reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.1 - Recounts [Renumbered] › Article 2 - Recount of Votes Cast on Ballot Cards or Paper Ballots and Originally Tabulated Automatically [Renumbered] › Section 20833 - Manual Recounts, "Vote for Multiple" Contests. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						15276,
						15290,
						15629,
						15630 and
						19380,
						Elections Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						15276,
						15290,
						15629,
						15630 and
						19380,
						Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.1 - Recounts [Renumbered] › Article 3 - Recount of Votes Cast on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems [Repealed] › Section 20840 - Recounts on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems Using Electronic Vote Results. [Repealed]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						19220,
						19381,
						19382 and
						19383,
						Elections Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						19220,
						19381,
						19382 and
						19383,
						Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.1 - Recounts [Renumbered] › Article 3 - Recount of Votes Cast on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems [Repealed] › Section 20841 - Automated Recounts on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems Using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail Paper Copies. [Repealed]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code;
						and Sections 10 and 15601, Elections Code. Reference: Sections 19201, 19220,
						19250, 19251 and 19253, Elections Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						19201,
						19220,
						19250,
						19251 and
						19253,
						Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.1 - Recounts [Renumbered] › Article 3 - Recount of Votes Cast on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems [Repealed] › Section 20842 - Manual Recounts of Ballots Cast on Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems Using Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail Paper Copies. [Repealed]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code;
						and Sections 10 and 15601, Elections Code. Reference: Sections 19250 and 19382,
						Elections Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code; and Sections
						10 and
						15601,
						Elections Code. Reference: Sections
						19250 and
						19382,
						Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20871 - General Provisions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The purpose of this Chapter is to establish uniform
				  requirements and procedures for elections officials and any person who observes
				  the election process in California. These regulations are intended to increase
				  transparency in the elections process and shall apply to all elections in
				  California conducted under the California Elections Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code;
					 and Section 10, Elections Code. Reference: Section 10, Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20872 - Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the
				  following definitions:
(a) "Bona fide
				association of citizens" means an organization or association that is organized
				by articles of incorporation, articles of organization, statement of
				organization, articles of association, partnership documents, bylaws, or any
				similar document.
(b) "Central
				counting site" means a location or locations where ballots are counted by the
				elections official.
(c) "County
				elections official" shall mean the county registrar of voters or county
				clerk.
(d) "County election
				observer panel member" means individuals, interested organizations, groups, and
				entities who have accepted an invitation from their county elections official
				to observe and provide feedback in an official capacity on the election
				process.
(e) "Election observer"
				means a person who observes the conduct of elections in California.
(f) "Elections official" shall have the
				meaning set forth in Elections Code section
				320. As
				used in this Chapter, an elections official has decision making authority for
				election processes and activities.
(g) "Election worker" is a person who assists
				with the conducting of the election. An election worker includes poll workers,
				employees of the elections official, volunteers, and any other person
				designated or assigned by the elections official to assist in all processes
				necessary for conducting an election.
(h) "Observe" means to watch, view, listen,
				take notes, and ask questions.
(i)
				"Polling place" shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section
				338.5,
				which includes vote centers, and shall also include any satellite office as
				provided in Elections Code section
				3018.
(j) "Precinct board" shall have the meaning
				set forth in Elections Code section
				339.
(k) "Precinct" shall have the meaning set
				forth in Elections Code section
				338.6.
(l) "Sufficiently close" shall mean the
				distance determined by the elections official that enables an observer to
				observe and see the vote-by-mail identification envelopes and the signatures
				and dates, date stamps, or postmarks thereon and challenge whether those
				individuals handling vote by mail ballots are following established procedures,
				which includes all of the following:
(1)
				Verifying signatures on the vote by mail ballot return envelopes by comparing
				them to voter registration information.
(2) Duplicating accurately damaged or
				defective ballots.
(3) Securing
				vote by mail ballots to prevent tampering with them before they are counted on
				election day.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20874 - Rights of Elections Officials

