reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2403.

2403. (a) A voter registration agency shall comply with the applicable duties and responsibilities of a voter registration agency set forth in the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(b) A voter registration agency, with each application for service or assistance and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance, and in accordance with the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), shall provide to an applicant all of the following:
(1) A voter preference form.
(2) A voter registration card, unless the applicant, in writing, declines to register to vote.
(3) Assistance in completing the voter registration card, unless the applicant refuses the assistance.
(c) For purposes of subdivision (b), an applicant’s failure to respond to the question of whether he or she would like to register to vote does not constitute a declination to register.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 18. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2404.

2404. (a) The Secretary of State shall do all of the following:
(1) Coordinate with each county elections official and voter registration agency to implement this chapter.
(2) Prepare written training materials that describe the responsibilities of a county elections official and voter registration agency pursuant to this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(3) Contact a voter registration agency if the agency is not complying with the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(4) Coordinate with each state agency that evaluates the performance of an agency designated as a voter registration agency, including doing both of the following:
(A) Communicate to the state agency the requirements of, and best practices for complying with, this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(B) Assist the state agency in its effort to help a voter registration agency comply with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(b) The Secretary of State may do any of the following:
(1) Conduct a review of a voter registration agency’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(2) Conduct a review of a county elections official’s compliance with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.) if the county elections official fails to timely submit a report pursuant to Section 2407, or if a report indicates that the county elections official is not complying with the requirements of this chapter or the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(3) Post the results of a review conducted pursuant to this subdivision on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 19. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2405.

2405. (a) A county elections official shall be responsible for coordinating with the Secretary of State and each applicable voter registration agency within the county to administer the voter registration services required pursuant to this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(b) The county elections official shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide voter registration cards to a voter registration agency upon request of the voter registration agency.
(2) Maintain a record of the number of voter registration cards provided to and received from each voter registration agency, and each office or site of the voter registration agency.
(3) Assist a voter registration agency, upon request, in conducting a training program for its employees based on the training materials prepared by the Secretary of State on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 20. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2406.

2406. (a) A voter registration agency shall do all of the following:
(1) Notify the county elections official of each applicable county of the location of each of the voter registration agency’s offices or sites within the county.
(2) Designate an agency employee to be responsible for the agency’s compliance with this section.
(3) Request voter registration cards from the applicable county elections official, as needed.
(4) Take steps to ensure that the voter registration agency, and each office or site of the voter registration agency, has a sufficient supply of voter preference forms and voter registration cards available, including voter preference forms and voter registration cards in all languages required by Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
(5) Ensure that each employee of the voter registration agency who may provide voter registration services completes, at least once per year, a training based on the training materials prepared by the Secretary of State on the requirements of this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.). The voter registration agency may incorporate this training into any other training program provided by the voter registration agency for its employees.
(b) A voter registration agency may conduct a review of the agency, or an office or site of the agency, as necessary, to ensure compliance with this chapter and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.).
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 21. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2407.

2407. Within 10 days after the beginning of each calendar month, a county elections official shall report to the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, the number of voter registration cards received from each voter registration agency and from each office or site thereof. The Secretary of State shall post the information contained in each report received from a county elections official on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 505, Sec. 2. (SB 35) Effective January 1, 2013.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 6 - Voter Registration Agencies › Section 2408.

2408. (a) A voter registration agency that allows a person to apply online for service or assistance, or to submit a recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance online, shall implement a process and infrastructure that allows an applicant to electronically submit a voter preference form to the voter registration agency, and to submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State in accordance with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 2196).
(b) If a person indicates on his or her electronic voter preference form that he or she would like to register to vote, the person shall be informed that he or she may register to vote through one of the following options, if applicable:
(1) Submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2196.
(2) Complete an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site, print a hard copy of the completed affidavit, and mail or deliver the hard copy of the completed affidavit to the Secretary of State or the appropriate county elections official pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2196.
(c) A voter registration agency may take steps to ensure that the information entered into a person’s electronic application for service or assistance, or his or her electronic recertification, renewal, or change of address form relating to the service or assistance, will be automatically transferred to the electronic affidavit of voter registration if the person indicates that he or she would like to register to vote.
(d) The Secretary of State shall take steps to ensure that the electronic affidavit of voter registration is available, and may be electronically submitted and verified, in all languages in which a county is required to provide voting materials pursuant to Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 22. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 7 - Election Management Systems › Section 2500.

