Vote by mail ballots: voter notification.

Existing law requires a county elections official to establish a free access system that allows a vote by mail voter to learn if his or her vote by mail ballot was counted, and, if not, the reason why the ballot was not counted. Existing law requires the elections official to make the free access system available to a vote by mail voter upon completion of the official canvass and for 30 days after completion of the official canvass. If a voter casts a vote by mail ballot, this bill would additionally require a county elections official, within 30 days after completion of the official canvass, to notify the voter if the ballot was not counted, including the reason it was not counted. By imposing an additional duty on local elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 3019.5 of the Elections Code, proposed by AB 2911, that would become operative only if this bill and AB 2911 are both chaptered 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.