Elections: voter identification.

Existing law requires polling places to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day and requires that voting commence as soon as polls are opened. Existing law requires a person desiring to vote to audibly announce his or her name and address, and requires a precinct board member to audibly repeat the voter's name and address after finding the voters name in the index of voter registration. Existing law then requires the voter to write his or her name and residence address on a roster of voters, except as specified. This bill would also require a voter to provide photographic identification at the polling place before receiving a ballot. The bill would specify the forms of photographic identification that are acceptable and would authorize the use of a photographic identification that has been expired for less than one year. The bill would require a precinct board to provide a voter who is unable to provide an acceptable form of photographic identification, and would require a voter who is provided a provisional ballot for this reason to present photographic identification to the elections official in order to have his or her provisional ballot counted. The bill would require that a voter be provided a free registered voter identification card that contains a photograph of the voter if the voter does not have an acceptable form of photographic identification. By expanding the duties of precinct board members and local elections officials, the bill 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 the statutory provisions noted above.