2500. As used in this chapter, an “election management system” is a system that is used by a county in the state to track voter registration or voter preferences, including, for example, a voter’s vote-by-mail status.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 268, Sec. 1. (AB 829) Effective January 1, 2014.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 7 - Election Management Systems › Section 2501.

2501. (a) No later than January 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the vendor of an election management system shall cause an exact copy of the source code for each component of the election management system, including complete build and configuration instructions and related documents for compiling the source code into object code, to be deposited into an approved escrow facility. The vendor shall place in escrow source codes for each version of the election management system in use in a county in the state.
(b) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations relating to all of the following:
(1) The definition of source code components of an election management system, including source code for all firmware and software of the election management system. Firmware and software shall include commercial off-the-shelf or other third-party firmware and software that is available and able to be disclosed by the vendor of the election management system.
(2) Specifications for the escrow facility, including security and environmental specifications necessary for the preservation of the election management system source codes.
(3) Procedures for submitting election management system source codes.
(4) Criteria for access to election management system source codes.
(5) Requirements for the vendor to include in the materials deposited in escrow build and configuration instructions and documents so that a neutral third party may create, from the source codes in escrow, executable object codes identical to the code installed on the election management system.
(c) The Secretary of State shall have reasonable access to the materials placed in escrow, under the following circumstances:
(1) In the course of an investigation or prosecution regarding election management system equipment or procedures.
(2) Upon a finding by the Secretary of State that an escrow facility or escrow company is unable or unwilling to maintain materials in escrow in compliance with this section.
(3) For any other purpose deemed necessary to fulfill the provisions of this code or Section 12172.5 of the Government Code.
(d) The Secretary of State may seek injunctive relief requiring the elections officials, approved escrow facility, or any vendor or manufacturer of an election management system to comply with this section and related regulations. Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County.
(e) This section applies to all elections.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 268, Sec. 1. (AB 829) Effective January 1, 2014.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 7 - Election Management Systems › Section 2550.

2550. (a) For purposes of this section, “electronic poll book” means an electronic list of registered voters that may be transported to the polling location. An electronic poll book shall contain all of the following voter registration data:
(1) Name.
(2) Address.
(3) Precinct.
(4) Party preference.
(5) Whether or not the voter has been issued a vote by mail ballot.
(6) Whether or not the vote by mail ballot has been recorded as received by the elections official.
(b) An electronic poll book shall not be used unless it has been certified by the Secretary of State.
(c) The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish electronic poll book standards and regulations governing the certification and use of electronic poll books.
(d) The Secretary of State shall not certify an electronic poll book unless it fulfills the requirements of this section and the Secretary of State’s standards and regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 734, Sec. 3. (SB 439) Effective January 1, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 8 - Language Accessibility › Section 2600.

2600. The Secretary of State shall establish a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee which shall meet no less than four times each calendar year. The committee shall consist of no less than 15 members and be comprised of the Secretary of State and his or her designee or designees and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State. The appointees shall have demonstrated language accessibility experience, have knowledge of presenting election materials to voters using plain language methods or another method that is easy for voters to access and understand, or be a county elections official or his or her designee. At least three county elections officials shall be appointed to the committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with and consider the recommendations of the committee. The committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of State.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 92. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 2 - VOTERS › CHAPTER 9 - Native American Voters › Section 2700.

2700. (a) The Secretary of State shall establish a Native American Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with the committee to consider the committee’s recommendations related to improving the accessibility of elections for Native American voters. The Secretary of State may implement the committee’s recommendations as appropriate.
(b) The committee shall consist of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State’s designees, and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State. Each appointee shall have demonstrated experience with voting rights or be a county elections official.
(c) The committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of State and shall do all of the following:
(1) Establish guidelines for reaching as many Native American voters as practical.
(2) Make recommendations for improving the availability and accessibility of election materials, including, but not limited to, state voter information guides, county voter information guides, and vote-by-mail ballots, and their delivery in print or alternative formats to Native American voters.
(3) Make recommendations for the distribution of public service announcements identifying the availability of election materials for Native American voters with at least 45 days before any federal, state, and local election.
(4) Promote to Native American voters the Secretary of State’s toll-free voter registration telephone line for citizens needing voter registration information.
(5) Make recommendations for providing Native American voters with information regarding voter registration and voting processes, and voting rights.
(6) Make recommendations to improve the recruitment of Native American poll workers.
(7) Establish subcommittees to further the scope and purposes of the committee as they relate to improving voter services and access for Native American voters.
(8) Make recommendations for providing information and services to Native American voters regarding language assistance.
(9) Promote the use of plain language and alternative formats for election materials distributed to Native American voters.
(10) Make recommendations for materials to train poll workers on issues related to serving Native American voters.
(d) A member shall not receive compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for the member’s reasonable and necessary expenses in connection with service on the committee.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 124, Sec. 25. (AB 938) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3000.

