Elections: Voter Bill of Rights.

Assembly Member Ransom's amendments to California's Voter Bill of Rights expand voter access to replacement ballots and clarify polling place voting options. The legislation modifies the state's Elections Code to explicitly inform voters of their right to obtain a replacement ballot if they do not have one, complementing the existing right to receive a new ballot due to mistakes.

The measure adds two key provisions to the Voter Bill of Rights, which appears in state voter information guides and polling place materials. First, voters may request a replacement ballot before polls close if they do not have their original ballot. Second, voters can obtain a polling place ballot by either surrendering their vote-by-mail ballot or receiving confirmation from election officials that they have not yet voted. The bill maintains existing voter rights, including assistance with ballot casting, access to election materials in other languages where demographically warranted, and the ability to ask questions about election procedures.

The Secretary of State retains authority to implement these changes through regulations and ensure the Voter Bill of Rights uses clear, non-technical language. County election officials must continue displaying these rights at polling places and including them in voter information materials, with specific formatting requirements for different sections of the text.