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) The
				elections official, at their discretion, while maintaining the right to observe
				the elections process and ensuring that observers have the ability to see and
				view the election process or activity being observed, may determine the
				distance at which the observer(s) shall observe any election process or
				activity. In making such determination, the elections official may take into
				consideration, among other things, the following:
(1) the size and area of the polling
				place;
(2) the size and
				configuration of the building and the elections office;
(3) the presence and path of travel of
				staff;
(4) the size and
				configuration of the location where ballots are being processed and
				counted;
(5) the elections
				official's staffing levels and the number of observers who are requesting
				access to observe a particular process;
(6) the maintaining of security and limiting
				observer access to voting equipment to ensure that it cannot be touched or
				tampered with;
(7) the maintaining
				of privacy and security of the ballot and the voter's confidential information,
				which does not include the voter's signature or address for the purpose of
				observing the processing of vote-by-mail identification envelopes;
(8) the elections process that is being
				observed (for example, observers shall have sufficiently close access to view
				the processing of vote-by-mail ballots);
(9) the lighting in the location where the
				elections activity or process is occurring;
(10) the angle at which the observer can view
				the elections activity or process;
(11) the right of a voter to vote safely,
				securely, and free from intimidation or corruption;
(12) the safety and security of elections
				officials, workers, and the public, which may include any health and safety
				measures or requirements in place at the time observation is
				occurring;
(13) the use of video
				displays to magnify voting materials and closed-circuit video displays of
				election processes or activities;
(14) technological limitations of the
				elections official's office;
(15)
				the maintaining of security and limiting observer access to other county or
				city departments; and,
(16)
				maintaining accessibility for election observers with disabilities.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20875 - Duties of Election Observers

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Upon
				entering at any polling location, central counting site, or any other location
				where election processes or activities are occurring, an election observer
				shall check in at the site designated by the elections official.
(b) The elections official has the discretion
				to require an observer to wear identification provided by the elections
				official. An election observer may also wear their own identification at any
				time, but that identification shall not include any electioneering information
				or information that could intimidate a voter.
(c) At all times while observing, an election
				observer shall not disrupt or interfere with the election process or activity
				being observed and shall follow the procedures and requirements provided in
				this Chapter and any additional written rules and procedures established by the
				elections official in accordance with Section
				20874(j).
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code;
					 and Section 10, Elections Code. Reference: Section 10, Elections Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20878 - Conduct of Election Observers

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) In
				order to minimize distraction or disruption an elections observer shall not:
(1) Interfere with the:
(A) retrieval of vote-by-mail ballots from
				vote-by-mail drop boxes and vote-by-mail dropoff locations, processing of
				vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes, or the processing and counting of
				vote-by-mail ballots.
(B) conduct
				of the election in general or disrupt any other elections activity or
				process.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.2 - Election Observation: Rights and Responsibilities › Section 20879 - Voter Challenges

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) During
				the processing of vote-by-mail identification envelopes and vote-by-mail
				ballots, an elections observer shall have the right to make challenges as
				provided in Elections Code sections
				15104(b) and
				(d).
(1)
				Election observers and the groups identified in Elections Code section
				15104(b)
				shall be permitted to observe and challenge the manner in which the
				vote-by-mail ballots are handled, from the processing of vote-by-mail ballot
				identification envelopes through the counting and disposition of the
				ballots.
(2) Election observers may
				challenge whether those individuals handling vote-by-mail ballots are following
				established procedures, including all of the following:
(A) Verifying signatures on the vote-by-mail
				ballot identification envelopes by comparing them to the signature(s) in the
				voter's registration record in accordance with Elections Code section
				3019 and
				Section 20960.
(B) Accurately duplicating damaged or
				defective ballots in accordance with Elections Code section
				15210.
(C) Securing vote-by-mail ballots to prevent
				tampering with them before they are counted on Election Day.
(3) As provided in Elections Code
				section
				15105,
				challenges to a vote-by-mail voter may be made for the same reasons as those
				made against a voter at a polling place. Additionally, a challenge may be
				entered on the grounds that the vote-by-mail ballot was not timely received, or
				that the voter is imprisoned for a conviction of a felony. These challenges
				shall be made prior to the opening of the identification envelope of the
				challenged vote-by-mail voter.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 1 - General › Section 20910 - Applicability of this Chapter

