All-mailed ballot elections: vote centers.

Senators Cervantes and Allen propose modifying California's all-mailed ballot election system by adjusting the timeline for establishing vote centers. Their legislation would require counties to open vote centers five days before election day, rather than the current ten-day requirement, while maintaining the ratio of one center per 50,000 registered voters.

The bill preserves existing requirements for ballot dropoff locations, voter services, and accessibility standards at vote centers. Counties must continue providing at least two dropoff sites or one per 15,000 registered voters, whichever yields more locations. Vote centers must offer services including ballot return, voter registration, provisional voting, and accessible voting equipment for voters with disabilities.

Under the legislation, counties must develop voter education and outreach plans approved by the Secretary of State, establish language and voting accessibility advisory committees, and submit detailed post-election reports analyzing voter participation across demographic groups. The Secretary of State would enforce these provisions, with the changes taking effect through 2029 before transitioning to updated requirements in 2030.