Bill Text: CA AB2967 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Elections: petition records and requests: vote-by-mail ballot.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2022-08-22 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 166, Statutes of 2022. [AB2967 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB2967-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 2967
CHAPTER 166
An act to amend Sections 103, 3019, 9602, 11303, and 17400 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
[
Approved by
Governor
August 22, 2022.
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 22, 2022.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2967, Committee on Elections.
Elections: petition records and requests: vote-by-mail ballot.
(1) Existing law authorizes a voter who has signed an initiative, referendum, or recall petition to remove their name from the petition by filing a written request to do so with the appropriate elections official prior to the day the petition is filed. Existing law requires the written request to include the voter’s name, residence address, and signature.
This bill would additionally require the written request to remove the voter’s name from the petition to include the name or title of the petition.
(2) Existing law requires an elections official, upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, to verify the signature on the identification envelope by comparing it with the voter’s signature appearing on specified voter registration records. Existing
law requires the elections official, if the signatures do not compare or if the voter fails to sign the identification envelope, to allow a voter to verify the voter’s signature by signing and returning an unsigned ballot statement, as provided.
This bill would replace references to “unsigned ballot statement” with references to “unsigned identification envelope statement.”
(3) Existing law governs the retention and preservation of election records, including recall petitions. Existing law requires the elections official or, in the case of the recall of a state officer, the Secretary of State, to preserve in that person's office all recall petitions filed for 8 months after the results of the election for which the petition qualified or, if no election is held, 8 months after the elections official's final examination of the petition.
This bill would require elections officials to preserve all recall petitions, including recall petitions for the recall of a state officer.
By requiring elections officials to preserve all recall petitions, thereby imposing a higher level of service on local government, 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: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 103 of the Elections Code is amended to read:103.
A voter who has signed an initiative, referendum, or recall petition pursuant to the Constitution or laws of this state shall have their signature withdrawn from the petition upon filing a written request that includes the name or title of the petition and the voter’s name, residence address, and signature with the appropriate county elections official or city elections official prior to the day the petition is filed. A written request made under this section shall not constitute a petition or paper for purposes of Section 104.SEC. 2.
Section 3019 of the Elections Code is amended to read:3019.
(a) (1) Upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, the elections official shall compare the signature on the identification envelope with either of the following to determine if the signatures compare:(A) The signature appearing on the voter’s affidavit of registration or any previous affidavit of registration of the voter.
(B) The signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voter’s signature and that is part of the voter’s registration record.
(2) All of the following apply to the comparison of signatures pursuant to this section:
(A) A presumption exists that the signature on the identification envelope, signature verification statement, unsigned
identification envelope statement, or provisional ballot envelope is the voter’s signature.
(B) An exact match is not required for an elections official to determine that a voter’s signature is valid. The fact that signatures share similar characteristics is sufficient to determine that a signature is valid.
(C) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), the elections official shall consider explanations for discrepancies between signatures that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, explanations include a variation in signature style over time and the haste with which a signature is written.
(D) When comparing signatures, an elections official shall not review or consider a voter’s party preference, race, or
ethnicity.
(E) The elections official may consider characteristics of the written signature that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State. For purposes of this subparagraph, characteristics include the slant of the signature, letter formation, and whether the signature is printed or written in cursive.
(F) The elections official may use facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with the law.
(G) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, an elections official may use signature verification technology. If signature verification technology determines that the signatures do not compare, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(H) The variation of a signature caused by the substitution of initials for the first or middle name, or both, is not grounds for the elections official to determine that the signatures do not compare.
(I) A signature made using a mark such as an “X”, or made by a signature stamp, shall be presumed valid and shall be accepted if the signature meets the requirements of Section 354.5.
(b) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.
(c) (1) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures pursuant to
subdivision (a) the elections official determines that the signature possesses multiple, significant, and obvious differing characteristics when compared to all signatures in the voter’s registration record, the signature is subject to the additional procedures described in paragraph (2).
(2) If the elections official makes the determination described in paragraph (1), the signature shall be rejected only if two additional elections officials each find beyond a reasonable doubt that the signature differs in multiple, significant, and obvious respects from all signatures in the voter’s registration record. If the officials determine that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The elections official shall write the cause of the rejection on the face of the identification envelope only after completing the procedures described in subdivision (d).
(d) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), on or before the next business day after a determination that a voter’s signature does not compare pursuant to subdivision (c), but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice to the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return a signature verification statement.
(B) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may send additional written notices to a voter identified pursuant to subdivision (c), and may also notify the voter in person, by telephone or email, or by other means of the opportunity to verify the
voter’s signature.