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  The regulatory purpose of this Chapter is to ensure uniform application and
				  practices for elections officials related to the examination of initiative,
				  referendum, recall, nominating petition or paper, signature in-lieu of filing
				  fee, and any other petition or paper, as well as for signature verification on
				  local and statewide election-related petitions, vote-by-mail identification
				  envelopes, and provisional ballot envelopes.
(b) In addition, the regulatory purpose of
				  this Chapter is to provide uniform vote counting standards for consistent
				  application of ballot processing and counting throughout the state. The
				  regulations set forth in this Chapter shall apply to ballots cast in elections
				  held pursuant to the California Elections Code.
1. New
					 chapter 8.3 (articles 1, 6, 8 and 9, sections
					 20910,
					 20960-20962,
					 20980-20985 and
					 20990-20993), article 1 (section
					 20910) and section filed 9-28-2020
					 as an emergency; operative 9-28-2020. Emergency expiration extended 60 days
					 (Executive Order N-40-20) plus an additional 60 days (Executive Order N-66-20)
					 (Register 2020, No. 40). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL
					 by 7-27-2021 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the
					 following day.
2. New chapter 8.3 (articles 1, 6, 8 and 9, sections
					 20910,
					 20960-20962,
					 20980-20985 and
					 20990-20993), article 1 (section
					 20910) and section refiled,
					 including amendment of NOTE, 7-12-2021 as an emergency; operative 7-28-2021
					 (Register 2021, No. 29). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL
					 by 10-26-2021 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the
					 following day.
3. New chapter 8.3 (articles 1, 6, 8 and 9, sections
					 20910,
					 20960-20962,
					 20980-20985 and
					 20990-20993), article 1 (section
					 20910) and section refiled
					 11-4-2021 as an emergency; operative 11-4-2021 (Register 2021, No. 45). A
					 Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-2-2022 or emergency
					 language will be repealed by operation of law on the following
					 day.
4. Certificate of Compliance as to 11-4-2021 order, including
					 amendment of chapter heading and subsection (a), transmitted to OAL 1-31-2022
					 and filed 3-15-2022; amendments effective 3-15-2022 pursuant to Government Code
					 section
					 11343.4(b)(3)
					 (Register 2022, No. 11).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						3026 and
						14314,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						100,
						333,
						3019 and
						14310, Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 2 - Petition Format › Section 20920 - Petition Format

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) A
				  petition signature shall be included in a raw count and shall be subject to
				  signature verification when all sections of the petition being reviewed include
				  all elements required by the Elections Code for the type of petition being
				  examined.
(b) Notwithstanding
				  subdivision (a), a petition signature shall be included in a raw count and the
				  signature shall be subject to signature verification if:
(1) The space on the petition section
				  identifying the jurisdiction where the petition section was circulated is left
				  blank.
(2) The petition section has
				  signatures on the back of a printed petition, if the signatures are before the
				  circulator's declaration and each page bearing signatures contains all elements
				  required by statute. This provision does not apply to a recall
				  petition.
(3) The entire face of
				  the petition section indicates the petition section was circulated among voters
				  of counties other than the county where the petitions were filed but contain
				  one or more signatures of voters registered in the county of filing. However,
				  any signatures of voters registered in another county shall be included in the
				  raw count but shall not be subject to verification.
(4) The petition section is labeled as being
				  circulated in counties other than the county of filing but contains one or more
				  signatures of voters registered in the county of filing. However, any
				  signatures of voters registered in another county shall be included in the raw
				  count but shall not be subject to verification.
(5) The petition section is photocopied, but
				  it includes all elements required by statute and bears original signatures,
				  original printed names and residence addresses.
(6) The entire petition section is reproduced
				  in handwriting, and it includes all elements required by statute. This
				  provision does not apply to a recall petition.
(7) The petition section does not include a
				  one-inch space at the top of each page and/or after the name of the signer.
				  This provision does not apply to a recall petition.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 3 - Petition Signatures and Residence Addresses › Section 20930 - Petition Signatures

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  A petition signature shall be included in a raw count and the signature shall
				  be subject to signature verification if:
(1)
				  If two signers of a petition occupy the same signature box, but only one
				  residence address is listed, only the signature of the person who handwrote the
				  residence address shall be subject to verification. However, if the signer's
				  registration was electronic or typed, and there is no handwriting to compare,
				  only the first name in the signature box shall be subject to
				  verification.
(2) If a signer of a
				  petition prints MR. AND MRS. SMITH and signs Mr. & Mrs. Smith, or uses a
				  nickname, initials, prefixes, maiden name, married name, spouse's name or a
				  misspelling, but only when it appears to have been made by the same person with
				  a similar signature and correct residence address.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 4 - Voter Registration Status › Section 20940 - Timing of Registration

