Vote by mail ballots: military or overseas voters.

Existing law requires that a vote by mail ballot be received by the issuing elections official or the precinct board no later than the close of polls on election day. This bill would make an exception for military or overseas voters, as defined, and would instead require that their vote by mail ballots be postmarked on or before election day and received by their elections officials not later than 10 days after election day. Existing law permits a military or overseas voter to return his or her vote by mail ballot by facsimile transmission and requires the ballot returned by facsimile transmission to be received no later than the closing of the polls on election day. Existing law provides that a military or overseas voter should return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission only if doing so is necessary for the ballot to be received before the closing of the polls on election day. This bill would instead provide that a military or overseas voter should return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission only if doing so is necessary for the ballot to be timely cast. Because the bill would impose additional 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.