Elections: ballot mistakes.

In a measure championed by Assembly Member Pellerin, the proposal seeks to anchor ballot-correction practices in a state-wide, uniform framework, placing the Secretary of State at the helm to develop standards and guidelines for correcting mistakes on ballots in consultation with county elections officials. The result would be a statewide approach that governs how voters may correct ballot errors, with regulatory action available to ensure uniform application across jurisdictions.

The core provision establishes that the Secretary of State, working with county elections officials, shall develop uniform standards and guidelines for correcting mistakes made on a voter's ballot. The measure also authorizes the Secretary of State to adopt regulations to ensure uniform application of those standards and guidelines, should rulemaking be pursued.

Implementation would hinge on a regulatory framework carried out by the Secretary of State, aided by ongoing consultation with county election offices to translate the standards into operational rules for counties. The bill does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties, and it does not attach any direct funding; it requires fiscal review but does not authorize an appropriation. It also does not set an explicit effective date or timeline for when the standards or regulations would take effect.

Contextualizing these provisions, the measure adds a procedural framework intended to standardize how ballot corrections are handled statewide, relying on future guidelines and potential regulations rather than detailing specific procedures today. Stakeholders include the Secretary of State, county elections officials, voters, and election staff, all of whom would engage with the new standards through rulemaking and county-level implementation, with costs and timelines largely determined by forthcoming regulations and outreach efforts.