Elections: ballot submission deadline.

Senator Choi's proposal to modify California's vote-by-mail ballot deadlines would require all standard mail ballots to arrive at election offices by the close of polls on election day, replacing the current seven-day post-election grace period for postmarked ballots. The measure retains the existing seven-day reception window specifically for military and overseas voters whose ballots are postmarked by election day.

The bill revises three sections of state election law to establish consistent requirements across all voting jurisdictions. Under the proposed changes, election officials and precinct boards must receive completed mail ballots from regular voters no later than when polls close. Military and overseas voters would continue submitting ballots under current rules, which allow counting of ballots received up to a week after election day if postmarked by the election deadline.

These modifications would create distinct processing tracks for different categories of mail voters. Election officials would need to differentiate between standard ballots, which must arrive by poll closing time, and military/overseas ballots eligible for the extended receipt period. The measure contains no new appropriations and requires standard majority approval for passage.