California2026Active
AB-1040
Keeping Voting Residency After a Natural Disaster
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 7:05 AM
In one sentence
This law says people who leave their homes because of a natural disaster do not lose their voting address if they plan to return.
What it does
- Adds a rule for voters displaced by natural disasters.
- Says leaving home due to a disaster is considered temporary.
- Allows voters to keep their old address even while living elsewhere temporarily.
- Requires the voter to intend to go back to that same area or jurisdiction.
Who it affects
- People who must leave their homes because of natural disasters
- Voters planning to return to their original voting district
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not say how long someone can stay away before losing their address.
- It only applies if the person intends to return to the same voting area.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Domicile
- The place where a person lives and plans to stay or return for voting purposes.
- Jurisdiction
- A specific area, like a city or county, that has its own government rules.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Elections: residency: displacement by natural disaster.
Official activity
Bill history
- Assembly - Died - Elections