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  The signer of a petition must be a registered voter at the time they sign the
				  petition. Registration can be done at the same time the petition is signed. The
				  provisions of this Article provide the elections official with direction on how
				  to properly determine registration status within the jurisdiction where the
				  petition was circulated. Any determination of timing or effective date of a
				  registration shall be made in accordance with Section
				  19076 of Article 2.5 of Chapter 1
				  of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations.
(b) The signer shall be deemed properly and
				  timely registered and the signature shall be included in a raw count and the
				  signature shall be subject to signature verification if:
(1) The voter's current residence address in
				  the voter's registration record is different due to an update to the voter's
				  record, but was the correct residence address on any date between the dates
				  which all the signatures to the petition or paper were obtained as reported in
				  the declaration signed by the circulator of the petition.
(2) The signer's voter registration affidavit
				  does not contain a date of execution and was received by the elections official
				  on or before the last date of circulation of the petition
				  section.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 4 - Voter Registration Status › Section 20941 - Automatic Updates to a Voter's Registration

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
If a voter's registration is automatically updated after
					 the petition was circulated, the signature shall be included in a raw count and
					 the signature shall be subject to signature verification if:
(a) The voter's address on the petition is
				  the same as the address provided after the automatic update, and the effective
				  date of the change is on or before the voter signed the petition. However, if
				  the address on the petition is the same as the address provided after the
				  automatic update, but the effective date of the change is after the voter
				  signed the petition, the signature shall be included in a raw count, but the
				  signature shall not be subject to signature verification.
(b) The voter's address on the petition is
				  different from the address provided after the automatic update, and the
				  effective date of the change is after the date the voter signed the petition.
				  However, if the address on the petition is different from the address provided
				  after the automatic update, but the effective date of the change is on or
				  before the voter signed the petition, the signature shall be included in a raw
				  count, but the signature shall not be subject to signature
				  verification.
1. New
					 section filed 3-15-2022; operative 3-15-2022 (Register 2022, No.
					 11).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C. 20507; Sections
						2220,
						2221,
						2222,
						2223,
						2224,
						2225,
						2226,
						2227 and
						2263, Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 4 - Voter Registration Status › Section 20942 - Canceled and Inactive Registrations

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) A petition signature shall be included in
				  a raw count and shall be subject to signature verification if the address on
				  the voter's registration is different than the address provided on the petition
				  or the voter is no longer registered, but they are at the correct address as a
				  confirmed canceled voter and one of the following apply:
(1) The effective date of the cancelation of
				  the voter's registration was after the last date of circulation of the
				  petition. However, if the effective date of the voter's cancelation was before
				  the first date of circulation of the petition or at a different address, the
				  elections official shall include the signature in a raw count but the signature
				  shall not be subject to signature verification.
(2) The voter's registration was canceled in
				  error.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 5 - Declaration of Circulator › Section 20950 - Declaration of Circulator

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  A petition signature shall be included in a raw count and the signature shall
				  be subject to signature verification if the declaration of circulator complies
				  with the applicable Elections Code sections for the type of petition being
				  examined.
(b) Notwithstanding
				  subdivision (a), a petition signature shall be included in a raw count and the
				  signature shall be subject to signature verification if:
(1) The circulator failed to sign their
				  entire name, including their middle name.
(2) The dates of circulation in the
				  declaration of circulator are in handwriting different from the circulator's
				  handwriting, and the difference is subtle or not readily apparent.
(3) The year of circulation provided in the
				  circulator's declaration is preprinted or stamped, but the month and day are
				  hand-written.
(4) The declaration
				  of circulator has no date of execution and no dates of circulation, but the
				  circulator has signed the petition and provided a date of signing.
(5) The declaration of circulator contains a
				  space for the beginning date of circulation and a separate space for the ending
				  date of circulation, and only one of the spaces is complete.
(6) The declaration of circulator contains
				  either a date of circulation or a date of execution, but not both.
(7) The dates on the declaration of
				  circulator are after the date the petition section was filed.
(8) The petition section contains dates
				  supplied voluntarily by the signer(s), and conflict with the dates contained in
				  the declaration of circulator.
(9)
				  The circulator is not registered to vote or is not registered in the
				  jurisdiction in which the petition is circulated.
(10) The circulator is not a resident of the
				  state or political jurisdiction in which the petition is circulated.
(11) The declaration of circulator does not
				  contain an address, or only a P.O. Box address is provided.
(12) The circulator failed to sign the
				  declaration of circulator, but is also a signer on the same petition section
				  and provides their residence address and signature.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 6 - Signature Comparison › Section 20960 - Signature Verification Process

