Voting: signature verification.

Assembly Member Berman's elections reform package modifies California's vote-by-mail signature verification process by adjusting key deadlines and expanding voter notification requirements. The legislation reduces the time for elections officials to notify voters of signature mismatches from 8 days before certification to 14 calendar days after the election, while extending the voter response window to 22 days post-election.

The bill establishes new protocols for signature comparison, requiring elections officials to presume validity and consider similar characteristics rather than exact matches. Officials are prohibited from examining party preference, race, or ethnicity during verification. When signatures do not compare, two additional elections officials must independently confirm the mismatch beyond reasonable doubt before rejecting a ballot.

Counties must implement comprehensive ballot tracking systems that notify voters when their ballot is mailed, delivered, received, and counted. The tracking platform must be accessible to voters with disabilities and provide updates via email or text message. Elections officials may now use ballot drop boxes to collect signature verification forms after Election Day, provided the boxes are clearly labeled for this specific purpose.

The legislation also introduces flexibility in the vote counting process by allowing reduced canvassing hours when only signature verification ballots remain and certification deadlines can still be met. Local elections officials will receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these new requirements through existing statutory mechanisms.