California 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 D cosponsors

SB 759 — Elections: vote by mail ballots.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 446, Statutes of 2018.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 17, 2017. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 66% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    9 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Existing law requires an elections official, upon receipt of a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with either the signature appearing on the voter's affidavit of registration, or the signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voter's signature and that is part of the voter's registration record. Existing law prohibits, if the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, the elections official from opening the identification envelope and counting the ballot. This bill would eliminate the prohibition on counting the ballot and would instead require the elections official to follow specified procedures to notify the voter and allow the voter an opportunity to verify his or her signature before certification of the election. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. By increasing the duties of local election officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 446, Statutes of 2018.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 27. Noes 11. Page 5874.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. Urgency clause adopted.

  6. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  7. Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 55. Noes 25. Page 6600.) Ordered to the Senate.

  8. Ordered to third reading.

  9. Reconsideration granted.

  10. Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Mullin.

  11. Read third time. Urgency clause refused adoption. (Ayes 53. Noes 24. Page 6514.)

  12. Ordered to third reading.

  13. Read third time and amended. (Ayes 53. Noes 25. Page 6294.)

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  15. Coauthors revised.

  16. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 5.) (August 8).

  17. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  18. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 27).

  19. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & R.

  20. June 13 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  21. Referred to Com. on E. & R.

  22. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  23. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 12. Page 4111.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  24. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  25. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 4056.) (January 18).

  26. Set for hearing January 18.

  27. January 16 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  28. Set for hearing January 16.

  29. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 4005.) (January 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  30. Set for hearing January 9.

  31. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  32. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  33. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  34. Withdrawn from committee.

  35. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  36. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  37. April 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  38. Set for hearing April 25.

  39. Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  40. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  41. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Gonzalez Fletcher · Cosponsor
  • Beall · Cosponsor
  • Dodd · Cosponsor
  • Mike McGuire · Primary
  • Mullin · Cosponsor
  • Wieckowski · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 116 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

  • Gonzalez Fletcher
  • Beall
  • Dodd
  • Mullin
  • Wieckowski

Not signed on (116)

116 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 116 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Unfinished Business SB759 McGuire et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence

Passed 27 Yea · 11 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 231002
Democratic 4100
Total 271102
% of votes cast 68%28%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Anderson — Nay
Bates — Nay
Bradford — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Monning — Yea
Moorlach — Nay
Pan — Yea
Fuller — Nay
Glazer — Yea
Lara — Yea
Allen — Yea
De León — Yea
Cannella — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Chang — Not Voting
Delgado — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Hill — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Beall — Yea
Morrell — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Roth — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Vidak — Nay
Wieckowski — Yea
Wilk — Nay
Beth Gaines — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Not Voting
Mark Stone — Nay
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Nay
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

SB 759 McGuire Third Reading Urgency By MULLIN

Passed 55 Yea · 25 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 391900
Democratic 16000
Republican 0600
Total 552500
% of votes cast 69%31%0%0%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Acosta — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Nay
Harper — Nay
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Maienschein — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Medina — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Thurmond — Yea
Ting — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Daly — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Holden — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Rivas — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Low — Yea
Burke — Yea
Chu — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Mullin — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Weber — Yea
Wood — Yea
Salas — Yea
Gray — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Fong — Nay
Chau — Yea
Kiley — Nay
Levine — Yea
Mayes — Nay
McCarty — Yea
Baker — Nay
Chávez — Nay
Cunningham — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Nazarian — Yea
Obernolte — Nay
Rendon — Yea
Steinorth — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Mark Stone — Yea
Travis Allen — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

SB 759 McGuire Third Reading Urgency By MULLIN

Failed 53 Yea · 24 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 371803
Democratic 16000
Republican 0600
Total 532403
% of votes cast 66%30%0%4%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Acosta — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Maienschein — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Rendon — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Ting — Yea
Weber — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Cunningham — Nay
Daly — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Rivas — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Salas — Yea
Harper — Nay
Gray — Yea
Burke — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Holden — Yea
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Levine — Yea
Fong — Nay
Chau — Yea
Low — Yea
Mayes — Nay
McCarty — Yea
Baker — Nay
Chu — Yea
Chávez — Nay
Cooley — Yea
Medina — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Mullin — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Obernolte — Nay
Quirk — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Steinorth — Nay
Thurmond — Yea
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Wood — Yea
Chiu — Not Voting
Nazarian — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Mark Stone — Yea
Travis Allen — Not Voting
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

SB 759 McGuire Senate Third Reading By MULLIN Amendment Set #1

Passed 53 Yea · 25 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 381901
Democratic 15001
Republican 0600
Total 532502
% of votes cast 66%31%0%3%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Acosta — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Nay
Holden — Yea
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Maienschein — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Obernolte — Nay
Rendon — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Ting — Yea
Weber — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Cunningham — Nay
Daly — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Rivas — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Harper — Nay
Salas — Yea
Gray — Yea
Burke — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Kiley — Nay
Levine — Yea
Low — Yea
Fong — Nay
Chau — Yea
Mayes — Nay
McCarty — Yea
Medina — Yea
Baker — Nay
Chiu — Yea
Chu — Yea
Chávez — Nay
Cooper — Yea
Melendez — Nay
Mullin — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Steinorth — Nay
Thurmond — Yea
Voepel — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Wood — Yea
Cristina Garcia — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Mark Stone — Yea
Travis Allen — Nay
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Not Voting
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gallagher, James Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 12 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9400
Democratic 3000
Republican 0100
Total 12500
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (17)
Member Party Vote
Bigelow — Nay
Bloom — Yea
Brough — Nay
Nazarian — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Gonzalez Fletcher — Yea
Fong — Nay
Chau — Yea
Obernolte — Nay
Quirk — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading

Passed 27 Yea · 12 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 231101
Democratic 4100
Total 271201
% of votes cast 68%30%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Anderson — Nay
Hernandez — Yea
Hill — Yea
Lara — Yea
Moorlach — Nay
Wieckowski — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Fuller — Nay
Allen — Yea
De León — Yea
Cannella — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Bates — Nay
Beall — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Mendoza — Not Voting
Monning — Yea
Morrell — Nay
Newman — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Pan — Yea
Roth — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Vidak — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Beth Gaines — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Nay
Mark Stone — Nay
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Nay
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4200
Democratic 1000
Total 5200
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Beall — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Nielsen — Nay
Hill — Yea
Bates — Nay
Lara — Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6000
Democratic 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Beall — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Nielsen — Yea
Hill — Yea
Lara — Yea
Bates — Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 759 do?
Existing law requires an elections official, upon receipt of a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with either the signature appearing on the voter's affidavit of registration, or the signature appearing on a form issued by an elections official that contains the voter's signature and that is part of the voter's registration record. Existing law prohibits, if the elections official determines that the signatures do not compare, the elections official from opening the identification envelope and counting the ballot. This bill would eliminate the prohibition on counting the ballot and would instead require the elections official to follow specified procedures to notify the voter and allow the voter an opportunity to verify his or her signature before certification of the election. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. By increasing the duties of local election officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Who sponsors SB 759?
SB 759 is sponsored by Gonzalez Fletcher, Beall, Dodd, McGuire, Mike (Democratic), Mullin, and Wieckowski.
What is the current status of SB 759?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 17, 2017. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 759?
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