Bill Text: CA SB637 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
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
BILL NUMBER: SB 637 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 25, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 10, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 13, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 25, 2013
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, and declaring the
urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 637, as amended, Yee. 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 provide guidance
to local elections officials in performing specified tasks for the
purpose of 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 an elections official, on at least one
Saturday on or after the date the elections official first delivers
ballots to vote by mail voters for a statewide election, or for any
other election as determined by the elections official based on voter
demand, to allow voters to vote in the election by means of early
voting at the early voting location designated for this purpose,
provided that the location is accessible and complies with disability
access requirements under federal and state law. The bill would
permit the elections official to determine the hours of operation for
the designated early voting location or locations for each Saturday
on which early voting is offered, provided that each location shall
be open to voters for a minimum of 4 hours on each designated
Saturday. These provisions regarding Saturday voting would not apply
to all-mailed ballot elections conducted
wholly by mail or to all-mailed ballot
precincts in which each voter is furnished with a vote
by mail ballot, as specified .
By requiring local elections officials to perform additional
duties, 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 these
statutory provisions.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
act to make voting more convenient and accessible in order to
increase voter turnout at elections.
SEC. 2. 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. For purposes of promoting and expanding the practice of
early voting consistent with the authority granted by this division,
the Secretary of State shall provide guidance to local elections
officials in accomplishing all of the following:
(a) Establishing one or more locations for early voting, which may
include the office of the local elections official.
(b) Notifying voters of the early voting location or locations.
(c) Ensuring that the early voting location or locations and the
procedures used therein comply with disability access requirements
under federal and state law.
3302. (a) On at least one Saturday on or after the date an
elections official first delivers ballots to vote by mail voters for
a statewide election, or for any other election as determined by the
elections official based on voter demand, the elections official
shall allow voters to vote in the election by means of early voting
at an early voting location designated for this purpose, provided
that the location is accessible and complies with disability access
requirements under federal and state law. The elections official may
determine the hours of operation for the designated early voting
location or locations for each Saturday on which early voting is
offered pursuant to this section, provided that each location shall
be open to voters for a minimum of four hours on each designated
Saturday.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to all-mailed ballot
elections conducted wholly by mail or to a
precinct that is authorized to conduct an election in
accordance with in which each voter is furnished a
vote by mail ballot pursuant to Section 3005.
SEC. 3. 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.
SEC. 4. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order for elections officials to provide voters with increased
opportunities for early voting at the earliest possible election
dates, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
