Bill Text: CA AB216 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Vote by mail ballots: identification envelopes: prepaid postage.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-1)

Status: (Passed) 2018-07-18 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 120, Statutes of 2018. [AB216 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB216-Chaptered.html

---

Assembly Bill No. 216

CHAPTER 120

An act to amend Section 3010 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

[ Approved by Governor  July 18, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State  July 18, 2018. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 216, Gonzalez Fletcher. Vote by mail ballots: identification envelopes: prepaid postage.

Existing law provides for the procedures by which a voter may apply for and receive a vote by mail ballot. Existing law requires the elections official to deliver to each qualified applicant the ballot for the precinct in which the applicant resides and all supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot. Existing law prescribes the contents of an identification envelope and requires a voter to return his or her vote by mail ballot in the identification envelope, as specified.

This bill would clarify that the elections official is required to deliver to each qualified applicant an identification envelope for the return of the vote by mail ballot and would require the identification envelope to have prepaid postage.

By imposing additional duties on local 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 Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 3010 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

3010.

 (a) The elections official shall deliver all of the following to each qualified applicant:

(1) The ballot for the precinct in which the voter resides. In primary elections, this shall also be accompanied by the ballot for the central committee of the party for which the voter has disclosed a preference, if any.

(2) All supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot, including an identification envelope with prepaid postage for the return of the vote by mail ballot.

(b) An officer of this state shall not make a charge for services rendered to a voter under this chapter.

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.