Vote by mail ballots.

Existing law creates vote by mail ballots. After marking the ballot, vote by mail voters are required to return their ballots by mail or in person to the elections official from whom it came or in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place within the jurisdiction. A vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot due to illness or physical disability may designate his or her spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, or a person residing in the same household to return the ballot to the specified elections official or precinct board member. This bill would eliminate the requirement that a vote by mail voter be ill or physically disabled in order to designate one of the above-mentioned persons to return his or her marked ballot. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 3017 of the Elections Code proposed by AB 2054, which would become operative only if AB 2054 and this bill are both enacted, both bills become effective on or before January 1, 2013, and this bill is enacted last.