Senate elections committee advances package of election-related bills including ballot-count deadlines, accessibility and privacy protections

The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments advanced a package of election-related bills at a public hearing; votes sent several measures to fiscal and policy committees for further consideration.

The most prominent items included AB 5 from Assemblymember Phil Berman, which would set a target that the "vast majority" of ballots be counted by the 13th day after an election; AB 287 from Assemblymember Tom Lackey to require accessible parking and curbside voting accommodations at public vote centers; and AB 1392 from Assemblymember Sharp Collins to allow county election officials to keep a candidate’s home address, telephone number and email private during and shortly after a campaign.

Why it matters: The bills would change both operational deadlines and voter-facing aspects of California elections — affecting how quickly results are reported, how voters with disabilities access polling, and how candidate contact information appears in public records. The committee also advanced measures aimed at signature curing, recount procedures, and prohibitions against misleading ballot envelopes or deepfake election communications.

What the committee did and why - AB 5 (Berman): The bill seeks to have the "vast majority" of ballots counted by the 13th day after the election, with a county‑level extension process if extraordinary circumstances prevent meeting the goal. Assemblymember Phil Berman said the measure is intended to "increase transparency in our vote count process to give voters and the public even more confidence" while preserving accessibility and security. Tim Cromartie, representing Secretary of State Shirley Weber, told the committee the office remains opposed and that "15 days would be more prudent." Committee members stated a desire to shorten total certification timelines and to continue working with county officials.

- AB 827 (Berman, signature‑curing provisions): The bill would set a date‑certain deadline for counties to accept cures for missing or nonmatching signatures on vote‑by‑mail envelopes, and to move corresponding notification deadlines so voters have time to cure deficiencies. Assemblymember Berman and county officials said the change would improve certainty for voters; supporters described the change as not applying to special elections with compressed schedules.

- AB 16 (Alanis): Aimed at clarifying and "cleaning up" authority for county elections officials to begin processing vote‑by‑mail ballots earlier in order to reduce back‑end workloads during peak periods.

- AB 287 (Lackey): Would require public vote centers and schools that serve as vote centers to provide adequate space, accessible parking and curbside voting accommodations. Erin Navarres of the Los Angeles County Registrar‑Recorder testified the bill would "ensure that public facilities that serve as vote centers and polling places provide election officials with adequate space and parking necessary to conduct elections in an accessible and efficient manner." Disability Rights California and other disability‑rights groups voiced strong support. Los Angeles Unified School District and county supervisors asked for technical amendments and flagged implementation challenges at some older sites.

- AB 331 (Pellerin, sponsored by the Attorney General): Would (1) clarify that the duty to certify election results is ministerial and non‑discretionary; (2) make distribution of misleading unofficial ballot return envelopes a prosecutable offense; and (3) require voter information guides delivered to people in county jails to be in a format jails can accept. Tiffany Brokaw, deputy attorney general, said the bill is intended to deter misleading conduct and ensure people in jails receive voter materials.

- AB 502 (Pellerin/CITeD sponsor): A cleanup of 2024’s AB 28239 intended to strengthen the state’s ability to address materially deceptive generative‑AI election communications while narrowing who may seek relief and clarifying satire exceptions. Supporters described the changes as intended to respond to a federal preliminary injunction and to make labeling rules consistent with existing election law.

- AB 930 (Ward): Proposes extending the deadline for mailed, postmarked‑by‑election‑day ballots to be counted from 3 days to 7 days after the election and would modernize and clarify recount procedures, including requirements for posting recount results online. The author said the change responds to slower mail and to ensure military and overseas ballots are counted; some committee members expressed opposition to lengthening receipt windows.

- AB 775 (Fong): Modernizes reporting for "behested payments" (payments made at the request or on behalf of an elected official), including quarterly electronic filing to the Fair Political Practices Commission and a lower threshold for incremental reporting after an initial payment. The FPPC chair testified in support; watchdog groups asked for a lower incremental threshold than the bill proposes.

- AB 941? / AB 94 (Bennett): Technical adjustments to earlier law on local recalls to prohibit reappointment of a recalled officer to that same position. The author said the change aligns local practice with proposed state recall rules.

- AB 1441 (Soria): Establishes an independent citizens’ redistricting commission for Merced County. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, said the commission would increase transparency and participation; county supervisors and several rural county groups opposed a state‑imposed model and urged a local solution or advisory approach.

- AB 1392 (Sharp Collins): Would allow counties to keep a candidate’s residential address, phone number and email private during the election cycle and, for successful candidates, while in office, citing rising threats against public officials. The Secretary of State’s office supports the bill but cautioned it will increase county workload.

Votes at a glance (committee actions and tallies) - AB 5 (Berman) — Motion passed as amended to Appropriations committee; tally recorded in committee: 3‑0 (on call). Mover: Senator Umberg. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 827 (signature cure bill) — Motion passed as amended to Appropriations committee; committee tally reported as 2‑0 at first roll call and then noted as "on call." Mover: Sen. Choi. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 16 (Alanis) — Motion passed; committee tally reported 2‑0 and later "on call." Mover: Dr. Choi. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 287 (Lackey) — Motion passed; recorded 2‑0 and later "on call." Mover: Dr. Choi. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 331 (Pellerin) — Motion passed to Public Safety committee; tally recorded as 2‑0 and later "on call." Mover: Dr. Choi. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 502 (Pellerin/CITeD) — Motion passed to Rules committee; tally recorded in roll calls as 2‑0 then 2‑0/"on call." Mover: Sen. Limon. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 94 (Bennett) — Motion passed; tally recorded 3‑0 then "on call." Mover: Sen. Limon. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 930 (Ward) — Motion passed to Appropriations committee; roll call recorded chair and vice chair aye, Dr. Choi recorded a no on the final vote for the committee (3‑1 reported). Mover: Sen. Limon. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 775 (Fong) — Motion passed to Appropriations committee; tally recorded 3‑0 then "on call." Mover: Sen. Limon. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 1441 (Soria) — Motion passed to Local Government committee; roll calls later recorded the vote 3‑1 at the committee level. Mover: Sen. Moon. Outcome: approved for next committee. - AB 1392 (Sharp Collins) — Motion passed as amended to Judiciary committee; recorded votes later showed the motion carried and the bill was placed "on call." Mover: Sen. Limon. Outcome: approved for next committee.

Discussion highlights and next steps Committee members repeatedly emphasized two themes: (1) a desire to shorten total canvass and certification timelines where practicable, and (2) the need to preserve accessibility and election integrity while doing so. Several bills were described as "work in progress" with authors committing to continue negotiations with county elections officials, the Secretary of State’s office and stakeholder groups. Many of the measures will now proceed to fiscal review or the next policy committee, where budgetary and implementation questions will be examined.

Speakers quoted in this summary appear in the committee record and the hearing transcript. The committee asked witnesses from county registrars, Disability Rights California, the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorney General’s Office to return with technical input as the bills move forward.

Taper: The committee closed after lifting holds on remaining items and instructing stakeholders to submit further comments into the committee record; most measures will receive additional review in subsequent committees before reaching the Senate floor.