AB-16 • 2026

Vote by mail ballots: processing.

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Alanis
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 140, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify a specific effective date, only that it is contingent upon SB 3 being enacted first and this bill being enacted last.

Vote by Mail Ballots: Processing

This law allows elections officials to start processing vote-by-mail ballot return envelopes and ballots on the same day they are mailed out, instead of waiting until 29 days before an election.

What This Bill Does

Allows elections officials to begin processing vote by mail ballot return envelopes and ballots as soon as they are mailed.

Who It Names or Affects

Elections officials who handle vote by mail ballots
Registered voters receiving vote by mail ballots

Terms To Know

vote by mail ballot return envelopes: The envelope used to send back a completed vote-by-mail ballot.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies if it is enacted after another bill, SB 3.
The exact date this law becomes effective has not been specified.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 140, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 3495.).
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2922.).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-07-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
2025-05-06 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 1428.)
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Ordered to second reading.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 9).
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 16, Alanis.
Vote by mail ballots: processing.
Existing law requires elections officials to begin mailing ballots to every registered voter no later than 29 days before an election. Existing law authorizes a jurisdiction to begin processing vote by mail ballot return envelopes and, if the jurisdiction has the necessary computer capability, vote by mail ballots 29 days before an election.
This bill would authorize elections officials to begin processing vote by mail ballot return envelopes and vote by mail ballots on the date on which the ballots are mailed, thereby allowing elections officials to begin processing vote by mail return envelopes and ballots earlier than 29 days before an election.
This bill would incorporate
additional changes to Section 15104 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 3 to be operative only if this bill and SB 3 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF