AB 2604 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Elections: ballot curing.

Summary

Existing law requires an elections official, upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with either the signature appearing on the voter's affidavit or signature appearing on a form that is part of the voter's registration record. Existing law requires an elections official, if it is determined that the signatures do not compare, to notify the voter of the opportunity to verify the voter's signature. Under existing law, if an elections official has a telephone number or email address on file for a voter whose signature does not compare, the elections official is required to notify the voter by telephone, text message, or email, as specified. 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, as specified. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to maintain a system to allow a vote by mail voter to track the voter's vote by mail ballot through the mail system, as specified. This bill would require the Secretary of State to implement and make available to county elections officials a system that allows voters to access electronic signature curing, as defined. The bill would require the Secretary of State to make available on its internet website specified data regarding voters' use of the system.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Aug 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

06/22/26 - Amended Senate → 08/13/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Aug 13, 2026

MODERATE

The August 13 amendment to AB 2604 removes the requirement that the electronic signature curing system be specifically 'text-message-based,' broadening it to allow any form of electronic signature curing. It also adds Senator Cervantes as a coauthor, corrects 'county registrars elections officials' to 'county elections officials,' and makes minor wording adjustments to data reporting language.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened by removing the text-message-specific limitation on how electronic signature curing is delivered to voters, giving the Secretary of State flexibility in choosing the electronic delivery method.

SCOPE

Removed the 'text-message-based' qualifier from electronic signature curing throughout the bill. The system is no longer limited to text messages as the delivery method, allowing the Secretary of State to use any electronic channel (e.g., email, app, portal) for signature curing.

DEFINITION

Changed 'county registrars elections officials' to 'county elections officials,' correcting what appears to be a drafting error and clarifying which county-level officials receive the system.

REQUIREMENT

In the data reporting requirement (subdivision d), removed 'mismatched signatures' as a separate tracked category. The bill now tracks 'missing signatures or signatures that do not compare' rather than 'missing or mismatched signatures or signatures that do not compare.'

TECHNICAL

Changed 'data privacy and ballot security for voters' to 'data privacy and security for voters,' removing the word 'ballot' from the security requirement.

Senator Cervantes was added as a coauthor of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 30, 2026 · Assembly May 27, 2026

How they voted

29–10

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Aug 30, 2026

D Democratic30

29 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican10

10 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Aug 30, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jun 22, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

upper

May 27, 2026

Assembly · Passed

Assembly Vote: pass (57-20-2)

assembly

May 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 20.)

lower

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

lower

May 14, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

lower

Feb 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors