California 2021 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1660 Amended / Bill

Filed 04/21/2022

                    Amended IN  Assembly  April 21, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1660Introduced by Assembly Member NguyenJanuary 18, 2022 An act to add Section 3018.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1660, as amended, Nguyen. Elections: vote by mail ballots: notifications.Existing law establishes procedures for voting by mail. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified, under certain conditions. This bill would require an elections official to inspect a vote by mail ballot envelope for signs of tampering damage and, if any are found, notify the voter within seven business days. mail notice to the voter on or before the next business day, but not later than 8 days before certification of the election. The bill would allow a voter whose vote by mail ballot envelope shows signs of tampering damage to elect to receive a new vote by mail ballot or to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified. The bill would prohibit an elections official from processing a vote by mail ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage.By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3018.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains 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.

 Amended IN  Assembly  April 21, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1660Introduced by Assembly Member NguyenJanuary 18, 2022 An act to add Section 3018.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1660, as amended, Nguyen. Elections: vote by mail ballots: notifications.Existing law establishes procedures for voting by mail. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified, under certain conditions. This bill would require an elections official to inspect a vote by mail ballot envelope for signs of tampering damage and, if any are found, notify the voter within seven business days. mail notice to the voter on or before the next business day, but not later than 8 days before certification of the election. The bill would allow a voter whose vote by mail ballot envelope shows signs of tampering damage to elect to receive a new vote by mail ballot or to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified. The bill would prohibit an elections official from processing a vote by mail ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage.By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: YES 

 Amended IN  Assembly  April 21, 2022

Amended IN  Assembly  April 21, 2022

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill 

No. 1660

Introduced by Assembly Member NguyenJanuary 18, 2022

Introduced by Assembly Member Nguyen
January 18, 2022

 An act to add Section 3018.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1660, as amended, Nguyen. Elections: vote by mail ballots: notifications.

Existing law establishes procedures for voting by mail. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified, under certain conditions. This bill would require an elections official to inspect a vote by mail ballot envelope for signs of tampering damage and, if any are found, notify the voter within seven business days. mail notice to the voter on or before the next business day, but not later than 8 days before certification of the election. The bill would allow a voter whose vote by mail ballot envelope shows signs of tampering damage to elect to receive a new vote by mail ballot or to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified. The bill would prohibit an elections official from processing a vote by mail ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage.By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law establishes procedures for voting by mail. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified, under certain conditions. 

This bill would require an elections official to inspect a vote by mail ballot envelope for signs of tampering damage and, if any are found, notify the voter within seven business days. mail notice to the voter on or before the next business day, but not later than 8 days before certification of the election. The bill would allow a voter whose vote by mail ballot envelope shows signs of tampering damage to elect to receive a new vote by mail ballot or to vote in person at the voters home precinct or at another voter location, as specified. The bill would prohibit an elections official from processing a vote by mail ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage.

By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3018.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains 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.

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

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

SECTION 1. Section 3018.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.

SECTION 1. Section 3018.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

### SECTION 1.

3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.

3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.

3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope. (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.



3018.5. (a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official official, while in the process of verifying the voters signature on a vote by mail ballot envelope, shall examine the envelope for signs of tampering. Ifdamage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.

 (2) If the elections official determines that the envelope shows signs of tampering, damage, the elections official shall notify the voter within seven business days. send notice to the voter by first class mail on or before the next business day, but not later than eight days before the certification of the election. The notice shall explain that the damaged ballot will not be processed and that the voter may vote a new ballot pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b) A vote by mail voter whose envelope shows signs of tampering damage shall have the option to receive and submit a new vote by mail ballot, or to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct on or before election day, at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or at the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted.

(c) The elections official shall not process a ballot that arrives in an envelope that shows signs of tampering. damage, including, but not limited to, significant rips, tears, or attempts to unseal, open, or reseal the vote by mail envelope.

SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains 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. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains 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. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains 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. 2.