Ballot processing.

Existing law requires an elections official to compare the signature on the envelope of a vote by mail ballot, a mail ballot precinct ballot, or a provisional ballot with the signature that appears on the voter's affidavit of registration, as specified. If the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, existing law requires that the ballot be rejected, as specified. This bill would provide that if a vote by mail ballot, mail ballot precinct ballot, or provisional ballot is processed using signature verification technology that determines the signatures do not compare, the elections official is required to visually examine and verify that the signatures do not compare before rejecting the ballot. By imposing additional duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 15101 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 29, to be operative only if SB 29 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective January 1, 2015, and this bill is chaptered last. 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.