3000. This division shall be liberally construed in favor of the vote by mail voter.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2008.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3000.5.

3000.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, for each election, the elections official shall, no later than 29 days before the day of the election, begin mailing the materials specified in Section 3010 to every registered voter. The elections official shall have five days to mail a ballot to each person who is registered to vote on the 29th day before the day of the election and five days to mail a ballot to each person who is subsequently registered to vote. The elections official shall not discriminate against any region or precinct in choosing which ballots to mail first within the prescribed five-day mailing period.
(b) The distribution of vote by mail ballots to all registered voters does not prevent a voter from voting in person at a polling place, vote center, or other authorized location.
(c) Consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2226, this section is not intended and shall not be construed to authorize a voter with an inactive voter registration status to receive a vote by mail ballot for an election.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 1. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3001.

3001. No later than 29 days before the day of the election, the county elections official shall begin mailing the materials required by Section 3010. The county elections official shall have five days to mail a ballot to each active registered voter by the 29th day before the day of the election and five days for each voter who registers to vote after that date. The county elections official shall not discriminate against any region or precinct in the county in choosing which ballots to mail first within the prescribed five-day mailing period.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 1. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3002.

3002. All persons granted confidentiality pursuant to Section 2166 shall (1) be required to vote by mail ballot, and (2) in addition to the required residence address, provide a valid mailing address to the county elections official to be used in place of the residence address.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 2. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3003.

3003. The vote by mail ballot shall be available to any registered voter.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2008.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3004.

3004. A county elections official shall place a notice in an office within the county where applications are taken for federal passports or where military enlistments are received to inform potential military or overseas voters of their right to a vote by mail voter’s ballot and where to obtain registration materials.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 3. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3005.

3005. (a) Whenever, on the 88th day before the election, there are 250 or less persons registered to vote in any precinct, the elections official may furnish each voter with a vote by mail ballot along with a statement that there will be no polling place for the election. The elections official shall also notify each voter of the location of the two nearest polling places in the event the voter chooses to return the ballot on or before election day.
(b) A precinct shall not be divided in order to conform to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 4. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3010.

3010. (a) The elections official shall deliver all of the following to each qualified applicant:
(1) The ballot for the precinct in which the voter resides. In primary elections, this shall also be accompanied by the ballot for the central committee of the party for which the voter has disclosed a preference, if any.
(2) All supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot, including an identification envelope with prepaid postage for the return of the vote by mail ballot.
(b) An officer of this state shall not make a charge for services rendered to a voter under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 120, Sec. 1. (AB 216) Effective January 1, 2019.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3011.

3011. (a) The identification envelope shall contain all of the following:
(1) A declaration, under penalty of perjury, stating that the voter resides within the precinct in which the voter is voting and is the person whose name appears on the envelope.
(2) The signature of the voter.
(3) The residence address of the voter as shown on the affidavit of registration.
(4) The date of signing.
(5) A notice that the envelope contains an official ballot and is to be opened only by the canvassing board.
(6) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that voting twice constitutes a crime.
(7) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that the voter must sign the envelope in the voter’s own handwriting in order for the ballot to be counted.
(8) A statement that the voter has neither voted nor intends to vote a ballot from any other jurisdiction for the same election.
(9) The name and signature of the person authorized by the voter to return the vote by mail ballot pursuant to Section 3017.
(b) Except at a primary election for partisan office, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the voter’s party preference may not be stamped or printed on the identification envelope.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (9) of subdivision (a), a ballot shall not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return it did not provide on the identification envelope their name or signature.
(d) County elections officials may continue to use existing supplies prior to printing new identification envelopes that reflect the changes made to this section by the act adding this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 12. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3012.

