Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Ballot Titles topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly passes bill letting jurisdictions move detailed financial explanations from ballot label to voter guide
Summary
AB 699 allows local jurisdictions to direct voters to the voter information guide for expanded plain‑language explanations of complex financial measures while keeping the official 75‑word ballot label compact. The Assembly passed the bill 45–17 after debate over voter access to critical cost details.
Assembly Bill 699, presented by Assemblymember Stephanie (name as given in the transcript), passed the Assembly on May 20 after a debate about voter access to concise ballot labels versus expanded explanations in the county voter information guide.
Assemblymember Stephanie told colleagues that under current law jurisdictions must compress complex financial statements into a 75‑word ballot label, often producing summaries that voters find confusing or misleading. AB 699 lets jurisdictions include a short ballot label while directing voters to a plain‑language explanation in the voter information guide that spells out duration, funding mechanisms and other key financial details.
Opponents, including Assemblymember De Maio and Assemblymember Patterson, said the bill would allow local governments to “hide” cost and duration details off the ballot and into a mailed booklet that many voters discard before the final days of voting. De Maio said the change could reduce transparency for last‑minute voters who rely on the ballot page itself. Supporters, including a former county elections official, said the voter information guide is mailed to every voter and is an appropriate place for fuller explanations.
The Assembly approved AB 699 on a vote of 45 ayes and 17 noes. The bill moves to the Senate for additional consideration.
