Elections.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Election Changes

This law changes how ballots are sent to military and overseas voters and simplifies the process for candidates to get on the ballot.

What This Bill Does

• Requires elections officials to automatically send ballots and related materials to all active registered military and overseas voters, even if they do not request a mail-in ballot.
• Changes the rules for how many signatures candidates need to submit to be included in primary elections. Now, candidates only have to meet a minimum number of signatures instead of a range.
• Allows candidates to keep submitting signatures until the required number is verified by the county elections official.
• Removes the option for elections officials to remove extra signatures if more than the required amount are submitted.

Who It Names or Affects

• Active registered military and overseas voters
• Candidates running for federal, state, or local offices in primary elections

Terms To Know

Nomination papers

Documents that candidates must submit to be included on the ballot.

State-mandated local program

A program created by state law that requires local agencies or school districts to follow specific rules, often with financial support from the state.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
• It is unclear how much additional funding will be needed for local elections officials to implement these changes.

Official Summary Text

SB 1431, as introduced, Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.
Elections.
(1) Existing law requires an elections official to mail a ballot and ballot identification envelope to each active registered voter, including military and overseas voters, at specified times before an election. Existing law does not require a registered voter to request a vote by mail ballot to receive the ballot in this manner.
This bill would make conforming changes to require an elections official to send the ballot and related materials to each active registered military and overseas voter regardless of whether they apply for a vote by mail ballot.
(2) Existing law requires candidates for certain federal, state, and local offices to submit nomination papers to the county elections official with a specified number of signatures to appear on the ballot for
the primary election. Under existing law, the number of signatures submitted must fall within a specified range, depending upon the office sought by the candidate or the number of voters in the state, county, or district where the election is to be held. If more than the maximum number of signatures is submitted, existing law permits the elections official to withdraw the excess number, as specified.
This bill would instead require the candidate to submit only a minimum number of signatures, as specified. The bill would repeal the provision permitting the elections official to withdraw an excess number of signatures. The bill would also permit the candidate to continuously submit signatures until the county elections official verifies that the requisite number of signatures has been submitted.
By establishing new procedures for local elections officials, this bill would create 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