Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:15:26.240> by current ballot requirement stating by current ballot requirement stating
• about what is on the ballot.
• Um, but that's not on the ballot.
• Um, but that's not on the ballot.
• Um, but that's not on the ballot.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot, returning them to the precinct, and then the counting of those ballots that caused them to be
• You had eligible voters who were given ballots, allowed to vote, and their ballots were lost.
• These ballots were, in fact, put into the ballot box, as we heard Mr. Zoll say.
• If a ballot is marked, right, then the ballot must be given effect, no matter how crude the mark might
• I just find it troubling that we're accepting ballots, we're accepting testimony on ballots that don't

Transcript Highlights:

• The measure has qualified for the ballot and will be on the ballot this November, and election officials
• arguments to appear on the ballot for the various counties.
• Armed Service members deployed overseas cast their ballots.
• in time to vote or did not receive a ballot at all.
• a properly postmarked ballot returned.

Summary: The committee met on June 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and initially proceeding as a subcommittee. Members heard several Senate bills, with testimony focused mainly on redistricting, Bay Area transit funding, and military/overseas voting access. The chair also announced committee membership changes and that SB 1369 had been pulled by the author. Written testimony was accepted through the committee portal, and public testimony was limited by the chair’s rules. SB 1414 by Senator Reyes would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County. Supporters, including Inland Empire United, Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters, argued the bill would improve transparency and reduce political influence in map drawing. Opponents, including San Bernardino County and several local government/election groups, said the county’s existing advisory commission already provided substantial public input and raised concerns about cost. The bill was moved do pass as amended and re-referred to Local Government, with one no vote from Assembly Member Lackey; it was later taken off call and passed 6-1. SB 830 by Senator Wiener made technical changes to the administration of the Bay Area regional transit sales tax measure authorized by SB 63, including uniform ballot naming and county-specific ballot arguments. Support came from labor, transit, business, and advocacy groups, who said the bill would help voters understand the measure and protect transit funding. Members emphasized the Bay Area’s transit funding crisis and the need for local action. The bill passed do pass as amended, 5-1, and was later recorded as out 6-0 on call. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing six bills. SB 970 by Senator Cervantes addressed military and overseas voting after the federal discontinuation of the Department of Defense fax service used for ballot return. Supporters, including county election officials and local government organizations, said California needed a secure replacement to avoid disenfranchising service members and overseas voters. The Secretary of State’s office and Verified Voting raised security concerns and suggested a task force or more detailed standards, but the author and supporters argued the bill was urgent and should direct the Secretary of State to develop secure regulations. The bill passed do pass and was re-referred to Military and Veteran Affairs, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• by mail ballot.
• Did you at this day this time, you know, drop your ballot off my secure ballot intake stations are and
• We use ballot tracks and that notifies you when your ballot gets back to us.
• But really ballot Trax is a great way for folks to know when their ballot gets to them.
• No ballots were in there.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are more concerned about you having access to the ballot.
• They put whatever they want on the ballot.
• The democracy access to the ballot is purchased by those groups.
• and not having overly complicated ballot labels.
• Space on the ballot is at a premium.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, curious if these are going to be on the November ballot, why would the August ballot be better
• Speaker, curious if these are going to be on the November ballot, why would the August ballot be better
• So Then, wouldn't the November ballot be a better ballot because there would be more Oklahomans voting
• Do you anticipate that the August ballot will have a higher turnout than the November ballot.
• , an August ballot, a November ballot.

Bills: HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142, HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, ALS, funding, healthcare, State Department of Health, emergency declaration, public finance, state budget, financial regulations, monetary policy, referendum, constitutional amendments, special election, Oklahoma legislature, public voting, recovery fund

Transcript Highlights:

• to initial either the front or back of a ballot, as opposed to just the back of the ballot, to certify
• bill uh relates to mail bot mail ballot bill uh relates to mail bot mail ballot um<00:07:19.639>
• elections entirely by mail uh ballots elections entirely by mail uh ballots must<00:07:25.199>
• If you are hiring for your absentee ballot board for the primary, that ballot board would start about
• If you are hiring for your absentee ballot board for the primary, that ballot board would start about

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that their ballot has been counted.
• Counting just one ballot for that voter.
• Last question: does this affect in-person absentee balloting at all, where the ballots wouldn't be sent
• numerous ballot issues that were identified.
• If you're hiring for your absentee ballot board for the primary, that ballot board would start like a

Transcript Highlights:

• President, that at the local level, when there's a ballot question, a ballot initiative, that it not
• Municipal ballot question committees do not report the same way we do in our own campaigns or state ballot
• Municipal ballot question committees do not report the same way we do in our own campaigns or state ballot
• This ballot initiative, and at this moment where we're dealing with potentially 12 ballot initiatives
• support a ballot question... ...by two separate ballot question committees, one to support a ballot

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• or register, obtain your ballot, and cast your ballot.
• ballot in.
• ballot in.
• They're standing in line waiting to get their ballot and taking their ballot to the ballot box, to the
• ballot to the bo ballot and taking their ballot to the bo to<01:57:10.159> the<01:57:10.239><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when registering for an absentee ballot when registering for an absentee ballot um<00:03:54.519>
• using an absentee ballot.
• using an absentee ballot.
• using an absentee ballot.
• <01:18:30.159> and ballot they complete their ballot and ballot they complete their ballot

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , placing them into the absentee ballot return envelopes, and then the counting of those ballots that
• They filled those ballots out. They marked them. They cast their ballots.
• You had eligible voters who were given ballots, allowed to vote, and their ballots were lost.
• whose uh ballots have been thrown away. whose uh ballots have been thrown away.
• These ballots were in fact put into the ballot box, as we heard Mr. Zol say.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• up on the ballot. up on the ballot.
• at the ballot box? at the ballot box?
• ballot title and a deceptive ballot ballot title and a deceptive ballot description<02:33:16.080
• ballot accessessibility and ballot that ballot accessessibility and ballot language<03:53:21.600>
• just the language of the ballot measure. just the language of the ballot measure.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and then moved through announcements and committee scheduling notices. Members recognized visiting groups, including the Adams 12 girls wrestling team and the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, and several representatives announced upcoming committee hearings on bills including House Bill 1317, House Bill 1225, House Bill 1322, Senate Bill 18, and others. The chamber also took a short recess while another committee was meeting. On third reading, the House first laid over Senate Bill 43 until the next day, then considered House Bill 1339, which changes the voluntary legal holiday name on March 31 from Caesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Day. Supporters said the bill recognizes farmworkers and survivors and reflects recent allegations involving Cesar Chavez; the bill passed 64-0 with one excused. The House then adopted House Bill 1214 on controlled substances licensing (43-21), House Bill 1242 on interlock restricted licenses for impaired drivers (56-8), House Bill 1260 on childcare assistance programs (63-1), House Bill 1188 on securities regulation sunset continuation (43-21), House Bill 106 on designating state higher education institutions as thriving institutions (43-2), House Bill 1197 on the vessel registration program (55-10), and House Bill 1269 on transit access (43-2). The chamber also agreed to make House Bill 1320, Senate Bill 118, House Bill 1195, Senate Bill 88, and House Bill 1304 special orders later that morning. After that, the House resolved into committee of the whole for House Bill 1320, which concerns statutory requirements for ballot title language and accessible language for ballot titles. Representative Luck offered amendment L004 to let proponents of citizen initiatives submit a draft title that would be presumed sufficient unless the title board needed to modify it to meet constitutional and statutory duties. Luck and Bradley argued the change would reduce bias and treat citizen initiatives more fairly compared with legislator-driven measures, while preserving clarity and readability in ballot language. The transcript cuts off before final action on the amendment or bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They put whatever they want on the ballot.
• Space on the ballot is at a premium.
• The longer ballot question is likely to result in a decrease in the number of ballots.
• administering ballots.
• Their ballot wasn't counted.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ballot.
• ballot.
• ballot.
• get him the ballot. Okay. get him the ballot. Okay.
• You add to that the number of absentee<01:42:58.080> ballots absentee ballots absentee ballots

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To protect the evidentiary use of those ballots, existing state law is clear that these ballots should
• In April, he told the press that he would gladly seize ballots again, including the ballot Forever.
• In April, he told the press that he would gladly seize ballots again, including the ballot In April,
• he told the press that he would gladly seize ballots again, including the ballot from the June primary
• , where he is on the ballot himself.

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety heard one item, Senate Bill 73 by Senator Cervantes, and took up committee and Elections Committee amendments. The bill was described as strengthening protections against interference in elections by extending restrictions to military personnel at polling places, protecting the chain of custody of voted ballots, and limiting law enforcement access to voting machines and voter rosters without a court order. The chair explained that the committee amendments would remove certain criminal penalties for peace officers, restore a uniform requirement for some polling-place personnel, and clarify the effect of objections by the Secretary of State or Attorney General. The author and supporters, including API Force and CHIRLA, argued the bill was needed to respond to threats of intimidation and election interference, citing concerns about armed personnel at polling places and the Riverside County sheriff’s seizure of ballots. Supporters said the measure would protect voters, especially immigrant communities and in-person voters, and preserve confidence in election administration. Opposition from the California State Sheriffs’ Association and CALA argued the bill was vague, could hinder lawful criminal investigations, and improperly restrict law enforcement and federal election oversight. After closing remarks, the committee voted to pass SB 73 as amended to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The vote was 6-1, with one member not voting. The chair and another member recommended an aye, while one member voted no.

Transcript Highlights:

• You obviously can't do that with a ballot, but you can return certain individuals' ballots who have filled
• ballots, and noting that getting something on the ballot is not winning the issue.
• The process, as it exists, with its checks and balances, works to keep ballot initiatives off the ballot
• The process, as it exists, with its checks and balances, works to keep ballot initiatives off the ballot
• I don't agree with every ballot initiative proposal.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections heard SPB 7016, a bill revising Florida’s citizen initiative petition process to address fraud, voter information, and ballot integrity. The bill and its amendments would add sponsor bonds and deposit requirements, require more identifying information from signers and circulators, bar certain felons and non-citizens from circulating petitions, require circulator training, shorten the time to submit signed petitions, require notices to voters whose signatures are verified, and change how financial impact statements are handled. Several amendments were adopted, including a $1 million bond framework, 10-point font and page limits for petition forms, a ban on incentive-based pay tied to petition counts or speed, removal of a requirement that fraud be proven by criminal conviction before administrative fines, county deposit and payment procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, training requirements within 30 days, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. Committee discussion focused heavily on implementation and fairness. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, argued the bill was needed to deter fraud, protect voter information, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear the costs of the initiative process. Supervisors of elections testified that county taxpayers should not subsidize petition verification, but also warned that some provisions would be difficult to implement quickly because of software and operational constraints. Senators raised questions about the bond cost, the 10-day submission deadline, notice to voters whose petitions are invalidated, the effect on returning citizens, and whether the bill could disenfranchise voters who sign petitions in good faith. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed. Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, NAACP Florida, Florida Rising, Equality Florida, All Voting Is Local, and other advocates said the bill would suppress grassroots participation, criminalize volunteers, create costly barriers, and favor wealthy or corporate interests. They objected especially to the bond, the new signer identification requirements, the shorter submission window, and the lack of notice when a petition is invalidated. A few supporters, including the Florida Chamber, backed the measure as a safeguard against fraud and outside influence. After debate, the committee did not reach a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, but the bill remained before the committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You obviously can't do that with a ballot, but you can return certain individuals' ballots who have filled
• ballots, and noting that getting something on the ballot is not, And noting that getting something on
• the ballot is not winning the issue.
• The process, as it exists, with its checks and balances, works to keep ballot initiatives off the ballot
• I don't agree with every ballot initiative proposal.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider SPB 7016, a major bill revising Florida’s constitutional initiative petition process. Senator Grall presented it as a fraud-prevention and ballot-integrity measure that would add sponsor training, stricter circulator rules, more voter identification information, faster submission deadlines, notice to voters whose signatures are verified, and additional civil and criminal penalties. The committee also considered several amendments, including a $1 million bond requirement, font and page limits for petition forms, restrictions on incentive-based circulator pay, removal of a criminal-conviction prerequisite for certain fines, deposit and reimbursement procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, mandatory circulator training, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. All of the amendments were adopted, with some roll-call votes recorded and most passing on party-line or near party-line splits. The bill drew extensive questioning from senators, especially about the practical effects of the new requirements. Senator Polsky and Senator Rouson raised concerns about disenfranchising voters, burdening grassroots volunteers, the cost of bonds and deposits, the 10-day return deadline, and whether voters would be notified if a petition they signed was later invalidated. Grall said the measures were intended to protect the constitutionally significant initiative process, reduce fraud, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear administrative costs. Dave Ramba, speaking for supervisors of elections, supported the deposit and reimbursement concepts but warned that the bill’s implementation would be operationally difficult and that software vendors might not be ready for the changes by the effective date. He also said the process should avoid subsidizing petition drives with county taxpayer money. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers from Common Cause Florida, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP Florida State Conference, Florida Rising, Equal Ground, Voices of Florida, and other civic groups arguing the bill would suppress direct democracy, criminalize volunteer activity, impose excessive costs, and create confusion and litigation risk. One speaker from the Florida Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, saying the initiative process should be protected from fraud and outside interests. During debate, Senator Polsky argued the Legislature has steadily made the initiative process harder after recent citizen-led amendments succeeded, while supporters framed the bill as a necessary integrity measure. The committee had not yet taken final action on the bill itself by the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:27:32.719> we<01:27:32.920> use ballot we use ballot we use the<01:27:35.360> uh
• I don't want to say that there's a lesser one for obtaining a ballot, but if they're getting a ballot
• I don't want to say that there's a lesser one for obtaining a ballot, but if they're getting a ballot
• both ballots equivalently?
• ballot for that person.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To protect the evidentiary use of those ballots, existing law is clear that these ballots should not
• In April, he told the press that he would gladly seize ballots again, including the ballots from the
• June primary, where he is on the ballot.
• Or that ballots have... ...ineligible voters prior to the midterm elections, or that ballots have already
• The ballot— The ballot should never leave the custody of the elections official.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on May 6, 2026, with a quorum present and heard one bill, SB 73. The author described the measure as a response to perceived threats to California elections, including restrictions on armed or non-uniformed personnel at polling places, protections for ballots and voting equipment, and limits on law enforcement access to election materials without a court order. The chair reviewed a set of agreed amendments, including removing a section conflicting with AB 1664, deleting proposed criminal penalties, clarifying the role of the Attorney General and Secretary of State, and refining language on signature challenges, law enforcement support, and certified voting technology. Supporters, including AAPI Force, CHIRLA, the League of Women Voters of California, and Common Cause, argued the bill would protect voters from intimidation and preserve election integrity. Opponents from CALA argued the bill was unnecessary, would hinder legitimate investigations, and reflected distrust of law enforcement and federal oversight. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the bill was responding to real-world threats and on the ballot seizure in Riverside County. Members questioned how the measure would affect signature challenges, chain of custody, and investigations into possible fraud. The author and supporters said ballots should remain in election officials’ custody and that federal or local agents should not be able to interfere with election materials or intimidate voters. The chair and other members also discussed the urgency clause and the need to move the bill quickly despite the proximity of the June election. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer SB 73 to the Committee on Public Safety. The roll call initially showed the bill passing 5-1, then after the absent member arrived, the final vote was 6-2, and the bill was reported out of committee.