Vote by mail ballots.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return his or her voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. Existing law permits a vote by mail voter who is unable to return his or her ballot to designate another person to return the ballot. Existing law requires that the identification envelope of a vote by mail ballot contain, among other things, the name of the person authorized to return it, the relationship of that person to the voter, and that person's signature. Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots be received before the close of the polls on election day and prohibits a ballot from being counted if not received before that time. This bill would require a person designated to return a voter's vote by mail ballot to return the ballot or put it in the mail no later than three days after receiving it from the voter or before the close of the polls on election day, whichever time period is shorter. However, the bill would prohibit disqualifying a ballot from being counted solely because it was returned or mailed more than three days after the designated person received it from the voter, provided that the ballot is returned by the designated person before the close of polls on election day. The bill would also prohibit disqualifying a ballot solely because the person returning it did not provide on the identification envelope his or her name, relationship to the voter, or signature.