(C) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may use any information in a county’s election management system, or otherwise in the election official’s possession, for the purpose of notifying the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature.
(D) If it is impracticable under the circumstances for the elections official to send the notice described in subparagraph (A) on or before the next business day, including in the event of technological failure, the elections official shall send the notice as soon as practicable, but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election.
(2) The notice and instructions shall be in substantially the following form:
“READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. | |
1. We have determined that the signature you provided on your vote by mail ballot does not compare with the signature(s) on file in your voter record. In order to ensure that your vote by mail ballot will be counted, the signature verification statement must be completed and returned as soon as possible. | |
2. The signature verification statement must be received by the elections official of the county where you are registered to vote no later than 5
p.m. two days prior to certification of the election. | |
3. You must sign your name where specified on the signature verification statement (Voter’s Signature). | |
4. Place the signature verification statement into the postage-paid return envelope if it is included with these instructions. If a return envelope is not included with these instructions, use your own mailing envelope addressed to your local elections official. Mail, deliver, or have the completed statement delivered to the elections official. If you mail your completed statement using your own envelope, be sure there is sufficient postage and that the address of the elections official is correct. | |
5. If you do not wish to send the signature verification statement by mail or have it delivered, you may submit your completed statement by email or facsimile transmission to your local
elections official, or submit your completed statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box before the close of the polls on election day.” |
(3) The notice and instructions shall be translated in all languages required in that county by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
(4) The elections official shall not reject a vote by mail ballot identified pursuant to subdivision (c) if each of the following conditions is satisfied:
(A) The voter delivers, in person, by mail, by fax, or by email, a signature verification statement signed by the voter and the elections official receives the statement no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election, or the voter, before the close of the polls on election day,
completes and submits a signature verification statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box.
(B) Upon receipt of the signature verification statement, the elections official shall compare the signature on the statement with the signature on file in the voter’s record.
(i) If upon conducting the comparison of signatures the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.
(ii) If, under the standards and procedures of subdivision (c), a determination is made that the signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the ballot shall not be counted. The elections official shall write the cause of the rejection on
the face of the identification envelope.
(5) The signature verification statement shall be in substantially the following form and may be included on the same page as the notice and instructions specified in paragraph (2):
“SIGNATURE VERIFICATION STATEMENT | |
I,, am a registered voter of __________ County, | |
State of California. I declare under penalty of perjury that I requested (or I received) and returned a vote by mail ballot.
I am a resident of the precinct in which I have voted, and I am the person whose name appears on the vote by mail ballot envelope. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in connection with voting, or if I aid or abet fraud or attempt to aid or abet fraud in connection with voting, I may be convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years. I understand that my failure to sign this statement means that my vote by mail ballot will be invalidated. | |
Voter’s Signature | |
Address” |
(6) An elections official shall include the vote by mail ballot signature verification statement and instructions provided in this subdivision on the elections official’s internet website and shall provide the elections official’s mailing address, email address, and facsimile transmission number on the internet web page containing the statement and instructions.
(7) If the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the official shall use the signature in the signature verification statement, even if returned untimely, to update the voter’s signature for future elections.
(e) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any other law, if an elections official determines that a voter has failed to sign the
identification envelope, the elections official shall not reject the vote by mail ballot if the voter does any of the following:
(i) Signs the identification envelope at the office of the elections official during regular business hours no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election.
(ii) No later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election, completes and submits an unsigned identification envelope statement in substantially the following form:
“UNSIGNED
IDENTIFICATION ENVELOPE STATEMENT | |
I,, am a registered voter of __________ County, | |
State of California. I declare under penalty of perjury that I requested (or I received) and returned a vote by mail ballot and that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I am a resident of the precinct in which I have voted, and I am the person whose name appears on the vote by mail ballot envelope. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in connection with voting, or if I aid or abet fraud or attempt to aid or abet fraud in connection with voting, I may be convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years. I understand that my failure to sign this statement means that my
vote by mail ballot will be invalidated. | |
Voter’s Signature | |
Address” |
(iii) Before the close of the polls on election day, completes and submits an unsigned identification envelope statement, in the form described
in clause (ii), to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box.
(B) (i) Except as provided in clause (iv), or before the next business day after discovering that a voter has failed to sign the identification envelope, but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election, the elections official shall send by first-class mail notice and instructions to the voter of the opportunity to provide a signature no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election. The notice shall include a return envelope, with postage paid, for the voter to return the unsigned identification envelope statement.
(ii) Unless required
pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may send additional written notices to a voter identified pursuant to this subdivision, and may also notify the voter in person, by telephone or email, or by other means of the opportunity to provide a signature.
(iii) Unless required pursuant to Section 3026, the elections official may use any information in the county’s election management system, or otherwise in the election official’s possession, for the purpose of notifying the voter of the opportunity to provide a signature.
(iv) If it is impracticable under the circumstances for the elections official to send the notice described in clause (i) on or before the next business day, including in the event of technological failure, the elections official shall send the notice as soon as practicable, but not later than eight days prior to the certification of the election.
(C) If timely submitted, the elections official shall accept any completed unsigned
identification envelope statement. Upon receipt of the unsigned
identification envelope statement, the elections official shall compare the voter’s signature on the statement in the manner provided by this section.
(i) If the elections official determines that the signatures compare, the elections official shall attach the unsigned identification envelope statement to the identification envelope and deposit the ballot, still in the identification envelope, in a ballot container in the elections official’s office.
(ii) If, under the standards and procedures of subdivision (c), a determination is made that the
signatures do not compare, the identification envelope shall not be opened and the elections official shall provide notice to the voter pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d).
(D) An elections official may use methods other than those described in subparagraph (A) to obtain a voter’s signature on an unsigned identification envelope.
(2) Instructions shall accompany the unsigned identification envelope statement in substantially the following form:
“READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE STATEMENT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. | |
1. In order to ensure that your vote by mail ballot will be counted, your statement should be completed and returned as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. two days prior to the certification of the election. | |
2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s Signature). | |
3. Place the statement into the postage-paid return envelope if it is included with these instructions. If a return envelope is not included with these instructions, use your own mailing envelope addressed to your local elections official. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed statement to the
elections official. If you mail your completed statement using your own envelope, be sure there is sufficient postage and that the address of the elections official is correct. | |
4. If you do not wish to send the statement by mail or have it delivered, you may submit your completed statement by facsimile or email transmission to your local elections official, or submit your completed statement to a polling place within the county or a ballot dropoff box before the close of the polls on election day.” |
(3) The notice and instructions shall be translated in all languages required in that county by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503).
(4) An elections official shall include the unsigned
identification envelope statement and instructions described in this subdivision on the elections official’s internet website and shall provide the elections official’s mailing address, email address, and facsimile transmission number on the internet web page containing the statement and instructions.
(f) A ballot shall not be removed from its identification envelope until the time for processing ballots. A ballot shall not be rejected for cause after the identification envelope has been opened.
(g) For purposes of this section, “certification of the election” means the date the particular elections official submits a certified statement of the results of the election to the governing body pursuant to Section 15372, even if that occurs before the deadline to submit the certified statement of the election results set forth in Section
15372.
(h) In comparing signatures pursuant to this section, including when using signature verification software or other technology, an elections official shall adhere to all applicable regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.
SEC. 3.
Section 9602 of the Elections Code is amended to read:9602.
A voter who has signed an initiative or referendum petition, and who subsequently wishes their name withdrawn, may do so by filing a written request for the withdrawal with the appropriate elections official that includes the name or title of the petition and the voter’s name, residence address, and signature. This request shall be filed in the elections official’s office prior to the date the petition is filed. A written request made under this section shall not constitute a petition or paper for purposes of Section 104.SEC. 4.
Section 11303 of the Elections Code is amended to read:11303.
A voter who has signed a recall petition shall have their signature withdrawn from the petition upon filing a written request that includes the name or title of the petition and the voter’s name, residence address, and signature with the elections official prior to the day the petition section bearing the voter’s signature is filed. A written request made under this section shall not constitute a petition or paper for purposes of Section 104.SEC. 5.
Section 17400 of the Elections Code, as amended by Section 101 of Chapter 615 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:17400.
(a) The elections official shall preserve in that person’s office all recall petitions filed for eight months after the results of the election for which the petition qualified or, if no election is held, eight months after the elections official’s final examination of the petition.(b) Thereafter, the petition shall be destroyed as soon as practicable, unless it is in evidence in some action or proceeding then pending or unless the elections official has received a written request from the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Fair Political Practices Commission, a district attorney, a grand jury, or
the governing body of a county, city and county, city, or district, including a school district, that the petition be preserved for use in a pending or ongoing investigation into election irregularities, or in a pending or ongoing investigation into a violation of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code).
(c) Public access to the petition shall be restricted in accordance with Article 2 (commencing with Section 7924.100) of Chapter 2 of Part 5 of Division 10 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