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) For signature verification, the elections
				  official must compare the signature on an initiative, referendum, recall,
				  nominating petition or paper, signature in-lieu of filing fee, and any other
				  petition or paper must be compared to the voter's signature(s) in the voter's
				  registration record. In addition, the elections official must compare the
				  signature on a voted vote-by-mail envelope and a voted provisional ballot
				  envelope to the voter's signature(s) in the voter's registration record prior
				  to counting a ballot.
(b) On
				  initial review, elections officials shall seek to eliminate the visibility of
				  identifying information. When comparing signatures, the elections official
				  shall not review or consider a voter's party preference, race, or
				  ethnicity.
(c) The comparison of a
				  signature shall begin with the basic presumption that the signature on the
				  petition, the vote-by-mail identification envelope, signature verification
				  statement, unsigned ballot statement, or provisional ballot envelope is the
				  voter's signature.
(d) Exact
				  matches are not required for an elections official to confirm a valid
				  signature. The fact that signatures share similar characteristics is sufficient
				  to determine that a signature is valid.
(e) Similar characteristics between a
				  signature being compared and any signature in the voter's registration record
				  are sufficient to determine a signature is valid.
(f) In comparing the signatures, the
				  elections official may consider the following characteristics when visually
				  comparing a signature to determine whether the signatures are from the same
				  signer:
(1) Slant of the signature.
(2) Signature is printed or in
				  cursive.
(3) Size, proportions, or
				  scale.
(4) Individual
				  characteristics, such as how the "t's" are crossed, "i's" are dotted, or loops
				  are made on the letters f, g, j, y, or z.
(5) Spacing between the letters within the
				  first and/or last name and between first and last name.
(6) Line direction.
(7) Letter formations.
(8) Proportion or ratio of the letters in the
				  signature.
(9) Initial strokes and
				  connecting strokes of the signature.
(10) Similar endings such as an abrupt end, a
				  long tail, or loop back around.
(11) Speed of the writing.
(12) Presence or absence of pen
				  lifts.
(13) Misspelled
				  names.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 6 - Signature Comparison › Section 20961 - Signature Verification Technology

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
In the event the elections official uses signature
					 verification technology to compare the signature on a vote-by-mail ballot
					 identification envelope to the signature(s) in the voter's registration file,
					 and the technology rejects the signature, the elections official shall utilize
					 the provisions of Elections Code section
					 3019 and
					 Section 20960 to manually compare the
					 signature.
1. New
					 section filed 9-28-2020 as an emergency; operative 9-28-2020. Emergency
					 expiration extended 60 days (Executive Order N-40-20) plus an additional 60
					 days (Executive Order N-66-20) (Register 2020, No. 40). A Certificate of
					 Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-27-2021 or emergency language will
					 be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New
					 section refiled 7-12-2021 as an emergency; operative 7-28-2021 (Register 2021,
					 No. 29). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-26-2021
					 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following
					 day.
3. New section refiled 11-4-2021 as an emergency; operative
					 11-4-2021 (Register 2021, No. 45). A Certificate of Compliance must be
					 transmitted to OAL by 2-2-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by
					 operation of law on the following day.
4. Certificate of Compliance
					 as to 11-4-2021 order transmitted to OAL 1-31-2022 and filed 3-15-2022
					 (Register 2022, No. 11).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: Section
						3019,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 6 - Signature Comparison › Section 20962 - Signature Verification Training

