Elections: official canvass.

Assembly Member Patterson's proposal to accelerate California's election certification process would establish new deadlines and reporting requirements for local election officials. The legislation mandates completion of ballot counting within 21 days after an election, with interim requirements to process 25% of ballots by day seven and 67% by day fourteen.

The bill modifies current election result reporting practices by requiring officials to post updates at least twice weekly on their websites, rather than the current weekly minimum. Officials must announce their planned update schedule by the close of polls on election day. The certified statement of results, which would now be due within 21 days rather than 30, must be published online in downloadable spreadsheet format and maintained for 10 years. Complete results must reach the Secretary of State within 22 days of the election, nine days earlier than currently required.

Local election offices would need to adapt their processes to meet these compressed timelines while maintaining existing requirements for public access to the canvass and minimum daily counting hours. The bill provides for state reimbursement of additional costs incurred by local agencies through the Commission on State Mandates process. These provisions apply to all elections, including those for state, local, and school district offices.