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<ns0:Id>20250SB__088498AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
<ns0:History>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-13</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>884</ns0:MeasureNum>
<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senators Umberg and Cervantes</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Umberg</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Cervantes</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add and repeal Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 400) of Division 0.5 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>elections</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Elections in 2026, 2027, and 2028.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law generally requires county elections officials to divide the county into precincts and designate a polling place for each precinct. As an alternative, a county elections official may conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election, in which case the elections official is required to, among other things, provide at least 1 vote center for every 50,000 registered voters from the 10th day preceding the election to the 4th day preceding the election. Existing law requires counties that conduct all-mailed ballot elections to provide at least 2 ballot dropoff locations within the jurisdiction where the election is held or at least 1 ballot dropoff location for every 15,000 registered voters, whichever results in more ballot dropoff locations. Existing law requires other counties to provide at
least 2 ballot dropoff locations within the jurisdiction or at least 1 ballot dropoff location for every 30,000 registered voters. Ballot dropoff locations must be open beginning at least 28 days before the election. Under existing law, a vote by mail ballot is timely cast if it is postmarked on or before election day and received in the mail by the voter’s elections official no later than 7 days after election day. Existing law prohibits and makes it a misdemeanor to engage in specified electioneering activities within 100 feet of a polling place, elections official’s office, satellite location, or an outdoor site at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill, for elections in 2026 through 2028, except for the June 2026 statewide primary, would do the following: (1) require counties that conduct all-mailed ballot elections to provide vote centers starting on the 20th day preceding the election; (2) require counties that conduct all-mailed ballot
elections to provide at least 2 ballot dropoff locations or at least 1 ballot dropoff location for every 7,500 registered voters, require other counties to provide at least 2 ballot dropoff locations or at least 1 ballot dropoff location for every 15,000 registered voters, and require that these ballot dropoff locations be open beginning at least 30 days before the election; (3) deem vote by mail ballots timely cast if they are received by the elections official up to 10 days after election day; (4) prohibit the enforcement of federal immigration laws while within 200 feet of specified voting locations; (5) extend the prohibition on electioneering activities to within 200 feet of the specified voting locations; and (6) authorize a county elections official to extend the time for closing the polls at any polling place if the county elections official determines that voting at the polling place was disrupted as a result of a violation of the prohibitions on enforcement of federal immigration laws or
electioneering.</html:p>
<html:p>By increasing the duties of county elections officials, and by expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
<html:p>With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.</html:p>
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<ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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<ns0:MeasureIndicators>
<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
<ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
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<ns0:Bill id="bill">
<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_CC14BE96-78C0-42A5-A87C-8EB163E941A6">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 400) is added to Division 0.5 of the
<ns0:DocName>Elections Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading id="id_97A43D82-EEDD-4AC9-92D6-84B946FD7B6D" type="CHAPTER">
<ns0:Num>5.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawHeadingVersion id="id_F7BF2BAD-5470-412E-A64B-8601B4B1AEA5">
<ns0:LawHeadingText>Elections in 2026, 2027, and 2028</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_9E2F87B6-B45E-475E-B3F4-FCB4D48E9C84">
<ns0:Num>400.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>This chapter applies to any election held in 2026, 2027, or 2028, including a special election, but not including the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>401.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
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Notwithstanding any other law, a county that conducts elections pursuant to Section 4005 shall provide at least one vote center for every 50,000 registered voters beginning 20 days before the day of the election and continuing daily up to and including the fourth day before the election.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a county with fewer than 50,000 registered voters shall provide a minimum of two vote centers within the county.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 3025.5, Section 4005, or any other law, a county that conducts elections pursuant to Section 4005 shall provide at least two vote by mail
ballot drop-off locations within the county or at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location for every 7,500 registered voters, whichever results in more vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a county with fewer than 7,500 registered voters shall provide at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 3025.5, Section 4005, or any other law, a county that does not conduct elections pursuant to Section 4005 shall provide at least two vote by mail ballot drop-off locations within the county or at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location for every 15,000 registered voters, whichever results in more vote by mail ballot drop-off locations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a county with fewer than 15,000
registered voters shall provide at least one vote by mail ballot drop-off location.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
All vote by mail ballot drop-off locations shall be open at least during regular business hours beginning not less than 30 days before the day of the election and continuing through and including the day of the election.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_CABF085E-DD22-4D37-A7F4-38928EC58590">
<ns0:Num>402.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_8C668407-D289-43A4-BFB7-4E7A640A6BBA">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>County election officials are encouraged to use public buildings for polling places.</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_734D05ED-000C-4173-BB46-36022906EC0C">
<ns0:Num>403.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_94652853-7FA3-4F9F-B83A-F5F15295E2B3">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Notwithstanding Section 3020, Section 4103, or any other law, a vote by mail ballot is timely cast if it is received by the voter’s elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than 10 days after election day and either of the following is satisfied:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The ballot is postmarked on or before election day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before election day, or it is otherwise indicated by the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company that the ballot was mailed on or before election day.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an
illegible postmark, and no other information is available from the United States Postal Service or the bona fide private mail delivery company to indicate the date on which the ballot was mailed, the vote by mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote by mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before election day.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_B06853B2-7460-49F4-BA0B-0B99E44244F6">
<ns0:Num>404.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_141617F8-9052-4A8D-8BF8-694BD1B8210C">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>A person shall not perform any act for the purpose of, or in furtherance of, the enforcement of federal immigration laws while within 200 feet of any polling place, county elections office, or location at which ballots are being counted, canvassed, audited, certified, or recounted. A violation of this section is enforceable pursuant to Section 18582.</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_85826892-5ED7-4138-B8B6-409A2CDA53A2">
<ns0:Num>405.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding any other law, electioneering, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3019.5, is prohibited within 200 feet of either of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The entrance to a building that contains a polling place, an elections official’s office, or a satellite location.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An outdoor site, including a curbside voting area, at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor as provided in Section 18370 or 18371.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_7F055152-3B3D-440C-B640-487B0BAC0EE6">
<ns0:Num>406.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_3F10DC08-8163-49D4-A198-4AD47B29110A">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 14212, Section 4005, or any other law, on election day a county elections official may extend the time for closing the polls at any polling place if the county elections official determines, in the official’s discretion, that voting at the polling place was disrupted as a result of a violation of Section 404 or Section 405.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the time for closing the polls is extended pursuant to subdivision (a), all votes cast during the time that the closing of the polls is extended shall be by provisional ballot. Any provisional ballots cast pursuant to this subdivision shall be separated and held apart from other provisional ballots cast by voters prior to the time the closing of the polls was
extended.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_76F988C8-429C-469A-8EAD-8C73E15CF776">
<ns0:Num>407.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_C17DF13A-BBB2-436F-BFAB-B9ED1711EDC9">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.</html:p>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_3E77CE11-217B-41E9-AEC9-FA8F3BB403A6">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
<html:p>However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.</html:p>
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