Elections: failsafe ballots.

Existing law permits a voter whose qualifications or entitlement to vote cannot be immediately established, under specified circumstances, to cast a provisional ballot in an election. This bill would provide specified requirements to permit a voter who is unexpectedly away from his or her voting precinct on election day to cast a ballot at a county or precinct other than where the voter resides. Because this bill would increase 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.