Amended  IN  Assembly  April 07, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2815

Introduced by Assembly Member Berman

February 18, 2022

An act to add Section 3025.7 to the Elections Code, relating to elections.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2815, as amended, Berman. Elections: vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.
Existing law requires an elections official to mail a ballot to every registered voter for any election. Existing law authorizes a county to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain conditions are met, and requires a county elections official conducting an all-mailed ballot election to consider locating a vote center on a public or private university or college campus. Existing law requires a county that does not conduct an all-mailed ballot to provide a specified number of vote by mail ballot drop-off locations based on the population of the county.
This bill would require a county, for a statewide primary or special statewide general election conducted as an all-mailed ballot election or otherwise, to provide an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location on the main campus of each California State University within the jurisdiction and, upon request, each University of California campus within the jurisdiction. The bill would require an elections official, when selecting ballot drop-off locations under existing law, to give preference to locations on certain California Community college campuses. These requirements would apply only to a campus that would be in session for its fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election.
By requiring counties to provide additional vote by mail ballot drop-off locations and by requiring elections officials to take additional actions, 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 3025.7 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

3025.7.
 (a) A county that conducts a statewide primary or statewide general election in accordance with Section 3025.5, Section 4005, or Section 4007 shall, in addition to the vote by mail ballot drop-off locations required by those sections, provide the following vote by mail ballot drop-off locations:
(1) The elections official shall designate one location on the main campus of each California State University within the official’s jurisdiction for an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location.
(2) The elections official shall request that the governing body having jurisdiction over any University of California campus within the official’s jurisdiction authorize the use of one location on that campus for an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location. The University of California is encouraged to comply with a request made under this paragraph.
(3) A county may, but is not required to, provide a vote by mail ballot drop-off location on a campus in accordance with this subdivision if the campus is not in session for its fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election.
(b) When selecting ballot drop-off locations required by Section 3025.5, Section 4005, or Section 4007 for a statewide primary or statewide general election, the elections official shall give preference to locations on California Community college campuses with that will be in session for the fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election, and that have an annual enrollment of at least 10,000 students.
(c) A ballot drop-off location established in accordance with this section shall be accessible to voters with disabilities and shall comply with the general accessibility requirements described in Section 4005.

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.