Vote by mail ballot tracking.

Existing law requires that the vote by mail ballot be made available to any registered voter. Existing law requires a county elections official to establish a free access system that allows a vote by mail voter to learn if the voter's vote by mail ballot was counted and, if not, the reason why the ballot was not counted. This bill would require a county elections official, when the elections official updates the county's election management system or voter look-up tool on the county's internet website with new voter information, to provide the updated information to the Secretary of State to update the information the Secretary of State provides to the public. By imposing new duties on 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.