Elections.

(1) Existing law specifies the procedures for recall elections of state and local officers. Existing law specifies the information required to be included on ballots for recall elections and the format of that information. This bill would authorize an officer in a voter-nominated office who is subject to a recall election to have the officer's party preference identified on the ballot. The bill would specify the format and appearance of the statement of party preference. By increasing the duties of local officials relative to the information to be displayed on a recall election ballot, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires the county elections official to mail a county voter information guide for a political party or a nonpartisan county voter information guide, as specified, to each voter no more than 40 days nor less than 10 days before a primary election. Existing law requires a county elections official to send, not more than 40 days nor less than 21 days before an election, a copy of a substantial facsimile of the official ballot used in the election to each voter who is registered at least 29 days before the election. This bill would delete the prohibition against sending these materials to voters earlier than 40 days before a primary election or election. 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.