Elections: vote by mail ballots and false or misleading information.

Existing law requires county elections officials to mail a vote by mail ballot to every registered voter for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Existing law requires elections officials to include with the county voter information guide an application for a vote by mail ballot. This bill would make this requirement to include with the county voter information guide an application for a vote by mail ballot inapplicable for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person, with actual knowledge and intent to deceive, to cause to be distributed or to distribute literature or any other form of communication to a voter that the person knows to include voting information that is incorrect, false, or misleading, as specified. This bill would specifically include within this prohibition a false or misleading communication regarding the qualifications to apply for, receive, or return a vote by mail ballot. By creating a new crime, this bill would create 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.