Elections: vote by mail ballots.

Existing law requires an elections official to provide a qualified applicant for vote by mail voting with the ballot for the precinct in which the voter resides and all supplies necessary for the use and return of the ballot. This bill would require an elections official to provide a qualified applicant for vote by mail voting with a business reply envelope in which to return an election ballot. By imposing additional duties on local elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would establish the State Vote by Mail Postage Fund, and would require that any General Fund moneys appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of this provision be deposited into that account to provide business reply envelopes in which to return completed vote by mail ballots. 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 and not covered by the appropriation contained in this bill, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.