Preparedness of Placer County for the November 2020 General Election

Recommendations 3

• R1

  Page 147
  Placer County Elections staff should develop additional processes for maintaining the accuracy of the voter rolls.
• R2

  Page 147
  By March 1, 2021, the Placer County Registrar of Voters will provide to the 2020- 2021 Placer County Grand Jury a written summary that documents all costs associated with the November 2020 general election.
• R3

  Page 147
  By March 1, 2021, the Placer County Registrar of Voters will provide the 2020-2021 Placer County Grand Jury a written debrief of issues/problems encountered during the November 2020 general election as well as what the department did to resolve the issues/problems and what the department has learned from this experience, Requebostth f poors iRtivees apnodn nsegea tive. Pursuant to Penal Code § 933.05, the Placer County Grand Jury requests a response from t he follo wing: Recommendations Response Requiring Response Due Date Ryan Ronco R1, R2, R3 December 29, 2020 Placer County Clerk-Recorder- Registrar of Voters 2956 Richardson Dr ACuobpurien,s C SA e95n6t0 t3o : Bonnie Gore, Chairperson Placer County Board of Supervisors 175 Fulweiler Ave Todd Leopold Auburn, CA 95603 Placer County Executive Officer 175 Fulweiler Ave Auburn, CA 95603 Voter Statistics for Placer County 2 NExuhmibbeitrs of Registered Voters 1 Voter Information Sent August 2020 2 Sample Email Confirmation for Ballot Tracking 3 Signature Verification Statement 4 Unsigned Ballot Statement 5 VRoetfeerr eAncctieosn Request Form 1 Ballot Data from 2020 Primary Election 2 Challenged Ballots from 2020 Primary Election 3 Drop Box Locations 4 Drop Box Images 5 Voter Service Center Locations 6 Senate Bill 423 7 Assembly Bill 860 : Voter Statistics for Placer County https://www.placerelections.com/registration-statistics/ : Number of Registered Voters General Election Year Number of Registered Voters 2000 145,509 2004 183,202 2008 199,087 2012 208,598 2016 226,454 As of September 15, 2020 225,860 : Voter Information Sent in August 2020 : Sample Email Confirmation for Ballot Tracking : Signature Verification Statement : Unsigned Ballot Statement : Voter Action Request Form : Ballot Data from 2020 Primary Election : Challenged Ballots : Drop Box Locations LOCATION ADDRESS CITY Auburn City Clerk 1225 Lincoln Way, Room 9 Auburn Elections Office 2956 Richardson Dr Auburn Colfax City Clerk 33 S. Main St Colfax Granite Bay Library 6475 Douglas Blvd Granite Bay Raley’s 6845 Douglas Blvd. Granite Bay Kings Beach Library 301 Secline St Kings Beach Lincoln City Clerk 600 6th St Lincoln Sun City Lincoln Hill Comm. Assoc. Orchard Creek Ln Lincoln Raley’s 39 Lincoln Blvd Lincoln Loomis Town Clerk 3665 Taylor Rd Loomis Raley’s 6119 Horseshoe Bar Rd Loomis Squaw Valley PUD 305 Squaw Valley Rd Olympic Valley Elections Warehouse 3715 Atherton Rd Rocklin Rocklin City Clerk 3970 Rocklin Rd Rocklin Rocklin Library 4890 Granite Dr Rocklin The Ranch House Community Center 851 Old Ranch House Rd Rocklin Veterans Services 1000 Sunset Blvd Rocklin Bel Air 2341 Sunset Blvd Rocklin Maidu Library 1530 Maidu Dr Roseville Martha Riley Library 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd Roseville Roseville City Clerk 311 Vernon St Roseville Roseville Downtown Library 225 Taylor St Roseville Santucci Justice Center 10810 Justice Center Dr Roseville Raley’s 4008 Foothills Blvd Roseville Raley’s 1915 Douglas Blvd Roseville Tahoe Administrative Center 775 N Lake Blvd Tahoe City Raley’s O-N-E Market 10001 Soaring Way Truckee Please visit: https://www.placerelections.com/drop-box-locations/ For the latest information for locations and hours for each drop box location. : Drop Box Images : Voter Service Center Locations LOCATION ADDRESS CITY Alta Community Center 33950 Alta Bonnynook Alta Rd Elections Office 2956 Richardson Dr Auburn Gold Country Fairgrounds 1273 High St Auburn Sierra Vista Community Center 55 School St Colfax Forest Hill High School 23319 Foresthill Rd Foresthill Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay Granite Bay Library 6475 Douglas Blvd Granite Bay North Tahoe Event Center 8318 N Lake Blvd Kings Beach Lincoln Crossing Lodge 830 Groveland Ln Lincoln Lincoln Public Library 485 Twelve Bridges Dr Lincoln th Lincoln Veterans Hall 541 5 St Lincoln Sun City Lincoln Hills (Kilaga) 1167 Sun City Blvd Lincoln Loomis Veterans Hall 5945 Horseshoe Bar Rd Loomis Elections Warehouse 3715 Atherton Rd Rocklin Rocklin High School 5301 Victory Ln Rocklin Sierra College 5100 Sierra College Blvd Rocklin th Spring View Middle School 5040 5 St Rocklin Whitney High Sc hool 701 Wildcat Blvd Rocklin At The Grounds 700 Event Center Dr Roseville Buljan Middle School 100 Hallissy Dr Roseville Chilton Middle School 4501 Bob Doyle Dr Roseville Maidu Community Center 1550 Maidu Dr Roseville Fairway Dr Roseville Robert C. Cooley Middle School 9300 Prairie Woods Way Roseville Roseville Church of Christ 1799 Cirby Way Roseville Roseville Sports Center 1545 Pleasant Grove Blvd Roseville Roseville Veterans Hall 110 Park Dr Roseville The Old hFtitrpe sH:/o/uwsew w.placerelection3s0.c0o Nm L/vakoete B-lsvedr vice-centerT-laohcoaet oCrit/y Please visit https://www.placerelections.com/vote-service-center-locator/ for the latest information for VSC locations. Each VSC will be open October 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., November 1 and 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and on election day from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. : Senate Bill 423 Senate Bill No. CHAPTER 31 An act to add and repeal Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1600) of Division 1 of the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. [ Approved by Governor August 06, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State August 06, 2020. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 423, Umberg. November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Existing law authorizes counties, on or after specified dates, to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if, among other conditions, the county elections official provides for ballot drop-off locations and vote centers meeting minimum requirements. Vote centers are required to be open from the 10th day before the election until election day, as specified. This bill would authorize a county for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election to not have its vote centers open before the 3rd day prior to the election. In counties without all-mailed ballot procedures, existing law requires the elections official to divide the jurisdiction into precincts meeting certain requirements and to designate a polling place for each precinct. This bill would provide an alternative procedure for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election authorizing the elections official to establish consolidated precinct boards, located within the same physical polling place, serving the voters residing in multiple adjacent precincts, as provided. For the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, the bill would also (1) require elections officials to conduct a voter education and outreach campaign, (2) urge counties to provide drive-through ballot drop-off or voting locations, (3) authorize elections officials to establish vote centers, polling places, or consolidated polling places in locations whose primary purpose is the sale and dispensation of alcoholic beverages, (4) require the Secretary of State to establish a process to consider requests from counties to adjust or partially waive the minimally required number, location, or operational duration, of vote centers, consolidated polling places, or ballot drop-off locations, (5) require the Secretary of State to conduct a statewide voter education and outreach campaign regarding new procedures in place for the election, and (6) require the Secretary of State to establish a strike team to assist counties as needed to acquire suitable locations for vote centers, polling places, and consolidated polling places as well as other assets necessary for the safe and successful conduct of the election. By imposing new requirements on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. DIGEST KEY Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES L.E OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) To maintain a healthy democracy in California, it is important to encourage eligible voters to vote and to ensure that residents of the state have the tools needed to participate in every election. (2) When California conducts the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, it is unknown to what degree the COVID-19 pandemic will still pose a threat to public health. The state and its counties need to begin taking action now to procure supplies and equipment, secure voting locations, enlist volunteers, and draw up plans, among other steps, to ensure that the November 3, 2020, statewide general election is held in a manner that is accessible, secure, and safe. (3) To preserve public health in the face of the threat of COVID-19, and to ensure that the November election is accessible, secure, and safe, all Californians will be empowered to vote by mail, from the safety of their own homes, pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-64-20, issued on May 8, 2020, and as proposed by Assembly Bill 860 of the 2019–20 Regular Session. (4) However, many Californians will still need access to in-person voting opportunities, including, but not limited to, individuals with disabilities, individuals who speak languages other than English, individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals who never received their vote-by-mail ballot, lost or damaged their ballot, or need to register to vote, as well as others who may find vote-by-mail less accessible than in-person voting. We owe these Californians safe in-person voting opportunities this November. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to do all of the following: (1) To ensure that the November 3, 2020, statewide general election is conducted in a manner that protects and strengthens access for low-propensity voters and voters who have no history of voting by mail, first-time voters such as young voters and newly naturalized voters, housing insecure voters, and other voters who may be disproportionately impacted by the changes to election procedures that were necessitated by the COVID- 19 pandemic. (2) To ensure that safe, in-person voting opportunities are available this November in a manner that is consistent with public health guidance and requirements. (3) To provide flexibility to counties in conducting the election in recognition of the challenges to election administration posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, while limiting changes to in-person voting opportunities to the minimum changes necessary to ensure that the election can be conducted in a manner consistent with public health requirements. (4) To redirect any money that is saved from a reduction of in-person voting locations into voter education aSnEdC .o 2u.t reach for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. CCHhAapPtTeEr R7 (7c.o Nmomveemncbinegr w3,i t2h0 S2e0c,t Siotna t1e6w0i0d)e i sG aedndeerda lt oE lDeicvtiisoinon 1 of the Elections Code, to read: . 1T6h0is1 c. hapter applies only to the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Notwithstanding Sections 4005 and 4007, a county that conducts the November 3, 2020, statewide general election pursuant to either of those sections is not required to have its vote centers open before the third day p1r6i0o2r .t o the election. (a) A county that does not conduct the November 3, 2020, statewide general election pursuant to either Section 4005 or 4007 may choose to follow the procedures described in this section as an alternative to procedures that would otherwise be applicable in that county. (b) (1) While maintaining separate geographical precincts under the existing limits on number of voters provided in Section 12223, the elections official may establish consolidated precinct boards, located within the same physical polling place, serving the voters residing in multiple adjacent precincts established pursuant to Section 12223 at a maximum ratio of one consolidated precinct board location for every 10,000 registered voters. These consolidated polling locations shall be open from Saturday, October 31, 2020, through Monday, November 2, 2020, for at least eight hours each day at regular hours convenient for members of the public. On the day of the election, the consolidated polling location shall be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (2) In establishing the consolidated polling places, the elections official shall take into consideration the boundaries of state legislative, congressional, county supervisorial, and any other affected local legislative districts. (3) The elections official shall ensure that the consolidated polling places are equitably distributed across the county to afford maximally convenient options for all voters and are established at accessible locations as near as possible to established public transportation routes. A consolidated polling place shall be located within the boundary of one of the precincts it serves. (4) (A) The consolidated polling places shall be equipped with voting units or systems that are accessible to individuals with disabilities and provide the same opportunity for access and participation as is provided to voters who are not disabled, including the ability to vote privately and independently, in accordance with Sections 12280 and 19240. Each consolidated polling place shall have at least three voting machines that are accessible to voters with disabilities. (B) The consolidated polling places shall comply with the accessibility requirements described in Article 5 (commencing with Section 12280) of Chapter 3 of Division 12, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.). (5) The elections official shall provide each consolidated polling place with enough ballots, provisional ballots, and provisional ballot envelopes to ensure every voter can be accommodated, as necessary. (c) (1) In a county with consolidated polling places as described in this section, the elections official shall provide at least two ballot drop-off locations within the county or at least one ballot drop-off location for every 15,000 registered voters, whichever results in more ballot drop-off locations. For purposes of this paragraph, a consolidated polling place that includes an exterior ballot drop box counts only as a single ballot drop-off location. (2) A ballot drop-off location provided for under this subdivision 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 days before the day of the election, and on the day of the election. (3) At least one ballot drop-off location shall be an exterior drop box that is available for a minimum of 12 hours per day. Because health directives to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may result in reduced access to some buildings, counties are encouraged to maximize the number of ballot drop-off locations that are exterior drop boxes or that are located in buildings, such as supermarkets or drugstores, that are likely to be considered essential businesses that will remain open to the public notwithstanding any physical distancing measures that are in place during the period beginning 28 days before the date of the election and ending on election day. (4) For the purposes of this section, “ballot drop-off location” has the same meaning as in Section 3025. (d) (1) In a county with consolidated polling places as described in this section, the elections official shall provide at