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SB-91 • 2026

All-mailed ballot elections: vote centers.

All-mailed ballot elections: vote centers.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Cervantes (S) , Allen
Last action
2025-06-10
Official status
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on specific conditions under which the bill applies, nor does it mention consequences for non-compliance by counties.

All-Mailed Ballot Elections: Vote Centers

This law changes when counties must start setting up vote centers before an all-mailed ballot election and allows the Secretary of State to hold tie-breaking meetings at any office location, not just the State Capitol.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time when counties must begin providing vote centers for all-mailed ballot elections from 10 days to at least 5 days before the election.
  • Allows the Secretary of State to summon candidates involved in a tie vote to any office location, not just the State Capitol.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Counties conducting all-mailed ballot elections
  • Candidates in tied election results

Terms To Know

vote centers
Places where voters can go to vote or get help with their ballots.
tie votes
When two or more candidates have the same number of votes in an election.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if counties do not meet the new vote center setup requirements.
  • It is unclear how many office locations the Secretary of State has to choose from for tie-breaking meetings.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-10 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  2. 2025-05-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  3. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  4. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1010.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  5. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  6. 2025-04-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 933.) (April 29).

  7. 2025-04-04 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 29.

  8. 2025-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  9. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  10. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Withdrawn from committee.

  11. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.

  12. 2025-01-29 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  13. 2025-01-23 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 22.

  14. 2025-01-22 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 91, as amended, Cervantes.
Elections: tie votes.
All-mailed ballot elections: vote centers.
Existing law authorizes any county to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if specified conditions are met, including that beginning 10 days before the day of the election and continuing daily up to and including the fourth day before the election at least one vote center is provided for every 50,000 registered voters within the jurisdiction where the election is held.
This bill would revise that condition to instead require provision of the vote centers at least 5 days before the election.
Existing law requires the Secretary of State, for any election for which there is a tie vote except an election for Governor or Lieutenant Governor, a local election for which the legislative body has adopted procedures for a special runoff election, and certain primary elections, to summon the candidates subject to the tie vote to the Secretary of State’s office at the State Capitol, where the Secretary of State must determine the tie by lot.
This bill would allow the Secretary of State to summon candidates subject to a tie vote to any of the Secretary of State’s office locations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF