California Code of Regulations
Title 2 - Administration
Division 7 - Secretary of State
Chapter 1 - Voter Registration
Article 2.5 - Statewide Voter Registration System
Section 19091 - Vote-By-Mail Ballot Processing and Return Status

Universal Citation: 2 CA Code of Regs 19091

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) A county elections official shall send vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot issuance data for each VBM ballot delivered pursuant to Section 3010 of the Elections Code to the statewide voter registration system as soon as a VBM ballot is issued to a voter.

(b) If a county elections official participates in the system created pursuant to Elections Code section 3019.7 to allow a vote-by-mail voter to track their VBM ballot through the mail system, the county elections official shall send the following information to the statewide voter registration system so that the voter may receive information via email or text message about the status of his or her VBM ballot:

(1) The date the VBM ballot is delivered by the county elections official to the United States Postal Service, to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(1).

(2) The date, based on information from the United States Postal Service, that the voter's VBM ballot is expected to be delivered to the voter, to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(2).

(3) Notification if the voter's VBM ballot is returned as undeliverable to the county elections official by the United States Postal Service, to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(3).

(4) The date when a completed VBM ballot is received by the county elections official, to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(4).

(5) The information required by subdivision (c), to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(5). This will allow the system established under Elections Code section 3019.7 to notify a voter when their VBM ballot has been counted or, if the ballot cannot be counted, of steps the voter can take in order to have the ballot counted.

(6) The county elections official shall not be required to send information on the deadline for the voter to return his or her ballot to comply with Elections Code section 3019.7(a)(6). This information can be generated automatically from the system established under Elections Code section 3019.7.

(c) The county elections official shall, immediately upon adjudication of a voter's VBM ballot received pursuant to Elections Code section 3020, enter into the statewide voter registration system a VBM ballot return status and reason code.

(1) The ballot return status of a VBM ballot shall be indicated as either "Accepted" or "Not Accepted."

(2) An appropriate reason code shall be assigned by the county elections official in accordance with Section 19092, if the ballot return status is "Not Accepted."

(d) VBM ballot information referred to in subdivisions (a) through (c) above shall be displayed on the Secretary of State's "My Voter Status" page, along with the voter participation history.

1. New section filed 8-27-2020; operative 8-27-2020 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3). Filing deadline specified in Government Code section 11349.3(a) extended 60 days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20 and an additional 60 days pursuant to Executive Order N-66-20 (Register 2020, No. 35).

Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code; and Sections 10 and 2168, Elections Code. Reference: Sections 3000, 3001, 3002, 3003, 3004, 3005, 3006, 3007, 3007.5, 3007.7, 3007.8, 3008, 3009, 3010, 3011, 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015, 3016, 3016.5, 3017, 3018, 3019, 3019.5, 3019.7, 3020, 3021, 3021.5, 3022, 3023, 3024, 3025 and 3026, Elections Code; and 52 U.S.C. Section 21083.

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