California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB406 Compare Versions

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11 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 406Introduced by Senator Choi(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Grove, Jones, Niello, and Seyarto)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Castillo, DeMaio, and Essayli)February 14, 2025 An act to amend Sections 3020, 3117, and 4103 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 406, as introduced, Choi. Elections: ballot submission deadline.Under existing law, a vote-by-mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked or otherwise time-stamped on or before election day and received in the mail no later than 7 days after election day.This bill would instead require a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned to the applicable elections official no later than the close of the polls on election day, except that the bill would require a vote-by-mail ballot cast by a military or overseas voter to be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3020 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.SEC. 2. Section 3117 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.SEC. 3. Section 4103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
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33 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 406Introduced by Senator Choi(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Grove, Jones, Niello, and Seyarto)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Castillo, DeMaio, and Essayli)February 14, 2025 An act to amend Sections 3020, 3117, and 4103 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 406, as introduced, Choi. Elections: ballot submission deadline.Under existing law, a vote-by-mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked or otherwise time-stamped on or before election day and received in the mail no later than 7 days after election day.This bill would instead require a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned to the applicable elections official no later than the close of the polls on election day, except that the bill would require a vote-by-mail ballot cast by a military or overseas voter to be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
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99 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
1010
1111 Senate Bill
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1313 No. 406
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1515 Introduced by Senator Choi(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Grove, Jones, Niello, and Seyarto)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Castillo, DeMaio, and Essayli)February 14, 2025
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1717 Introduced by Senator Choi(Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Grove, Jones, Niello, and Seyarto)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Castillo, DeMaio, and Essayli)
1818 February 14, 2025
1919
2020 An act to amend Sections 3020, 3117, and 4103 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
2121
2222 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2323
2424 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2525
2626 SB 406, as introduced, Choi. Elections: ballot submission deadline.
2727
2828 Under existing law, a vote-by-mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked or otherwise time-stamped on or before election day and received in the mail no later than 7 days after election day.This bill would instead require a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned to the applicable elections official no later than the close of the polls on election day, except that the bill would require a vote-by-mail ballot cast by a military or overseas voter to be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day.
2929
3030 Under existing law, a vote-by-mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked or otherwise time-stamped on or before election day and received in the mail no later than 7 days after election day.
3131
3232 This bill would instead require a vote-by-mail ballot to be returned to the applicable elections official no later than the close of the polls on election day, except that the bill would require a vote-by-mail ballot cast by a military or overseas voter to be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after election day.
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3434 ## Digest Key
3535
3636 ## Bill Text
3737
3838 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 3020 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.SEC. 2. Section 3117 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.SEC. 3. Section 4103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
3939
4040 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4141
4242 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4343
4444 SECTION 1. Section 3020 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
4545
4646 SECTION 1. Section 3020 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
4747
4848 ### SECTION 1.
4949
5050 3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
5151
5252 3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
5353
5454 3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
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5858 3020. (a)All vote by mail ballots cast under this division chapter shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.
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6060 (b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:
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6464 (1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.
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6868 (2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.
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7272 (c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
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7676 SEC. 2. Section 3117 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.
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7878 SEC. 2. Section 3117 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
7979
8080 ### SEC. 2.
8181
8282 3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.
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8484 3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.
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8686 3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.
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9090 3117. A valid ballot cast pursuant to this chapter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official in accordance with Section 3020. no later than seven days after election day.
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9292 SEC. 3. Section 4103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
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9494 SEC. 3. Section 4103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
9595
9696 ### SEC. 3.
9797
9898 4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
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100100 4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
101101
102102 4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:(1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.(2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.(c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.
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106106 4103. (a) Notwithstanding Section 3020, ballots Ballots cast under this chapter shall be returned to the elections official from whom they were obtained no later than 8 p.m. the close of polls on election day.
107107
108108 (b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this chapter shall be timely cast if it is received by the voters elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:
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112112 (1)The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day.
113113
114114
115115
116116 (2)If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.
117117
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120120 (c)For purposes of this section, bona fide private mail delivery company means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
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124124 (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a ballot cast by a military or overseas voter shall be counted if it is postmarked on or before election day and received by the elections official no later than seven days after election day.