Transcript Highlights:

• an overvote on their ballot, causing the ballot machine to reject the ballot and therefore require a
• ballots by mistake.
• ballots by mistake.
• what's on the ballot. what's on the ballot.
• the ballot to the election official manning the ballot machine, who shall place the ballot in the auxiliary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . ballot. ballot.
• ballot card. ballot card.
• I mark a ballot. I insert I scan system. I mark a ballot.
• The ballot on your left would be the Hart summary ballot, which comes from our ADA-compliant ballot marking
• The ballot on handmark paper ballot.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• and sample ballots.
• and sample ballots.
• and ballot envelopes.
• process for sample ballots.
• the mailing process for sample ballots. the mailing process for sample ballots.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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.
• We received their ballot after the seven-day window to have a properly postmarked ballot returned.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . ballot. ballot.
• secret ballots. secret ballots.
• official ballot. official ballot.
• We determine the number of absentee ballots. ballots. ballots.
• ballots at all. ballots at all.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You go, you get a ballot, you go in there and you fill out the ballot and.
• You go, here's your ballot, you go into your little booth and you mark the ballot and then you bring
• ballots would have had a ballot number on there that have some kind of there's a numbering mechanism
• When a voter checks in, they're handed a ballot or a ballot card.
• Apply with ballot paper.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Bills: HB227, HB454, SB323, HB266, SB52, SB53, SB296, HB37, HB429, HB93, HB249, HB328, HB111, HB132, HB26, SB261, HB227, HB454, SB323, HB266, SB52, SB53, SB296, HB37, HB429, HB93, HB249, HB328, HB111, HB132, HB26, SB261

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

Transcript Highlights:

• initiative aims to provide financial relief to consumers, especially in light of recent economic conditions
• It went on the constitutional election ballot later that year, passed overwhelmingly across the state
• accessibility of childcare, last session, the legislature passed Senate Bill 1145, which prompted a statewide ballot
• Bill HB 7, which, uh, established the aid program, um, and as she already mentioned, it has two conditions

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:

• up and cast a ballot up and cast a ballot so<00:37:08.720> any<00:37:09.000> comments<
• than casting two separate uh ballots than casting two separate uh ballots you're<00:48:50.440>
• So the idea of an exhausted ballot, or an inactive ballot, happens when a voter marks a ballot, maybe
• would no longer count in the process. exhausted ballot concern so could you exhausted ballot concern
• that's a voter's choice so if ballots that's a voter's choice so if ballots become<00:58:42.000>

Keywords: 1187, 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:

• thousand ballots. thousand ballots.
• . ballots. ballots.
• Oh, official ballot by ballot secret.
• > um official ballot or special ballot um official ballot or special ballot um rather<02:23:54.240
• secret ballots. secret ballots.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

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:

• . ballot. ballot.
• printed on the ballot.
• No ballot may be printed on the ballot.
• Does everyone have a ballot? Does everyone now have a ballot? >> Okay.
• Has everyone's ballot been picked up? Anybody have an outstanding ballot? Thank you.

Keywords: 927, 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