Elections.

State Senator Cervantes proposes modifications to California's election procedures for the June 2026 primary election while establishing a framework for a November 2025 special election. The legislation creates temporary provisions for signature gathering, voter data reporting, and polling place operations.

For the June 2026 primary, the bill requires the Secretary of State to make signature-gathering forms available by December 19, 2025, and prepare a calendar of key election dates and deadlines. The Secretary must determine whether compiling voter party preference data by congressional district is feasible. If deemed infeasible, counties need not include this information in their regular reporting but must provide it in a supplemental list no later than 88 days before the primary.

The bill calls for a statewide special election on November 4, 2025, to consider Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8. Counties must maintain specific ratios of ballot drop-off locations and vote centers based on registered voter populations. Those conducting all-mailed ballot elections must provide one vote center per 30,000 registered voters from November 1-4, 2025, and one per 60,000 voters from October 25-31, 2025. Other counties may consolidate polling places at a ratio of one location per 10,000 registered voters.

The legislation appropriates General Fund money to cover county election costs and Secretary of State administrative expenses. Counties must report final costs to the Secretary of State, who must submit a comprehensive fiscal report to the Director of Finance and Joint Legislative Budget Committee by April 1, 2026. The provisions expire on January 1, 2027.