SB-621 • 2026

Voter registration: military and overseas voters.

Elections

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Grove
Last action: 2025-08-28
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 101, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on what happens if military or overseas voters miss the deadline and cannot use conditional voter registration.

Voter Registration for Military and Overseas Voters

This law removes a special rule that allowed military and overseas voters to register late if they were released from service or had to move due to official orders.

What This Bill Does

Repeals the provision allowing military and overseas voters to register after an election's deadline has passed if they are released from service or required to move under official active duty military orders.

Who It Names or Affects

Military and overseas voters who were previously allowed to register late due to being released from service or having to move under official orders.

Terms To Know

Conditional voter registration: A process that allows people to register to vote close to or on the day of an election, under certain conditions.
Provisional ballot: A special ballot given to voters who are not sure if they can legally vote in a particular election.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if military or overseas voters miss the registration deadline and cannot use conditional voter registration.
It is unclear how this change will affect voter turnout for military and overseas voters.

Bill History

2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 101, Statutes of 2025.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-08-27 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2705.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 15).
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
2025-05-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and M. & V.A.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1011.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 934.) (April 29).
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E. & C.A. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 918.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 29 in E. & C.A. pending receipt.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 28.
2025-04-03 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on M. & V.A. and E. & C.A.
2025-04-03 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A. and M. & V.A.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 621, Grove.
Voter registration: military and overseas voters.
Existing law authorizes an individual who registers to vote at least 15 days before an election day, to vote in that election by a regular ballot. Existing law permits an individual who is eligible to register to vote to complete a registration application during the 14 days immediately preceding an election or on the day of the election, and to vote by conditional ballot or regular ballot, as specified. Existing law provides that otherwise qualified military and overseas voters and voters with disabilities may complete a conditional voter registration and cast a provisional ballot or nonprovisional ballot under those provisions. Existing law also permits a military or overseas voter to register after the closing date of registration if the voter is released from service after the closing date, returns
to the voter’s county of residence, and is not a registered voter in that county, or if the voter is required to move under official active duty military orders after the closing date.
This bill would repeal the latter provision as obsolete due to the inclusion of military and overseas voters in the general conditional voter registration process.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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