3012. Whenever the elections official is required to mail a vote by mail voter’s ballot to any elector and the address to which the ballot is to be mailed is a point outside the territorial limits of the United States, the elections official shall mail the vote by mail voter’s ballot to the elector by airmail and, if under any law of the United States official election ballots may be mailed without the payment of postage, the elections official shall so mail them.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2008.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3013.

3013. Upon delivering or mailing a vote by mail voter’s ballot, the elections official shall enter on the affidavit of registration the type of ballot and the date of delivering or mailing. Before the election the elections official shall send to the inspector of each precinct in their county or city a list of the voters in that precinct receiving ballots under the provisions of this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 13. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3014.

3014. (a) The elections official shall provide a replacement ballot to any voter upon receipt of a replacement ballot request from the voter. Both of the following apply to a request made pursuant to this subdivision:
(1) The voter making the request shall provide to the elections official personal identifying information that matches the information contained on the voter’s affidavit of registration, including their first and last name, residence address, and date of birth.
(2) Prior to issuing a replacement ballot, the elections official shall advise the requester as follows: “Only the registered voter themself may request a replacement ballot. A request for a replacement ballot that is made by any person other than the registered voter is a criminal offense.”
(b) The elections official shall provide a replacement ballot to the voter’s representative upon receipt of a written request, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, signed by the voter under penalty of perjury, requesting that a ballot be provided to the voter’s representative. A ballot shall not be provided until both of the following occur:
(1) The elections official shall compare the signature on the written request with the signature or signatures in the voter’s record.
(2) The authorized representative shall sign an acknowledgment of receipt of the voter’s ballot.
(c) The voter shall mark the ballot, place it in the identification envelope, fill out and sign the identification envelope, and return the ballot pursuant to Section 3017. These ballots shall be processed and counted in the same manner as other vote by mail ballots.
(d) The elections official shall keep a record of each vote by mail voter ballot sent to and received from a voter and shall verify, prior to counting any duplicate ballot, that the voter has not attempted to vote twice. If it is determined that a voter has attempted to vote twice, both ballots shall be void.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 650, Sec. 1. (AB 398) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3015.

3015. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 14310, vote by mail voters who return to the polling place designated for their home precincts on or before election day, or go to a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or to the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted, shall be permitted to vote nonprovisional ballots if either of the following conditions is satisfied:
(1) They surrender their vote by mail voter ballots to the inspector of the precinct board, a member of the vote center election board, or the elections official.
(2) They are unable to surrender their vote by mail voter ballots pursuant to paragraph (1) but the precinct board, vote center election board, or elections official does all of the following:
(A) Verifies that they have not returned their vote by mail ballots.
(B) Notates their voter records to ensure that their vote by mail ballots are not cast or tabulated after they vote at the polls.
(b) The precinct board and vote center election board shall return the unused vote by mail voters’ ballots surrendered pursuant to subdivision (a) to the elections official in an envelope designated for this purpose.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 22. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3016.

3016. Vote by mail voters who return to the polling place designated for their home precincts on or before election day, or go to a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, or to the office or satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted, shall be issued a provisional ballot in accordance with Section 14310 if neither of the conditions in subdivision (a) of Section 3015 is satisfied.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 22.5. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3016.5.

3016.5. (a) A voter may vote their vote by mail ballot, without the identification envelope, in person at the polling place designated for the voter’s home precinct or at a vote center established pursuant to Section 4005, if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county elections official’s election management system, and does both of the following:
(A) Verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election.
(B) Changes the status of the voter in the election management system from a vote by mail voter to an in person voter.
(2) After the voter’s status has been changed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the voter provides their name, address, and signature pursuant to Section 14216.
(3) The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope, and the precinct board or vote center election board complies with those procedures.
(b) A ballot cast pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be processed and counted in the same manner as a nonprovisional ballot cast in person at the polling place or vote center.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 661, Sec. 1. (AB 626) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3016.7.

3016.7. The county elections official shall permit any voter to cast a ballot using a certified remote accessible vote by mail system, regardless of whether the voter is a voter with disabilities or a military or overseas voter.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 3. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3018.

