Elections: vote by mail ballots.

Existing law requires an elections official to count only those vote by mail ballots returned by mail that are received by the elections official or delivered to a polling place by the close of the polls on the day of the election that contain specified information. Existing law also requires the elections official to establish procedures to ensure the secrecy of any vote by mail ballot returned to a precinct polling place. Existing law also requires procedures to track and confirm the receipt of voted vote by mail ballots and requires that this information be available by means of online access using the county's elections division Internet Web site. Existing law requires the elections official to establish procedures to ensure the security, confidentiality, and integrity of any personal information collected, stored, or otherwise used in tracking vote by mail ballots. This bill would require county elections officials to permit a vote by mail voter to find out whether his or her vote had been counted, and if not, the reason why, via online access on the county's Internet Web site or via a toll-free telephone number. Because this bill would impose new duties on local elections officials, it 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 these statutory provisions.