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AB-2604 • 2026

Elections: ballot curing.

Elections: ballot curing.

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Berman
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how county registrars would use the resources provided by the Secretary of State or if all counties will have equal access to these tools.

Elections: Making It Easier to Fix Ballot Problems

This law would require the Secretary of State to either create a system that allows voters to fix signature issues on their mail-in ballots via text messages or provide county registrars with resources to do so.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Secretary of State to implement a system for text-message-based ballot curing or provide county registrars with necessary resources.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who vote by mail
  • County election officials

Terms To Know

Ballot curing
The process of fixing issues with a voter’s ballot to ensure it is counted.
Secretary of State
A state government official responsible for overseeing elections and other duties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much money will be spent on implementing the new text message system.
  • The exact details of how county registrars would use the resources provided by the Secretary of State are not clear.
  • It is unclear if all counties will have the same level of access to these new tools.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  3. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  4. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  5. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2604, as introduced, Berman.
Elections: ballot curing.
Existing law requires an elections official, upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with either the signature appearing on the voter’s affidavit or signature appearing on a form that is part of the voter’s registration record. Existing law requires an elections official, if it is determined that the signatures do not compare, to notify the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter’s signature. Under existing law, if an elections official has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter whose signature does not compare, the elections official is required to notify the voter by telephone, text message, or email, as specified. Existing law requires a county elections official to establish a free access system that allows a vote by mail voter to learn if the voter’s vote by mail ballot was counted, as specified. Existing law
requires the Secretary of State to maintain a system to allow a vote by mail voter to track the voter’s vote by mail ballot through the mail system, as specified.
This bill would require the Secretary of State to either implement a system that allows voters to access text-message-based ballot curing, as defined, or make available to county registrars the resources necessary to implement such a system, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF