Elections: vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.

Existing law requires an elections official to mail a ballot to every registered voter for any election. Existing law authorizes a county to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain conditions are met, and requires a county elections official conducting an all-mailed ballot election to consider locating a vote center on a public or private university or college campus. Existing law requires a county that does not conduct an all-mailed ballot to provide a specified number of vote by mail ballot drop-off locations based on the population of the county. This bill would require a county, for a statewide primary or statewide general election conducted as an all-mailed ballot election or otherwise, to provide an additional vote by mail ballot drop-off location on the main campus of each California State University within the jurisdiction and, upon request, each University of California campus within the jurisdiction. The bill would require an elections official, when selecting ballot drop-off locations under existing law, to give preference to locations on certain California Community College campuses. These requirements would apply only to a campus that would be in session for its fall, winter, or spring term on the day of the election. By requiring counties to provide additional vote by mail ballot drop-off locations and by requiring elections officials to take additional actions, this 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.