Bill Text: CA AB1817 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Voter registration: high school pupils.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-07-16 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 131, Statutes of 2014. [AB1817 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB1817-Chaptered.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 1817	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  131
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 16, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 16, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 30, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 3, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 18, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 5, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 14, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gomez
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Mullin, Ting, and
Wieckowski)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2014

   An act to amend Section 49040 of, and to add Section 49041 to, the
Education Code, relating to voter registration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1817, Gomez. Voter registration: high school pupils.
   Existing law permits a county elections official to deputize as
registrars of voters qualified citizens, and permits a deputy
registrar to register persons to vote. Existing law requires the last
two full weeks in April and in September to be known as "high school
voter weeks," during which time deputy registrars of voters are
allowed to register to vote students and school personnel on high
school campuses in areas designated by the school administration.
   This bill would instead designate the last two full weeks in April
and in September to be "high school voter education weeks," during
which time persons authorized by the county elections official are
allowed to register to vote students and school personnel on high
school campuses in areas designated by the administrator of the high
school, or his or her designee.
   Under existing law, a person may not be registered as a voter
except by affidavit of registration. A person is entitled to register
to vote if he or she is a United States citizen, a resident of
California, not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a
felony, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next
election. Existing law requires a properly executed affidavit of
registration to be deemed effective upon receipt of the affidavit by
the county elections official, if received on or before the 15th day
prior to an election, or as otherwise specified.
   Existing law, operative when the Secretary of State certifies that
the state has a statewide voter registration database that complies
with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002,
authorizes a person who is at least 17 years of age and otherwise
meets all voter eligibility requirements to submit his or her
affidavit of registration. The affidavit of registration is deemed
effective as of the date the affiant will be 18 years of age.
   This bill would permit the administrator of a high school, or his
or her designee, to appoint one or more pupils who are enrolled at
that high school to be voter outreach coordinators. This bill would
permit a voter outreach coordinator to coordinate voter registration
activities on the high school campus that would encourage eligible
persons to apply to register to vote by submitting an affidavit of
registration. This bill would permit the voter outreach coordinator,
with the approval of the administrator or his or her designee, to
coordinate other election-related activities on his or her high
school campus, as specified.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 49040 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   49040.  (a) The last two full weeks in April and the last two full
weeks in September shall be known as "high school voter education
weeks," during which time persons authorized by the county elections
official shall be allowed to register students and school personnel
on any high school campus in areas designated by the administrator of
the high school, or his or her designee, which are reasonably
accessible to all students.
   (b) This section does not preclude a person from registering to
vote students and school personnel on a high school campus as is
otherwise permitted by the Elections Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 49041 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   49041.  (a) The administrator of a high school, or his or her
designee, may appoint one or more pupils who are enrolled at that
high school to be voter outreach coordinators.
   (b) A voter outreach coordinator may coordinate voter registration
activities on his or her high school campus that encourage persons
who are eligible to register to vote pursuant to Section 2101 of the
Elections Code, or other persons who may submit an affidavit of
registration pursuant to Section 2102 of the Elections Code, to apply
to register to vote by submitting an affidavit of registration on
paper or electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of
State.
   (c) A voter outreach coordinator may, with the approval of the
administrator of the high school, or his or her designee, coordinate
election-related activities on his or her high school campus,
including voter registration drives, mock elections, debates, and
other election-related pupil outreach activities.