3018. (a) Any voter using a vote by mail ballot may, prior to the close of the polls on election day, vote the ballot at the office of the elections official. The voter shall vote the ballot in the presence of an officer of the elections official or in a voting booth, at the discretion of the elections official, but in no case may his or her vote be observed. Where direct recording electronic voting systems, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 19271, are used the elections official shall provide sufficient direct recording electronic voting systems to include all ballot types in the election.
(b) For purposes of this section, the office of an elections official may include satellite locations. Notice of the satellite locations shall be made by the elections official by the issuance of a general news release, issued not later than 14 days prior to voting at the satellite location, except that in a county with a declared emergency or disaster, notice shall be made not later than 48 hours prior to voting at the satellite location. The news release shall set forth the following information:
(1) The satellite location or locations.
(2) The dates and hours the satellite location or locations will be open.
(3) A telephone number that voters may use to obtain information regarding vote by mail ballots and the satellite locations.
(c) Vote by mail ballots voted at a satellite location pursuant to this section shall be placed in a vote by mail voter identification envelope to be completed by the voter pursuant to Section 3011. However, if the elections official provides sufficient direct recording electronic voting systems such that all ballot types in the election may be cast, the vote by mail ballot may be cast on a direct recording electronic voting system.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 911, Sec. 2. (AB 2631) Effective January 1, 2015.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3019.5.

3019.5. (a) A county elections official shall establish a free access system that allows a vote by mail voter to learn if the voter’s vote by mail ballot was counted and, if not, the reason why the ballot was not counted. For each election, the elections official shall make the free access system available to a vote by mail voter upon completion of the official canvass and for 30 days after completion of the official canvass.
(b) For purposes of establishing the free access system for vote by mail ballots required by subdivision (a), a county elections official may use the free access system for provisional ballots established by the county pursuant to Section 302 of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 21082).
(c) If a county elections official elects not to mail a county voter information guide to a voter pursuant to Section 13305, the elections official shall use any savings achieved to offset the costs associated with establishing the free access system for vote by mail ballots required by subdivision (a).
(d) When a county elections official updates the county’s election management system or voter look-up tool on the county’s internet website with new voter information, the elections official shall provide the updated information to the Secretary of State to update the information that the Secretary of State provides to the public.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 107. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3019.7.

3019.7. (a) The Secretary of State shall maintain a system to allow a vote by mail voter to track the voter’s vote by mail ballot through the mail system and as the vote by mail ballot is processed by the county elections official. A county elections official shall use this system unless the county makes available to voters a different vote by mail ballot tracking system that meets or exceeds the level of service provided by the Secretary of State’s system. The system shall, at a minimum, be accessible to voters with disabilities and allow a voter to register to receive information via email or text message from the county elections official about the status of the voter’s vote by mail ballot, including all of the following information:
(1) A notification when the ballot has been delivered by the county elections official to the United States Postal Service.
(2) A notification of the date, based on information from the United States Postal Service, that the voter’s ballot is expected to be delivered to the voter.
(3) A notification if the voter’s ballot is returned as undeliverable to the county elections official by the United States Postal Service.
(4) A notification when the voter’s completed ballot has been received by the county elections official.
(5) A notification that the voter’s completed ballot has been counted, or, if the ballot cannot be counted, a notification of the reason why the ballot could not be counted and instructions of any steps that the voter can take in order to have the ballot counted.
(6) A reminder of the deadline for the voter to return the voter’s ballot if the county elections official has not received a voter’s completed ballot by specified dates as determined by the county elections official.
(b) The Secretary of State shall make the system maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) available for use by each county. A county elections official may use the system for the purpose of complying with Section 3019.5.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 4. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3020.

3020. (a) All vote by mail ballots cast under this division shall be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any vote by mail ballot cast under this division shall be timely cast if it is received by the voter’s elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than seven days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:
(1) The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.
(2) If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.
(c) For purposes of this section, “bona fide private mail delivery company” means a courier service that is in the regular business of accepting a mail item, package, or parcel for the purpose of delivery to a person or entity whose address is specified on the item.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 312, Sec. 5. (AB 37) Effective January 1, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3021.5.

3021.5. (a) Upon the declaration of an out-of-state emergency by the Governor and the issuance of an executive order authorizing an out-of-state emergency worker to cast a ballot outside of their home precinct, a county elections official shall, upon request of an out-of-state emergency worker pursuant to this chapter, issue a vote by mail ballot to the out-of-state emergency worker using a process to be determined by that elections official. The process shall include all of the following:
(1) Authorization for a vote by mail ballot and accompanying voting materials to be sent to an out-of-state emergency worker by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic transmission, as requested by the out-of-state emergency worker. An elections official may use reasonable facsimiles of the county voter information guides sent to voters as vote by mail ballots.
(2) A requirement that an out-of-state emergency worker mark the vote by mail ballot provided to them, place it in the vote by mail ballot identification envelope, and return the vote by mail ballot to the elections official from whom it was obtained. If no identification envelope is provided, the envelope used to return the vote by mail ballot to the elections official shall include the information required by subdivision (a) of Section 3011 and a statement signed under penalty of perjury that the voter is an out-of-state emergency worker.
(b) In order to be counted, a vote by mail ballot cast pursuant to this section shall be received in compliance with Section 3020.
(c) An elections official shall receive and canvass vote by mail ballots cast pursuant to this section by the same procedure as for all other vote by mail ballots cast pursuant to this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 16. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3023.

