AB 1762: Elections omnibus bill.

(1)Existing law sets forth rules for counting words for the purposes of the Elections Code generally and for the specific purposes of ballot designations. For both purposes, existing law provides that hyphenated words appearing in a generally available standard reference dictionary, as specified, are considered as one word.

This bill would provide that for the purposes of counting hyphenated words in the Elections Code, generally, and for the purposes of ballot designations, specifically, reference may be made to a standard reference dictionary published online.

(2)Existing law authorizes any county to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if specified conditions apply, including that at least one vote center is provided for every 10,000 registered voters. Existing law authorizes the County of Los Angeles to conduct a vote center election if, among other things, every permanent vote by mail voter receives a ballot.

This bill would repeal those provisions relating to the County of Los Angeles and make conforming changes.

(3)Existing law authorizes a candidate for elective office to have the designation incumbent appear immediately under their name on an election ballot if the candidate is a candidate for the same office that the candidate currently holds by election of the people.

This bill would prohibit a candidate who was elected in an at-large election from using this designation if they are a candidate in a district-based election.

(4)Existing law establishes procedures by which a voter may request a recount of the votes cast in an election and how a voter may contest an election. Former law, which was repealed on January 1, 2019, authorized the Secretary of State to create a postcanvass risk-limiting audit pilot program.

This bill would delete obsolete references to the pilot program.

(5)Existing law requires, upon the Governor or Secretary of State ordering a recount, the Secretary of State to notify the elections official of each county and direct the county elections officials to recount all the votes cast for the office or for and against the state ballot measure, as specified.

This bill would make a technical change to this provision.