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The Secretary of State shall, in coordination with county
					 elections officials, provide a yearly training program for elections officials
					 and staff who are responsible for the signature verification
					 process.
1. New
					 section filed 9-28-2020 as an emergency; operative 9-28-2020. Emergency
					 expiration extended 60 days (Executive Order N-40-20) plus an additional 60
					 days (Executive Order N-66-20) (Register 2020, No. 40). A Certificate of
					 Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-27-2021 or emergency language will
					 be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New section
					 refiled 7-12-2021 as an emergency; operative 7-28-2021 (Register 2021, No. 29).
					 A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-26-2021 or
					 emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following
					 day.
3. New section refiled 11-4-2021 as an emergency; operative
					 11-4-2021 (Register 2021, No. 45). A Certificate of Compliance must be
					 transmitted to OAL by 2-2-2022 or emergency language will be repealed by
					 operation of law on the following day.
4. Certificate of Compliance
					 as to 11-4-2021 order, including amendment of first paragraph and repealer of
					 subsections (a)-(g), transmitted to OAL 1-31-2022 and filed 3-15-2022;
					 amendments effective 3-15-2022 pursuant to Government Code section
					 11343.4(b)(3)
					 (Register 2022, No. 11).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: Section
						3019,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 7 - Signature Withdrawal › Section 20970 - Signature Withdrawal

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  A voter who has signed an initiative, referendum, or recall petition may submit
				  a written request to the appropriate elections official to request that their
				  name removed from the petition.
(b)
				  An elections official who receives a written request from a voter who wishes to
				  remove their signature from a petition shall use the following guidelines when
				  reviewing a written request:
(1) The written
				  request shall not be accepted if any of the following are missing from the
				  request:
(A) The identification of the
				  petition - either a name or a number.
(B) The signature of the voter.
(C) The current residence address of the
				  voter.
(D) A statement that the
				  voter seeks to withdraw a signature after signing a
				  petition.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20980 - Purpose of This Article. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5, Government
						Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20981 - Definitions. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						303.3,
						14287 and
						15210,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						303.3,
						14287 and
						15210, Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20982 - General Vote Counting Standards. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						13204,
						14287,
						14420,
						15154,
						15208,
						15210,
						15342 and
						15342.5,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						13204,
						14287,
						14420,
						15154,
						15208,
						15210,
						15342 and
						15342.5, Elections Code; and
						Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20983 - Optical Scan Voting Systems. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						15154 and
						15342.5,
						Elections Code; and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); Sections
						15154 and
						15342.5, Elections Code; and
						Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20984 - Other Paper Voting Systems. [Renumbered]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5, Government
						Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 8 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards [Renumbered] › Section 20985 - Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Voting Systems. [Repealed]

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code.
						Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5, Government Code.
Note: Authority cited: Section
						12172.5,
						Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C.
						21081(a)(6); and Section
						12172.5, Government
						Code.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 9 - Processing of Vote-By-Mail and Provisional Ballots › Section 20990 - Vote-By-Mail Ballot Processing and Return Status

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Upon receipt of a voted vote-by-mail
				  ballot, the elections official shall, immediately upon receipt and/or
				  processing the ballot identification envelope, enter the return status of that
				  ballot into the statewide voter registration system pursuant to Section
				  19091(c) of
				  Article 2.5 of Chapter 1 of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of
				  Regulations.
(b) The received
				  vote-by-mail ballot shall be processed in accordance with Elections Code
				  section
				  3019.
(c) The signature on the vote-by-mail ballot
				  identification envelope shall be examined pursuant to Section
				  20960 and Elections Code section
				  3019. The
				  examination of the signature shall be liberally construed in the favor of the
				  voter.
(d) If the voter did not
				  sign the vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope, or if the elections
				  official has determined that the signature on the vote-by-mail ballot
				  identification envelope does not compare to the signature(s) of the voter in
				  the voter's record, the elections official shall, unless impracticable under
				  the circumstances, on or before the next business day after the signature issue
				  was discovered, provide the voter with the applicable notice to cure the
				  missing or mismatched signature pursuant to Elections Code section
				  3019(d) or
				  (e).
(e) For the notice described in subdivision
				  (d), the elections official shall:
(1)
				  Provide the notice to the voter in the voter's preferred language that is
				  covered by Section
				  203 of the Federal Voting Rights
				  Act of 1965.
(2) Include a
				  statement on the notice that the signature provided by the voter may be added
				  to the voter's registration record to be used for signature comparison purposes
				  in future elections, if the signature provided in the cure compares to the
				  signature(s) of the voter in the voter's record.
(3) Include a postage-paid return envelope
				  with the notice for the voter to return their signature
				  cure.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 9 - Processing of Vote-By-Mail and Provisional Ballots › Section 20992 - Provisional Ballot Processing and Return Status

