Voting & Elections

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Elections.

Streamlines election consolidation by allowing political subdivisions to file directly with county election officials. Transfers authority to canvass consolidated election returns from county supervisors to county election officials. Removes the 12-card maximum limit on voter instruction materials at polling places. Requires a designated precinct board member to formally announce poll openings and closings.

Elections.

Image for Elections.

Streamlines election consolidation by allowing political subdivisions to file directly with county election officials. Transfers authority to canvass consolidated election returns from county supervisors to county election officials. Removes the 12-card maximum limit on voter instruction materials at polling places. Requires a designated precinct board member to formally announce poll openings and closings.

Image for Local jurisdictions: district-based elections.

Local jurisdictions: district-based elections.

Extends the timeline for challenging local election methods from 45 to 90 days under the California Voting Rights Act. Allows cities under 50,000 residents to elect up to 20% of council members at-large while using district elections. Requires jurisdictions to publish demographic data 9 months before redistricting elections. Mandates comprehensive public outreach plans and translation services for redistricting hearings.

Local jurisdictions: district-based elections.

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Extends the timeline for challenging local election methods from 45 to 90 days under the California Voting Rights Act. Allows cities under 50,000 residents to elect up to 20% of council members at-large while using district elections. Requires jurisdictions to publish demographic data 9 months before redistricting elections. Mandates comprehensive public outreach plans and translation services for redistricting hearings.

Image for Elections: vote by mail voters.

Elections: vote by mail voters.

Makes technical changes to existing definitions for vote by mail and military voters.

Elections: vote by mail voters.

Image for Elections: vote by mail voters.

Makes technical changes to existing definitions for vote by mail and military voters.

Image for County of Merced Citizens Redistricting Commission.

County of Merced Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Establishes an 11-member independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in Merced County to redraw supervisor districts. Requires commissioners to be politically diverse county residents with no recent political or lobbying experience. Mandates at least seven public hearings and a 30-day public review period before finalizing district maps. Prohibits commissioners from holding public office for 5 years and from lobbying for 3 years after service.

County of Merced Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Image for County of Merced Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Establishes an 11-member independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in Merced County to redraw supervisor districts. Requires commissioners to be politically diverse county residents with no recent political or lobbying experience. Mandates at least seven public hearings and a 30-day public review period before finalizing district maps. Prohibits commissioners from holding public office for 5 years and from lobbying for 3 years after service.

Image for Voter education and outreach plans.

Voter education and outreach plans.

Requires counties to create voter education plans to boost registration and electoral participation. Mandates counties to provide information about online registration, vote-by-mail, and key election deadlines. Requires the Secretary of State to provide plan templates and publish county plans online. Counties must submit updated outreach plans by October 1st of each odd-numbered year.

Voter education and outreach plans.

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Requires counties to create voter education plans to boost registration and electoral participation. Mandates counties to provide information about online registration, vote-by-mail, and key election deadlines. Requires the Secretary of State to provide plan templates and publish county plans online. Counties must submit updated outreach plans by October 1st of each odd-numbered year.

Image for Remote accessible vote by mail systems: testing and examination: report.

Remote accessible vote by mail systems: testing and examination: report.

Requires online publication of vote-by-mail system certification reports on the Secretary of State's website. Mandates public posting of certification results within 60 days after testing remote voting systems. Enhances transparency of vote-by-mail system approval process through digital accessibility.

Remote accessible vote by mail systems: testing and examination: report.

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Requires online publication of vote-by-mail system certification reports on the Secretary of State's website. Mandates public posting of certification results within 60 days after testing remote voting systems. Enhances transparency of vote-by-mail system approval process through digital accessibility.

Image for Early voting: satellite locations.

Early voting: satellite locations.

Expands early voting by allowing mail ballots to be cast in person up to 29 days before election day. Requires counties to provide at least one early voting location on the Saturday before election day. Eliminates the voter identification envelope requirement for in-person vote-by-mail voting. Strengthens penalties for voter intimidation and election interference with felony charges.

Early voting: satellite locations.

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Expands early voting by allowing mail ballots to be cast in person up to 29 days before election day. Requires counties to provide at least one early voting location on the Saturday before election day. Eliminates the voter identification envelope requirement for in-person vote-by-mail voting. Strengthens penalties for voter intimidation and election interference with felony charges.

Image for Elections: official canvass.

Elections: official canvass.

Requires election officials to post updated election results twice weekly instead of once weekly after elections. Mandates detailed updates including processed ballot counts and estimates of remaining unprocessed ballots. Requires officials to specify the date and time of the next planned results update. Provides state reimbursement to local agencies for any additional costs from increased reporting requirements.

Elections: official canvass.

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Requires election officials to post updated election results twice weekly instead of once weekly after elections. Mandates detailed updates including processed ballot counts and estimates of remaining unprocessed ballots. Requires officials to specify the date and time of the next planned results update. Provides state reimbursement to local agencies for any additional costs from increased reporting requirements.

Image for Elections: statewide initiative and referendum petitions: disclosures.

Elections: statewide initiative and referendum petitions: disclosures.

Requires ballot measures to display the three largest financial contributors supporting and opposing the initiative. Mandates petition signers to confirm they reviewed funding disclosures before signing. Expands ballot labels to include detailed lists of supporters and opponents with strict formatting rules. Requires verification of supporter and opponent organizations' eligibility through documentation and signed statements.

Elections: statewide initiative and referendum petitions: disclosures.

Image for Elections: statewide initiative and referendum petitions: disclosures.

Requires ballot measures to display the three largest financial contributors supporting and opposing the initiative. Mandates petition signers to confirm they reviewed funding disclosures before signing. Expands ballot labels to include detailed lists of supporters and opponents with strict formatting rules. Requires verification of supporter and opponent organizations' eligibility through documentation and signed statements.

Image for Elections: Voter Bill of Rights.

Elections: Voter Bill of Rights.

Expands the Voter Bill of Rights to guarantee replacement ballots for voters who lack or mismark their ballots. Allows voters to request a polling place ballot when surrendering a mail ballot or confirming non-voting status. Requires the Voter Bill of Rights to be available in multiple languages based on local demographics. Mandates clear display of voting rights information at all precincts and in voter guides.

Elections: Voter Bill of Rights.

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Expands the Voter Bill of Rights to guarantee replacement ballots for voters who lack or mismark their ballots. Allows voters to request a polling place ballot when surrendering a mail ballot or confirming non-voting status. Requires the Voter Bill of Rights to be available in multiple languages based on local demographics. Mandates clear display of voting rights information at all precincts and in voter guides.

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Food and agriculture.

Makes technical changes to provisions regarding interpretation of food and agriculture laws.

Food and agriculture.

Image for Food and agriculture.

Makes technical changes to provisions regarding interpretation of food and agriculture laws.

Image for Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution limits.

Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution limits.

Extends campaign contribution limits to judicial, school district, and community college district elections starting January 2027. Sets a base contribution limit of $5,900 per election for most offices, with higher limits for statewide positions. Authorizes local education boards and the Judicial Council to impose stricter campaign contribution limits. Establishes criminal penalties for violations while empowering local authorities to enforce their own contribution limits.

Political Reform Act of 1974: contribution limits.

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Extends campaign contribution limits to judicial, school district, and community college district elections starting January 2027. Sets a base contribution limit of $5,900 per election for most offices, with higher limits for statewide positions. Authorizes local education boards and the Judicial Council to impose stricter campaign contribution limits. Establishes criminal penalties for violations while empowering local authorities to enforce their own contribution limits.

Image for Voter registration: military and overseas voters.

Voter registration: military and overseas voters.

Streamlines voter registration by removing separate rules for military and overseas voters. Integrates military and overseas voters into the standard conditional voter registration process. Allows military and overseas voters to register up to and including election day.

Voter registration: military and overseas voters.

Image for Voter registration: military and overseas voters.

Streamlines voter registration by removing separate rules for military and overseas voters. Integrates military and overseas voters into the standard conditional voter registration process. Allows military and overseas voters to register up to and including election day.

Image for Elections: voter registration.

Elections: voter registration.

Expands online voter registration to Californians without driver's licenses using social security numbers. Requires the Secretary of State to develop a secure system for uploading digital signatures by 2027. Mandates accessibility features for voters with disabilities in the new registration system. Establishes identity verification using social security numbers, full names, and birth dates.

Elections: voter registration.

Image for Elections: voter registration.

Expands online voter registration to Californians without driver's licenses using social security numbers. Requires the Secretary of State to develop a secure system for uploading digital signatures by 2027. Mandates accessibility features for voters with disabilities in the new registration system. Establishes identity verification using social security numbers, full names, and birth dates.

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Civil appeals: stay of enforcement.

Requires immediate enforcement of court orders against unfair voting districts even during appeals. Allows the Attorney General to pause enforcement if needed for orderly election administration. Mandates violating jurisdictions to reimburse counties for election costs from July 2025 forward. Strengthens protections against minority vote dilution in local elections.

Civil appeals: stay of enforcement.

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Requires immediate enforcement of court orders against unfair voting districts even during appeals. Allows the Attorney General to pause enforcement if needed for orderly election administration. Mandates violating jurisdictions to reimburse counties for election costs from July 2025 forward. Strengthens protections against minority vote dilution in local elections.

Image for Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.

Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.

Prohibits DMV from offering voter registration to individuals who show proof of non-citizenship. Requires DMV to transmit voter registration applications to Secretary of State within 10 days. Mandates secure data sharing between DMV and Secretary of State through formal agreement. Protects confidential voter information from unauthorized third-party access.

Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.

Image for Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.

Prohibits DMV from offering voter registration to individuals who show proof of non-citizenship. Requires DMV to transmit voter registration applications to Secretary of State within 10 days. Mandates secure data sharing between DMV and Secretary of State through formal agreement. Protects confidential voter information from unauthorized third-party access.

Image for Elections: ballot mistakes.

Elections: ballot mistakes.

Establishes a statewide system for voters to correct mistakes on their ballots. Requires the Secretary of State to develop uniform ballot correction standards with county election officials. Authorizes the Secretary of State to implement regulations ensuring consistent application statewide.

Elections: ballot mistakes.

Image for Elections: ballot mistakes.

Establishes a statewide system for voters to correct mistakes on their ballots. Requires the Secretary of State to develop uniform ballot correction standards with county election officials. Authorizes the Secretary of State to implement regulations ensuring consistent application statewide.

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Accessory dwelling units: proof of residential occupancy requirements.

Authorizes local agencies to require property owners to certify ADUs are occupied at least 6 months per year. Mandates annual recertification of ADU occupancy for the first 10 years of operation. Requires local agencies to send two notices before enforcing occupancy requirements. Prohibits excessive fines and prevents forced demolition of non-compliant ADUs.

Accessory dwelling units: proof of residential occupancy requirements.

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Authorizes local agencies to require property owners to certify ADUs are occupied at least 6 months per year. Mandates annual recertification of ADU occupancy for the first 10 years of operation. Requires local agencies to send two notices before enforcing occupancy requirements. Prohibits excessive fines and prevents forced demolition of non-compliant ADUs.

Image for Elections: residency: displacement by natural disaster.

Elections: residency: displacement by natural disaster.

Protects voting rights for residents temporarily displaced by natural disasters. Allows displaced voters to maintain their original voting address while using a temporary mailing address. Preserves voter registration at original residence if planning to return or relocate within same jurisdiction.

Elections: residency: displacement by natural disaster.

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Protects voting rights for residents temporarily displaced by natural disasters. Allows displaced voters to maintain their original voting address while using a temporary mailing address. Preserves voter registration at original residence if planning to return or relocate within same jurisdiction.

