Voter registration.

Under existing law, a person may not be registered to vote except by affidavit of registration. Existing law authorizes a person who is at least 16 years of age and otherwise meets all voter eligibility requirements to preregister to vote by submitting his or her affidavit of registration, which, if properly executed, will be deemed effective as of the date the affiant will be 18 years of age. Existing law requires a county elections official to prepare specified information on registered voters in the county, including the total number of voters and the number of voters registered as preferring each qualified political party, and to provide notice to the Secretary of State that the information is available. This bill would require a county elections official to also include specified information on persons who have preregistered to vote. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides that certain information on a voter's affidavit of registration, including the voter's home address and signature, is confidential and prohibits disclosure of the information except in specified circumstances. This bill would additionally provide that the affidavit of registration of a preregistered person who is not yet a registered voter is confidential, and would prohibit its disclosure to any person without exception. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 2187 of the Elections Code proposed by AB 3258 to be operative only if this bill and AB 3258 are enacted and this bill is enacted 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 the statutory provisions noted above.