Bill Text: CA SB637 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Early voting.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB637 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB637-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 637	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 11, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act  to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3300) to
Division 3 of the Elections Code,   relating to voting.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 637, as amended, Yee.  Secretary of State: report:
voting prior to election day.   Early voting.  

   Existing law establishes procedures for voters to apply for a vote
by mail ballot and use the ballot to vote in an election. Existing
law allows a jurisdiction in which vote by mail ballots are cast to
begin processing vote by mail ballots 29 days before the election.
 
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to assist local
elections officials in promoting and expanding the practice of early
voting, as defined, consistent with specified statutory authority.
The bill would define "early voting" to mean voting a vote by mail
ballot in person at the office of the elections official or another
location designated by the elections official either before or on the
day of the election. The bill would require the Secretary of State
to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2015, regarding the
assistance provided to local elections officials pursuant to the bill
and the results achieved by local elections officials in promoting
and expanding the practice of early voting. This reporting
requirement would become inoperative on January 1, 2018. 

   Existing law imposes various duties on the Secretary of State with
regard to registering voters and conducting elections. 

   This bill would require the Secretary of State to conduct a study
regarding early voting options and report to the Legislature on or
before January 1, 2015, regarding the results of the study. The bill
would specify factors to be considered in the study. These provisions
would repeal on January 1, 2016. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 4 (commencing with Section
3300) is added to Division 3 of the   Elections Code 
 , to read:  
      CHAPTER 4.  EARLY VOTING.


   3300.  For purposes of this chapter, "early voting" means voting a
vote by mail ballot in person at the office of the elections
official or another location designated by the elections official
either before or on the day of the election.
   3301.  (a) The Secretary of State shall assist local elections
officials in promoting and expanding the practice of early voting
consistent with the authority granted by this division. In providing
assistance to local elections officials pursuant to this section, the
Secretary of State shall consider all of the following:
   (1) The feasibility of establishing locations in addition to
county registrar's offices for early voting.
   (2) Practices used in other states to provide for voting before
the day of the election.
   (3) Ensuring that early voting locations and procedures comply
with disability access requirements under federal and state law.
   (b) The Secretary of State shall report to the Legislature by
January 1, 2015, regarding the assistance provided to local elections
officials pursuant to this section and the results achieved by local
elections officials in promoting and expanding the practice of early
voting.
   (1) The report required by this subdivision shall be submitted in
compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
   (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2018. 

  SECTION 1.    (a) The Secretary of State shall
conduct a study regarding early voting options and report to the
Legislature on or before January 1, 2015, regarding the results of
the study. The study shall include consideration of all of the
following:
   (1) Methods of expanding and promoting early voting.
   (2) Establishing locations in addition to county registrar's
offices for voters to complete early voting ballots.
   (3) Practices adopted by other states to provide voters with early
voting options.
   (4) Ensuring that early voting options that may be adopted by the
state are compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.).
   (b) (1) The report required by subdivision (a) shall be submitted
in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
   (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on January 1, 2016.