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Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Transfers responsibility for ballot measure titles and summaries from Attorney General to Legislative Analyst. Requires committees to create detailed 'Official Top Funders' sheets for ballot measure petitions. Mandates disclosure of major financial contributors on ballot materials with specific formatting rules. Makes all changes contingent upon voter approval of Senate Constitutional Amendment 3.

Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Image for Initiative and referendum measures: title and summary.

Transfers responsibility for ballot measure titles and summaries from Attorney General to Legislative Analyst. Requires committees to create detailed 'Official Top Funders' sheets for ballot measure petitions. Mandates disclosure of major financial contributors on ballot materials with specific formatting rules. Makes all changes contingent upon voter approval of Senate Constitutional Amendment 3.

Image for State agencies: complaints: demographic data.

State agencies: complaints: demographic data.

Requires state agencies to collect demographic data on discrimination and harassment complaints starting July 2026. Mandates annual public reporting of complaint data while protecting individual privacy. Creates public dashboards to display aggregated complaint statistics and outcomes. Establishes new reporting requirements for both education and civil rights departments.

State agencies: complaints: demographic data.

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Requires state agencies to collect demographic data on discrimination and harassment complaints starting July 2026. Mandates annual public reporting of complaint data while protecting individual privacy. Creates public dashboards to display aggregated complaint statistics and outcomes. Establishes new reporting requirements for both education and civil rights departments.

Image for Elections and voting procedures.

Elections and voting procedures.

Extends the deadline for mail-in ballots to be counted from 3 to 7 days after election day if postmarked by election day. Allows voters requesting recounts to specify the order of ballot counting by batch or county. Requires election officials to post recount results publicly within one day of completion. Strengthens ballot security by restricting handling to authorized personnel and protecting voter information.

Elections and voting procedures.

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Extends the deadline for mail-in ballots to be counted from 3 to 7 days after election day if postmarked by election day. Allows voters requesting recounts to specify the order of ballot counting by batch or county. Requires election officials to post recount results publicly within one day of completion. Strengthens ballot security by restricting handling to authorized personnel and protecting voter information.

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Confidentiality of voter information: cognitively impaired individuals.

Establishes confidential voter status protections for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia. Authorizes power of attorney holders to apply for voter confidentiality on behalf of cognitively impaired individuals. Requires county election officials to exclude protected voters from all public voter lists and rosters. Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on confidential voter status applications and misuse allegations.

Confidentiality of voter information: cognitively impaired individuals.

Image for Confidentiality of voter information: cognitively impaired individuals.

Establishes confidential voter status protections for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia. Authorizes power of attorney holders to apply for voter confidentiality on behalf of cognitively impaired individuals. Requires county election officials to exclude protected voters from all public voter lists and rosters. Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on confidential voter status applications and misuse allegations.

Image for Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

Requires county nonpartisan offices to advance top two primary candidates to the general election. Aligns district attorney and sheriff elections with presidential election cycles. Eliminates primary elections when only two candidates qualify for a county office. Mandates six-year terms for district attorneys and sheriffs elected in 2022.

Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

Image for Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

Requires county nonpartisan offices to advance top two primary candidates to the general election. Aligns district attorney and sheriff elections with presidential election cycles. Eliminates primary elections when only two candidates qualify for a county office. Mandates six-year terms for district attorneys and sheriffs elected in 2022.

Image for Voting: signature verification.

Voting: signature verification.

Reduces the deadline for voters to verify mail ballot signatures to 22 days after an election. Establishes a statewide ballot tracking system for voters to monitor their mail ballot status. Allows election officials to use ballot drop boxes for collecting signature verification forms. Permits reduced canvassing hours when only signature verification ballots remain to be counted.

Voting: signature verification.

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Reduces the deadline for voters to verify mail ballot signatures to 22 days after an election. Establishes a statewide ballot tracking system for voters to monitor their mail ballot status. Allows election officials to use ballot drop boxes for collecting signature verification forms. Permits reduced canvassing hours when only signature verification ballots remain to be counted.