Elections and voting procedures.

Assembly Member Ward's elections reform legislation extends California's mail ballot deadline and revises the state's recount procedures. Under the bill, mail ballots would be considered timely if received up to seven days after election day, rather than the current three-day window, provided they are properly postmarked by election day.

The legislation establishes new protocols for election recounts, allowing requesters to specify the order of precinct counting and requiring recount board members who tally votes to be eligible California voters. For manual recounts where ballot images are available, requesters must choose between using paper ballots or official ballot images. If multiple parties request recounts of the same contest and at least one requests paper ballots, officials must conduct a single manual paper ballot recount whose results are binding.

The bill implements additional ballot security measures, prohibiting unauthorized access to voting systems and barring the photography or distribution of materials containing voters' personal information. Elections officials must post recount results within one day of completion and notify relevant candidates, campaign representatives, and the Secretary of State. Local agencies would receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these new requirements, pending determination by the Commission on State Mandates.