least one location, open at least during regular business hours beginning 28 days before the day of the election, at which a voter may do any of the following: (A) Return, or vote and return, the voter’s vote by mail ballot. (B) Register to vote, update the voter’s voter registration, and vote pursuant to Section 2170. (C) Receive and vote a provisional ballot pursuant to Section 3016 or Article 5 (commencing with Section 14310) of Chapter 3 of Division 14. (D) Receive a replacement ballot upon verification that a ballot for the same election has not been received from the voter by the county elections official. If the county elections official is unable to determine if a ballot for the same election has been received from the voter, the county elections official may issue a provisional ballot. (E) Vote a regular, provisional, or replacement ballot using accessible voting equipment that provides for a private and independent voting experience. (2) The elections official is urged to offer voters the ability to schedule an appointment to visit a location established pursuant to this subdivision. (e) In determining the locations of consolidated polling places and ballot drop-off locations pursuant to this section, the county shall consider vote center and ballot drop-off location proximity to communities with historically low vote by mail usage. Counties shall also consider other criteria described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 4005, to the extent data is readily available. (f) Prior to finalizing the locations of consolidated polling places and ballot drop-off locations, the county elections official shall publicly notice in all legally required languages for that county the proposed consolidated polling place locations and ballot drop-off locations, shall post a copy of those locations on the elections official’s internet website, and shall accept public comments on the proposed locations for at least 10 days after publicly noticing the proposed locations. Following the 10-day public comment period, the elections official shall consider any comments the official receives from the public, and shall adjust consolidated polling place and ballot drop-off locations in response to the public comments to the extent the official deems appropriate before finalizing the locations to be used as consolidated polling places and ballot d1r6o0p3-.o ff locations. (a) Each county shall conduct a voter education and outreach campaign in all legally required languages for that county notifying voters about mail ballots, early voting opportunities, accessible voting options, and where and how to remedy any voting related problem. . (c) Notwithstanding Section 12288, an elections official may establish a vote center, polling place, or consolidated polling place in a location whose primary purpose is the sale and dispensation of alcoholic b1e6v0e4r.a ges. (a) (1) The Secretary of State shall establish a process to consider requests from counties to adjust or partially waive the minimally required number, location, or operational duration, of vote centers, consolidated polling places, or ballot drop-off locations described in Section 1602 or Sections 4005 and 4007. The process shall include, but not be limited to, review and modification, denial, or granting of a county’s request in a timeframe to be determined by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall not grant a county a complete waiver of the minimally required number, location, or operational duration, of vote centers, consolidated polling places, or ballot drop-off locations described in Section 1602 or Sections 4005 and 4007. (2) (A) Prior to requesting a modification or partial waiver pursuant to paragraph (1), a county shall develop a draft plan that includes, but is not limited to, a written analysis of in-person voting needs in that county. The written analysis shall identify how the county’s proposed levels of in-person voting are designed to safely accommodate the anticipated demand for voting services at those locations, including in-person voting, ballot replacement, ballot drop-off, conditional voter registration, language assistance, and voting assistance, shall report on efforts made to secure the otherwise required number of vote centers, consolidated polling places, and election personnel, and shall include a discussion of how the elections official will ensure that there will not be a disparate impact on any protected class of voters with regard to availability of voting machines and voting locations. In determining in-person voting locations that will be made available pursuant to the plan, the county shall consider the needs of individuals who do not have a history of voting by mail and other criteria described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of Section 4005, to the extent data is readily available. (B) The county elections official shall publicly notice in all legally required languages for that county the draft plan required by subparagraph (A), shall post a copy of the draft plan in all legally required languages for that county on the elections official’s internet website, and shall accept public comments on the draft plan for at least 10 days after publicly noticing the draft plan. (C) Following the 10-day review period required by subparagraph (B), the elections official shall consider any public comments the official receives from the public, shall amend the draft plan in response to the public comments to the extent the official deems appropriate, and may adopt a final plan and submit that plan to the Secretary of State along with the request for a modification or partial waiver pursuant to paragraph (1). The elections official shall post the county’s request for a modification or partial waiver on the elections official’s internet website, and the Secretary of State shall post a copy of the secretary’s response on the secretary’s internet website. (3) A partial waiver or modification shall not be granted to a county unless the elections official in that county can demonstrate all of the following: (A) The official made best efforts to secure the required in-person voting locations. (B) The plan will not have a negative disparate impact on disabled voters or any protected class of voters. (C) The plan will not reduce in-person voting locations below a number of locations necessary to safely and efficiently accommodate the anticipated demand for in-person voting services. ) For the purposes of this subdivision, “protected class” means a class of voters who are members of a race, color, or language minority group, as this class is referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.). (b) The Secretary of State shall conduct a statewide voter education and outreach campaign regarding new procedures in place for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, including, but not limited to, procedures relating to voting by mail, newly consolidated polling places and services provided therein, available language assistance, voter registration, conditional voter registration and voting, and accessible vote by mail voting. (c) The Secretary of State shall establish a strike team to assist counties as needed to acquire suitable locations for vote centers, polling places, and consolidated polling places as well as other assets necessary for the safe and successful conduct of the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. The strike team shall include members of the Secretary of State’s legal and investigative divisions as well as Deputy Attorneys General provided for this purpose by the Department of Justice. The strike team shall assist with the enforcement of this code, including, but not limited to, Article 5 (commencing with Section 12280) of Chapter 3 of Division 12 and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 18000) of Division 18. In undertaking its responsibilities, the strike team shall seek to ensure that the November 3, 2020, statewide general election is conducted in a manner that is as consistent as possible with state and federal voting rights laws. (d) The Secretary of State is encouraged to work with health officials, elections officials, and other stakeholders to establish guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment by individuals at in-person voting locations, including election workers, precinct board members, and voters. These guidelines may include, but are not limited to, requiring that individuals who are physically present at voting locations wear personal protective equipment when they are required by state or local health guidelines, ensuring that elections officials have sufficient personal protective equipment for use at in-person voting locations by election workers, precinct board members, and voters, and procedures to ensure that voters are not turned away from using in-person voting locations due to a lack of access to the necessary personal protective e1q6u0i5p.m ent. Notwithstanding any other law, a county may only hold the November 3, 2020, statewide general election in t1h6e0 m6.a nner provided for in this chapter if each registered voter is also mailed a vote by mail ballot. STEhCis. 3c.h apter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (ScEoCm. 4m. encing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to ensure the November 3, 2020, statewide general election can be conducted safely and s uccessfully, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately. : Assembly Bill 860 Assembly Bill No. CHAPTER 4 An act to amend Sections 3019.7, 3020, and 15101 of, and to add Sections 3000.5 and 3016.7 to, the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. [ Approved by Governor June 18, 2020. Filed with Secretary of State June 18, 2020. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 860, Berman. Elections: vote by mail ballots. Under existing law, a registered voter may vote by mail by requesting a vote by mail ballot for a specific election or by becoming a permanent vote by mail voter. County elections officials must begin mailing ballots and other required materials to these voters no later than 29 days before the day of the election. Existing law, the California Voter’s Choice Act, authorizes any county to conduct any election occurring on or after January 1, 2020, as an all-mailed ballot election if specified conditions are met. In an all-mailed ballot election held under the act, the county elections official must mail a ballot to every registered voter, regardless of whether the voter requested a vote by mail ballot or is a permanent vote by mail voter. This bill would require county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Existing law requires county elections officials to permit voters with a disability, and military or overseas voters, to cast a ballot using a certified remote accessible vote by mail system. This bill would require county elections officials to permit any voter to cast a ballot using a certified remote accessible vote by mail system for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to establish, by January 1, 2020, a system that a county elections official may use to allow a voter to track the voter’s vote by mail ballot through the mail system and processing by the county elections official. County elections officials are not required to use the system, however. This bill would require county elections officials to use the Secretary of State’s system, or a system that meets the same specifications, for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Under existing law, a vote by mail ballot is timely cast if it is voted on or before election day and, if returned by mail, received by the voter’s elections official via the United States Postal Service, or a bona fide private mail delivery company, no later than 3 days after election day. This bill would, for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, extend the deadline by which vote by mail ballots must be received by the county elections official to the 17th day after election day. Under existing law, any jurisdiction having the necessary computer capability may start to process vote by mail ballots on the 10th business day before the election. This processing includes opening vote by mail ballot return envelopes, removing ballots, duplicating any damaged ballots, and preparing the ballots to be machine p.m. on the day of the election. This bill would authorize these jurisdictions, for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, to begin processing vote by mail ballots on the 29th day before the election. By requiring county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter, and to take other actions expanding vote by mail voting, including making remote accessible voting available to all voters, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. DIGEST KEY Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES BILL TEXT TSEHCET PIEOONP 1L.E OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) To maintain a healthy democracy in California, it is important to encourage eligible voters to vote and to ensure that residents of the state have the tools needed to participate in every election. (b) Vote by mail voting has become the means by which most Californians exercise their right to vote. In the most recent statewide general election, held in November 2018, 65.31 percent of voters used a vote by mail ballot. Just 10 years ago, in the November 2010 statewide general election, only 48.44 percent of voters used a vote by mail ballot. (c) Preliminary data indicates that for the March 2020 statewide primary election, approximately 78 percent of registered voters received a ballot in the mail. (d) Shortly after the March 2020 statewide primary election, the Governor and local governments declared states of emergency and took steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19. One of the early steps taken by the Governor was to order that three pending special elections be conducted as all-mailed ballot elections. This order was issued based on concerns that widespread in-person voting would conflict with public health officials’ guidance on COVID-19. (e) Since California held its statewide primary election in March 2020, at least 16 states have either postponed their scheduled primary elections, or switched them to vote by mail elections, due to concerns that would threaten the health and safety of voters, election workers, and the general public. (f) In Wisconsin’s statewide primary election conducted on April 7, 2020, during which millions of voters had no choice but to vote in person, elections officials were forced to significantly reduce the number of polling locations because of COVID-19. In Milwaukee, the number of polling locations open on election day was reduced by more than 97 percent. (g) A statewide general election will be held in California on November 3, 2020, and it is uncertain whether by that date the COVID-19 pandemic will have subsided and what social distancing guidelines will remain in place. Even if the pandemic has subsided by the time of the election, many voters may nonetheless be uncomfortable with in-person voting because of health concerns. (h) Broadening the ability of California residents to engage in the democratic process will yield more representative election results and will ensure that the voices of more California residents are heard. (i) Mailing every voter a ballot for the November 2020 statewide general election is an important step in promoting resilience in the state’s elections and ensuring that every California voter will have the opportunity to fill out their ballot in a safe manner. (j) Consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2226 of the Elections Code, and with the longstanding interpretation by state and local elections officials of Sections 4000 to 4108, inclusive, of the Elections Code governing the conduct of all-mailed ballot elections and of Section 3005 of the Elections Code governing mailed ballot precincts, nothing in this act is intended, and shall not be construed, to mean that a voter with an inactive voter registration status shall receive a vote by mail ballot for the November 3, 2020, sStEaCte. w2.i de general election. 3S0e0ct0io.5n. 3000.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read: (a) Notwithstanding any other law, for the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2020, the county 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 in the county. The county 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 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. (b) The distribution of vote by mail ballots to all registered voters does not prevent a voter from voting in pSEerCs.o 3n. at a polling place, vote center, or other authorized location. 3S0e1ct6io.7n. 3016.7 is added to the Elections Code, to read: , 2020, 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 vSoEtCe.r 4 i.s a voter with disabilities or a military or overseas voter. 3S0e1ct9io.7n. 3019.7 of the Elections Code is amended to read: (a) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Secretary of State shall establish a system that a county elections official may use 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. The system established pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum, 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 established 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. (c) The Secretary of State shall use funds provided to the state pursuant to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.) to develop the system described in this section. The Secretary of State shall implement this section only to the extent that these funds are available. (d) For the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2020, the county elections official shall use the system established by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (a), unless the county makes available to voters a different vote by mail ballot tracking system that meets or exceeds the level of service SpEroCv. i5d.e d by the Secretary of State’s system. 3S0e2ct0io. n 3020 of the Elections Code is amended to read: ) 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. (2) If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, 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. (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), for the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2020, 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 by the 17th day after election day and either of the following is satisfied: (1) The ballot is postmarked on or before election day, 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 SpEriCv.a 6te. mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day. 1S5e1ct0io1n. 15101 of the Elections Code is amended to read: (a) Any jurisdiction in which vote by mail ballots are cast may begin to process vote by mail ballot return envelopes beginning 29 days before the election. Processing vote by mail ballot return envelopes may include verifying the voter’s signature on the vote by mail ballot return envelope pursuant to Section 3019 and updating voter history records. (b) (1) Any jurisdiction having the necessary computer capability may start to process vote by mail ballots on the 10th business day before the election. Processing vote by mail ballots includes opening vote by mail ballot return envelopes, removing ballots, duplicating any damaged ballots, and preparing the ballots to be machine read, or machine reading them, including processing write-in votes so that they can be tallied by the machine, but under no circumstances may a vote count be accessed or released until 8 p.m. on the day of the election. All other jurisdictions shall start to process vote by mail ballots at 5 p.m. on the day before the election. ) For the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2020, any jurisdiction having the necessary computer capability may start to process vote by mail ballots on the 29th day before the election. Processing vote by mail ballots includes opening vote by mail ballot return envelopes, removing ballots, duplicating any damaged ballots, and preparing the ballots to be machine read, or machine reading them, including processing write-in votes so that they can be tallied by the machine, but under no circumstances may a vote count be accessed or released until 8 p.m. on the day of the election. All other jurisdictions shall start to process vote by mail ballots at 5 p.m. on the day before the election. (c) Results of any vote by mail ballot tabulation or count shall not be released before the close of the polls on tShEeC d. 7ay. of the election. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (ScEoCm. 8m. encing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: To ensure that county elections officials have sufficient time to prepare and mail a ballot to every registered voter in advance of the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.