Late signature curing expenditure reports.

Senator Cervantes' proposal to regulate post-election ballot signature verification expenditures would create new reporting requirements for political committees engaging in voter contact after Election Day. The legislation establishes a framework for tracking spending on efforts to help voters verify or provide signatures on mail ballot envelopes during the period between election day and final certification.

Under the bill, committees would need to report these "late signature curing expenditures" within 24 hours of making them. The reports must detail the committee's name and address, specify whether the spending relates to a candidate or ballot measure, and describe the goods or services purchased. For candidate-related expenditures, committees must include the candidate's name, office sought, and district. For ballot measures, reports must note the measure number/letter, jurisdiction, and whether the spending supports or opposes the measure.

The Secretary of State would incorporate these reports into the state's online campaign finance system within two years. The reporting requirements would apply in addition to existing campaign disclosure obligations, with committees filing in the same locations where they submit other campaign statements. The bill requires no state reimbursement to local agencies, as it creates no new crimes or infractions under California law.