3023. Each ballot that is delivered pursuant to this chapter shall be accompanied by a state voter information guide, unless the voter has already been provided a state voter information guide. The state voter information guide shall display the Internet Web site address for a voter to check the status of his or her vote by mail or provisional ballot.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 85, Sec. 1. (AB 1044) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3024.

3024. The cost to administer vote by mail ballots where issues and elective offices related to school districts, as defined by Section 17519 of the Government Code, are included on a ballot election with noneducation issues and elective offices shall not be fully or partially prorated to a school district. The Commission on State Mandates shall delete school districts, county boards of education, and community college districts from the list of eligible claimants in the Parameters and Guidelines for the Absentee Ballot Mandates.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 508, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2008.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3025.

3025. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Vote by mail ballot drop box” means a secure receptacle established by a county or city and county elections official whereby a voted vote by mail ballot may be returned to the elections official from whom it was obtained.
(2) “Vote by mail ballot drop-off location” means a location consisting of a secured vote by mail ballot drop box at which a voted vote by mail ballot may be returned to the elections official from whom it was obtained.
(b) On or before January 1, 2017, the Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations establishing guidelines based on best practices for security measures and procedures, including, but not limited to, chain of custody, pick-up times, proper labeling, and security of vote by mail ballot drop boxes, that a county elections official may use if the county elections official establishes one or more vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 93. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3025.5.

3025.5. (a) (1) A county that does not conduct an election pursuant to Section 4005 shall provide at least two vote by mail ballot drop-off locations within the jurisdiction where the election is held or at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location for every 30,000 registered voters within the jurisdiction where the election is held, as determined on the 88th day before the day of the election, whichever results in more vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for a jurisdiction with fewer than 30,000 registered voters, at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location shall be provided. The elections official shall make a reasonable effort to provide a vote by mail ballot drop-off location in the jurisdiction where the election is held.
(b) A vote by mail ballot drop-off location provided for under this section consists of a secure, accessible, and locked ballot box located as near as possible to established public transportation routes and that is able to receive voted ballots. All vote by mail ballot drop-off locations shall be open at least during regular business hours beginning not less than 28 days before the day of the election, and on the day of the election.
(c) At least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location shall be an exterior drop box that is available for a minimum of 12 hours per day.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “vote by mail ballot drop-off location” has the same meaning as in Section 3025.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 479, Sec. 4. (AB 1762) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 3 - VOTE BY MAIL VOTING, NEW RESIDENT, AND NEW CITIZEN VOTING › CHAPTER 1 - Vote by Mail Application and Voting Procedures › Section 3025.7.

3025.7. (a) A county that conducts a statewide primary or statewide general election in accordance with Section 3025.5 or 4005 shall, in addition to the vote by mail ballot drop-off locations required by those sections, provide the following vote by mail ballot drop-off locations:
(1) The elections official shall designate one location on the main campus of each California State University within the official’s jurisdiction for an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location.
(2) The elections official shall request that the governing body having jurisdiction over any University of California campus within the official’s jurisdiction authorize the use of one location on that campus for an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location. The University of California is encouraged to comply with a request made under this paragraph.
(3) A county may, but is not required to, provide a vote by mail ballot drop-off location on a campus in accordance with this subdivision if the campus is not in session for its fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election.
(b) When selecting ballot drop-off locations required by Section 3025.5 or 4005 for a statewide primary or statewide general election, the elections official shall give preference to locations on community college campuses that will be in session for the fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election, and that have an annual enrollment of at least 10,000 students.
(c) A ballot drop-off location established in accordance with this section shall be accessible to voters with disabilities and shall comply with the general accessibility requirements described in Section 4005.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 479, Sec. 5. (AB 1762) Effective January 1, 2024.)