California 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB626 Amended / Bill

Filed 03/20/2023

                    Amended IN  Assembly  March 20, 2023 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 626Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 09, 2023 An act to add Section 3016.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 626, as amended, Pellerin. Voting: returning vote by mail ballots in person.Existing law authorizes any county to conduct an election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain requirements are met, including that the county establishes vote centers throughout the county for voters to, among other things, vote and return the voters vote by mail ballot. Under existing law, a person who votes a vote by mail ballot is required to place the ballot in the identification envelope provided to the voter, sign the envelope, and return the ballot by mail or in person.This bill would authorize a voter to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope if the voter returns the ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or a vote center and provides their name, address, and signature to the vote center election board, as specified. center, if specified conditions are met. The bill would require a ballot cast in this manner to be processed and counted like a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, this 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 3016.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.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  March 20, 2023 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 626Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 09, 2023 An act to add Section 3016.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 626, as amended, Pellerin. Voting: returning vote by mail ballots in person.Existing law authorizes any county to conduct an election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain requirements are met, including that the county establishes vote centers throughout the county for voters to, among other things, vote and return the voters vote by mail ballot. Under existing law, a person who votes a vote by mail ballot is required to place the ballot in the identification envelope provided to the voter, sign the envelope, and return the ballot by mail or in person.This bill would authorize a voter to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope if the voter returns the ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or a vote center and provides their name, address, and signature to the vote center election board, as specified. center, if specified conditions are met. The bill would require a ballot cast in this manner to be processed and counted like a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, this 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  March 20, 2023

Amended IN  Assembly  March 20, 2023

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill 

No. 626

Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 09, 2023

Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin
February 09, 2023

 An act to add Section 3016.5 to the Elections Code, relating to elections. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 626, as amended, Pellerin. Voting: returning vote by mail ballots in person.

Existing law authorizes any county to conduct an election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain requirements are met, including that the county establishes vote centers throughout the county for voters to, among other things, vote and return the voters vote by mail ballot. Under existing law, a person who votes a vote by mail ballot is required to place the ballot in the identification envelope provided to the voter, sign the envelope, and return the ballot by mail or in person.This bill would authorize a voter to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope if the voter returns the ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or a vote center and provides their name, address, and signature to the vote center election board, as specified. center, if specified conditions are met. The bill would require a ballot cast in this manner to be processed and counted like a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, this 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 authorizes any county to conduct an election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain requirements are met, including that the county establishes vote centers throughout the county for voters to, among other things, vote and return the voters vote by mail ballot. Under existing law, a person who votes a vote by mail ballot is required to place the ballot in the identification envelope provided to the voter, sign the envelope, and return the ballot by mail or in person.

This bill would authorize a voter to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope if the voter returns the ballot in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or a vote center and provides their name, address, and signature to the vote center election board, as specified. center, if specified conditions are met. The bill would require a ballot cast in this manner to be processed and counted like a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, this 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 3016.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.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 3016.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.

SECTION 1. Section 3016.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

### SECTION 1.

3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.

3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.

3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met: (b)(1)(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.(3)(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.



3016.5. (a) In an election conducted using vote centers, a A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voters home precinct or at a vote center pursuant to this section. established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met:

 (b)(1)



(1) If the The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county election elections officials election management system, the and does both of the following:

(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.

(B) Changes the status of a the voter who seeks to vote their vote by mail ballot in person, without the identification envelope, shall be changed in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.

(2) After the voters status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter shall provide provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216 and shall be permitted to vote their vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope. 14216.

(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.

(3)



(b) A ballot cast pursuant to paragraph (2) subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.

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.