Elections: vote by mail ballots.

Existing law requires that vote by mail ballots be received by elections officials before the polls close on election day in order to be counted. This bill would require elections officials to count vote by mail ballots that are postmarked on or before election day that are delivered after the close of the polls as long as the county has not certified the election. Because the bill would expand the duties of 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.