Political Reform Act of 1974: refunding and transferring contributions: voter information guide.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how voter information guides will be distributed.

Political Reform Act Changes: Voter Guides and Campaign Contributions

AB-1511 updates voter information guides to use new terms, changes rules for campaign contributions, and corrects a reference to federal law.

What This Bill Does

• Updates the Political Reform Act of 1974 to use 'state voter information guide' and 'county voter information guide' instead of 'ballot pamphlet' or 'sample ballot'.
• Changes rules for candidates who raise money before primary elections: if a candidate's name is not listed on the primary election ballot, they do not have to return funds raised.
• Allows these candidates to transfer unspent campaign contributions to committees supporting other offices.
• Corrects an outdated reference to federal law in the Political Reform Act.

Who It Names or Affects

• Voters who receive voter information guides before elections.
• Candidates running for state, county, or city office.
• County and state election officials preparing voter guides.

Terms To Know

Voter Information Guide

A document provided to voters that includes details about candidates and ballot measures.

Primary Election

An election held before the general election where party members choose their preferred candidate for an office.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how voter information guides will be distributed.
• It is unclear if this change affects all types of elections or only specific ones.

Official Summary Text

AB 1511, Committee on Elections.
Political Reform Act of 1974: refunding and transferring contributions: voter information guide.
(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to prepare a state voter information guide that includes, among other things, a complete copy of each state measure, the Voter Bill of Rights, and information on candidates for the office of United States Senator and the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, as specified. Existing law requires county elections officials to prepare a county voter information guide that contains, among other things, a substantial facsimile of the official ballot.
This bill would conform provisions in the Political Reform Act of 1974 that currently refer to the ballot pamphlet or sample ballot to instead refer to the state voter information guide or county voter information guide, respectively.
(2) The
Political Reform Act of 1974 authorizes a candidate for elective state, county, or city office to raise contributions for a general election before the primary election, and for a special general election before a special primary election, for the same office under specified conditions. If the candidate is defeated in the primary election or special primary election, or otherwise withdraws from the general election or special general election, the act requires the candidate to refund the general election or special general election funds, as specified.
Existing law, for purposes of these provisions, specifies that a candidate who does not file a declaration of candidacy to qualify for a primary election or special primary election is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions, and that such a candidate may transfer these funds to a committee for the same or a different office as specified.
This bill would instead provide that a candidate is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions and may transfer these funds, as specified above, if the candidate’s name has not been listed on the ballot at a primary election or special primary election, and the candidate has not qualified to have write-in votes cast on their behalf, as specified.
(3) This bill would also correct a cross-reference to federal law.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act’s purposes upon a
2
/
3
vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.
This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF