An act to amend Section 21193 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.An act to amend Sections 2170, 3001, 3011, 3015, 3016, 3017, 3102, 3106, 3110, 3111, 3116.5, 12283, and 14212 of, to add Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 3200) to Division 3 of, and to repeal Sections 357.5, 3000.5, 3016.7, 3025.5, 3025.7, 4005, 4005.5, 4005.6, 4006, and 4008 of, the Elections Code, relating to elections.
SB 335 would substantially revise California’s vote-by-mail system. The bill repeals the existing requirement that county elections officials mail ballots to every registered voter for each election and repeals the statutory framework authorizing counties to conduct all-mailed ballot elections under current law. In its place, it would make vote-by-mail ballots available on request for any election and create a new “permanent vote by mail” status for voters who apply for it. Voters on that permanent list would automatically receive a ballot for each election in which they are eligible to vote, unless they fail to return a ballot in four consecutive statewide general elections.
The bill also rewrites a number of related election procedures. It updates rules for conditional voter registration, in-person voting by vote-by-mail voters, ballot return and drop-off, military and overseas voting, and the use of remote accessible vote-by-mail systems. It repeals several provisions tied to county all-mail elections, including requirements for special ballot drop-off locations, campus drop-off sites, task force review, and certain notice and signature-cure procedures. It also amends school and public building use provisions and polling-place hours to align with the new framework. In addition, the bill makes a nonsubstantive change to the Public Resources Code section governing the California Environmental Protection Program’s administration.
The bill’s main impact would be on county elections officials and voters. Counties would no longer be required to mail ballots automatically to all registered voters under the repealed provisions, but would instead administer a request-based vote-by-mail system plus a permanent vote-by-mail list. Local officials would take on new duties to process applications, maintain lists, mail ballots to permanent vote-by-mail voters, and provide related notices and procedures, which the bill states could create a state-mandated local program. The bill includes reimbursement language if the Commission on State Mandates finds reimbursable costs.
Overall sentiment in the available legislative history appears mixed to negative. The bill was not advancing smoothly: it was returned to the Secretary of the Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56, and a committee vote on April 29, 2025 showed a failed passage in committee, followed by reconsideration being granted. A later vote on a motion to do pass and re-refer to Appropriations received only 1 aye and 4 noes, indicating limited support at that stage.
The main point of contention appears to be the bill’s rollback of California’s broad automatic ballot-mailing and all-mail election framework. Supporters of the bill would likely emphasize voter choice through permanent vote-by-mail status and continued access for military, overseas, disabled, and conditional registrants, while opponents would likely object to eliminating automatic ballot delivery and dismantling the existing all-mail election structure. The committee outcome suggests concerns about the scope of the changes, implementation burden on counties, and the policy shift away from universal ballot mailing.
SB 335 would repeal major portions of the Elections Code governing universal ballot mailing and county all-mailed ballot elections, replacing them with a request-based vote-by-mail system and a new permanent vote-by-mail program. It would impose new administrative duties on county elections officials for applications, mailing, tracking, and voter notices, and would create a state-mandated local program subject to reimbursement if mandated costs are found. It also makes conforming changes to military/overseas voting, conditional voter registration, ballot return rules, polling-place access, and public-building use, while making a nonsubstantive update to the Public Resources Code section on the California Environmental Protection Program.
The available record suggests the bill faced skepticism in committee. It failed passage on an initial hearing vote, then reconsideration was granted, and a subsequent vote to do pass and re-refer to Appropriations failed 1-4. That pattern indicates limited committee support and a generally unfavorable or at least uncertain reception at the time reflected in the record.
The central controversy is the bill’s elimination of the existing requirement to mail ballots to every registered voter and its repeal of the all-mailed ballot election framework. Likely supporters would argue the bill preserves access through permanent vote-by-mail status and targeted accommodations for military, overseas, and disabled voters, while critics would likely focus on reduced convenience, possible voter confusion, and the operational burden placed on counties. The repeal of campus drop-off requirements, task force review provisions, and signature-cure-related rules also suggests disagreement over how much election accessibility infrastructure should remain mandatory.