, a ballot is timely cast if it is received by the elections official no later than 7 days after election day and postmarked on or before election day.

This bill would reduce the deadline for receiving a ballot to 3 days after election day.

(5)This bill would make various conforming and clarifying changes.

(6)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.

With regard to any other mandates, this 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.