Early voting: satellite locations.

Assembly Member Wilson's early voting legislation establishes new requirements for satellite voting locations and modifies procedures for in-person voting across California. The bill requires counties that do not conduct all-mail elections to provide at least one early voting location on the Saturday before election day, operating for a minimum of six hours. These locations must offer comprehensive services, including ballot returns, voter registration updates, provisional voting, and accessible voting equipment for voters with disabilities.

The legislation eliminates the requirement for identification envelopes when casting vote-by-mail ballots at satellite locations, while implementing real-time verification procedures through county election management systems to prevent duplicate voting. Election officials must provide notice of satellite locations two weeks before voting begins at these sites, replacing the previous 14-day news release requirement.

The bill also updates electioneering restrictions, prohibiting campaign activities within 100 feet of polling places, election offices, and satellite locations. These provisions encompass displaying candidate information, circulating petitions, and recording voters entering or exiting voting sites. For higher education institutions, the legislation mandates voter education initiatives, including regular campus-wide communications about election dates and voting procedures, social media outreach, and the designation of nonpartisan Civic and Voter Empowerment Coordinators to implement voter engagement programs.

Local agencies and school districts may seek reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these new requirements through established state mandate procedures.