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Upon receipt of a voted provisional
				  ballot, the elections official shall, immediately upon adjudication of the
				  ballot, enter the status of that ballot into the statewide voter registration
				  system pursuant to Section
				  19093 of Article 2.5 of Chapter 1
				  of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations.
(b) The voted provisional ballot shall be
				  processed in accordance with Elections Code section
				  14310.
(c) The signature on the provisional ballot
				  envelope shall be examined pursuant to Section
				  20960 and Elections Code section
				  14310. The
				  examination of the signature shall be liberally construed in the favor of the
				  voter.
(d) If the voter did not
				  sign the provisional ballot envelope, or if the elections official has
				  determined that the signature on the provision ballot envelope does not compare
				  to the signature(s) of the voter in the voter's record, the elections official
				  shall, unless impracticable under the circumstances, on or before the next
				  business day after the signature issue was discovered, provide the voter with
				  the applicable notice to cure the missing or mismatched signature pursuant to
				  Elections Code section
				  3019(d) or
				  (e).
(e) For the notice described in subdivision
				  (d), the elections official shall:
(1) Provide
				  the notice to the voter in the voter's preferred language that is covered by
				  Section 203 of the Federal Voting Rights
				  Act of 1965.
(2) Include a
				  statement on the notice that the signature provided by the voter may be added
				  to the voter's registration record to be used for signature comparison purposes
				  in future elections, if the signature provided in the cure compares to the
				  signature(s) of the voter in the voter's record.
(3) Include a postage-paid return envelope
				  with the notice for the voter to return their signature
				  cure.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.3 - Petition Processing, Signature Verification, Ballot Processing, and Ballot Counting › Article 9 - Processing of Vote-By-Mail and Provisional Ballots › Section 20993 - Standards for Valid and Invalid Provisional Ballots

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) A provisional ballot shall be subject to
				  the standards in the section applicable to the voting system on which it is
				  processed. In addition to those standards, the following standards shall also
				  apply.
(b) A voter's choice shall
				  be considered a valid vote, if the:
(1) Voter
				  casts a provisional ballot and the voter's eligibility can be confirmed and the
				  voter's choice is clearly marked, the vote shall be counted. The determination
				  of eligibility to vote shall be liberally construed in favor of the
				  voter.
(2) Voter casts a
				  provisional ballot for a precinct other than the precinct in which the voter
				  was legally entitled to vote, all votes properly cast in contests for which the
				  voter was legally entitled to vote will be counted.
(3) Information provided by the California
				  Department of Public Health or other sources that clearly and convincingly
				  states that the voter died after the date the provisional ballot was
				  cast.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.5 - Business Entity Names › Section 21000 - Rules of General Application

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				Business entity names must use the English alphabet or Arabic numerals (0, 1,
				2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) or symbols as listed in Section
				21002(b) or a
				combination thereof. For purposes of determining whether a proposed name is
				distinguishable from an existing name, letters of the English alphabet shall
				not be interpreted as Roman numerals and will not be considered to have numeric
				value.
(b) For the purposes of
				determining whether a proposed name is distinguishable from an existing name:
(1) No distinction between upper and lower
				case letters, typeface or font will be recognized.
(2) Accent marks above letters and other
				English language diacritics will not be recognized.
(3) Subscript or superscript characters will
				be treated as standard characters and will not appear above or below other
				characters in a business entity name.
California Code of Regulations › Title 2 - Administration › Division 7 - Secretary of State › Chapter 8.5 - Business Entity Names › Section 21001 - Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) "Active" means
				not revoked, cancelled, merged out, converted, dissolved, surrendered, term
				expired, inactive, suspended or forfeited.
(b) "Business entity" means a domestic
				corporation, foreign corporation, limited liability company, foreign limited
				liability company, limited partnership or foreign limited
				partnership.
(c) "Business entity
				identifier" means one or more letters or words denoting existence as a business
				entity. The following are examples of words or letters presumed to be business
				entity identifiers:
(1) Corporations:
(A) Corporation
(B) Company
(C) Incorporated
(D) Incorporation
(E) Limited
(F) Corp
(G) Co
(H) Inc
(I) Ltd
(J) PC
(K) Professional
				Corporation