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Senate Appropriations advances AB 596 to show top funders on initiative ballots despite county cost concerns
Summary
AB 596 would add the top three funders (thresholds apply) to the ballot label for initiatives and referenda; sponsors said careful shortening rules would limit added ballot length, while county clerks warned of substantial unfunded printing, translation and processing costs. Motion passed 3-2.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Oct. 25 approved AB 596 by a 3-2 vote, advancing a measure that would require the top three funders of a qualified statewide initiative or referendum to be listed on the ballot label. Authors and sponsors said the change would improve transparency for voters; election officials cautioned the change would impose significant unfunded county costs.
Assemblymember Ortega, the bill's sponsor, said AB 596 is a narrowly tailored update to prior proposals that adds funder disclosure to the ballot label for initiatives and referenda that qualify for the ballot. "This bill simply puts that information on the top part of the ballot," Ortega said, and emphasized statutory rules in the bill to shorten long contributor names and permit registrars…
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