Elections: residency: displacement by natural disaster.

Assembly Member Essayli's proposal to amend California's Elections Code addresses voter residency rights for those displaced by natural disasters, expanding existing protections that already preserve domicile status for residents who temporarily relocate.

The measure adds specific provisions for voters forced to leave their homes due to natural disasters, allowing them to maintain their original voting domicile if they intend to return to that residence or relocate within the same jurisdiction. Under the proposed changes, affected voters may provide temporary mailing addresses without losing their established domicile status. This builds upon current law, which already protects domicile status for residents who temporarily move to other precincts or states.

The amendment operates within existing election administration frameworks and requires no additional state funding. County election officials would incorporate these provisions into their standard voter registration and verification procedures, while continuing to apply established protocols for confirming voter eligibility and residence status.