Elections: official canvass.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Elections: Official Canvass

This law shortens deadlines and increases frequency of updates for counting and reporting election results.

What This Bill Does

• Requires elections officials to count all ballots within 21 days of an election, instead of the previous 30-day limit.
• Sets new deadlines for reporting: a certified statement of results must be ready in 21 days, and full election results must be sent to the Secretary of State by day 22.
• Requires elections officials to count at least 25% of ballots within one week after an election and 67% within two weeks.
• Increases the frequency of posting updated election results on websites from once a week to twice a week.

Who It Names or Affects

• Elections officials who must follow new deadlines for counting and reporting votes.
• Voters who will see faster updates about election results online.

Terms To Know

Official Canvass

The process of counting all ballots received in an election to determine the final results.

Certified Statement of Results

A formal document that elections officials prepare and submit, showing the official outcome of an election.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill imposes new duties on local elections officials.
• It is unclear when this law will take effect since it has been ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Valladares.

Official Summary Text

AB 1214, as amended, Patterson.
Elections: official canvass.
Existing law requires the official canvass of all ballots received in an election to commence no later than the Thursday following the election and to continue daily, except on weekends and holidays, for not less than 6 hours each day until completed. Existing law requires elections officials to prepare a certified statement of the results of the election and submit that certified statement to the governing body of the jurisdiction within 30 days of the election. Existing law requires elections officials, within 31 days of the election, to send the Secretary of State a complete copy of all election results.
Existing law requires elections officials, beginning no later than the Thursday following an election, to post updated election results on their internet website at least once per week until
publication of the certified statement of results or until the only ballots left to count are vote by mail ballots for which a voter has the opportunity either to verify or provide their signature.
This bill would increase that posting requirement to at least twice per week. By increasing the duties of local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would require elections officials to count all ballots and prepare the certified statement of the results of the election within 21 days of the election, and to send the Secretary of State a complete copy of all election results within 22 days of the election. The bill would require elections officials to count at least 25% of ballots by the 7th calendar day following the election and at least 67% of ballots by the 14th calendar day following the election. The bill would require elections officials to post updated election results on their internet website at least twice per week, and to provide, by no later than the close of polls on election day, the dates on which those updates will be posted. By increasing the duties of local elections officials, 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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF