Elections: voting.

Existing law authorizes an elector to seek a writ of mandate alleging that an error or omission has occurred, or is about to occur, in the placing of a name on, or in the printing of, a ballot, sample ballot, voter pamphlet, or other official matter, or that any neglect of duty has occurred, or is about to occur. This bill would require that the Secretary of State be named as a real party in interest in writ proceedings concerning specific measures and candidates. Under existing law, a voter's registration information, including the voter's signature, is to be kept confidential except for specified circumstances. Under existing law, specified persons may observe and challenge the manner in which vote by mail ballots are handled and processed by county elections officials. Existing law requires that these observers be permitted sufficiently close access to the process to observe and make challenges as to whether established procedures are being followed by persons handling vote by mail ballots. This bill would require that vote by mail voter observers be permitted sufficiently close access to observe vote by mail ballot return envelopes and the signatures thereon.