SB-970 • 2026

Military or overseas voters.

Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Cervantes
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and M. & V.A.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how voting materials will be sent to military and overseas voters, only how ballots should be returned securely.

Helping Military and Overseas Voters

This law requires the Secretary of State to create rules for securely returning ballots from military or overseas voters using electronic methods.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Secretary of State to make rules for sending back voted ballots from military or overseas voters in a secure way.

Who It Names or Affects

Military and overseas voters who need to vote by mail or electronically.

Terms To Know

Electronic transmission: Sending information, like voting materials, through the internet or other digital methods.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much it will cost to implement these changes.
It is unclear what specific regulations the Secretary of State will create.

Bill History

2026-06-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and M. & V.A.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 1.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Ordered to second reading.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
April 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 20.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 3755.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 6.
2026-02-03 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 970, as amended, Cervantes.
Military or overseas voters.
Existing law regulates the voting procedures for military or overseas voters to register to vote, to apply for voting ballots, and to vote. Existing law requires, among other things, unvoted voting materials to be electronically transmitted to a military or overseas voter.
This bill would require the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations to facilitate the secure return of ballots from military or overseas voters delivered through secure
electronic transmission
methods.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF