California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 R cosponsors

AB 681 — Elections: voter registration: partisan primary elections.

Last action — Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.

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

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law requires a voter to disclose a preference for a political party in order to participate in the political party's primary election. However, existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to request the ballot of a political party at a partisan primary election if the political party authorizes a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote the ballot of the political party at that partisan election. Existing law requires that information to be included in the voter registration card, the vote by mail ballot application, the state and county voter information guides, the internet websites of the Secretary of State and the county elections officials, and the nonpartisan vote by mail ballot that is sent to a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference. This bill would require a county elections official, between the 130th and 102nd day before a presidential primary election, to send each registered voter in the county a notice containing specified information, including the voter's current political party preference, the type of ballot the voter will be able to cast at the presidential primary election, and instructions on how the voter may change the voter's political party preference. The bill would require a county elections official, between the 99th and 71st day before a presidential primary election, to send each registered voter within the county who has declined to disclose a political party preference, and who has not requested the ballot of a political party, a second similar notice that also allows the voter to request a vote by mail ballot for a specified political party by signing and returning the notice. Existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to request the ballot of a political party that has authorized a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in its partisan primary election in the voter's vote by mail application, by telephone, over the internet if available, or by email or facsimile transmission if permitted by the county elections official. Existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference and who has received a nonpartisan vote by mail ballot to, no later than 7 days before the date of the partisan primary election, return the unvoted ballot to the county elections official and receive the ballot for a political party, as specified. This bill would revise and clarify how a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference may request the ballot of a political party. The bill would require a county elections official to accept from a vote by mail voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference a request submitted by telephone, email, or facsimile transmission, as specified. The bill would permit an unvoted nonpartisan ballot to be returned in exchange for the ballot of a political party at any time before the close of the polls on election day. The bill would make other nonsubstantive conforming changes. Existing law requires a county elections official to accept affidavits of registration received on or before the 15th day before an election and to accept conditional voter registration affidavits received during the 14 days immediately preceding an election and on election day. Existing law establishes procedures for a voter to change the voter's residence address by executing a new affidavit of registration or a notice or letter of the change of address, or for a voter to change the voter's political party preference by executing a new affidavit of registration. This bill would permit a voter, from the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day, in lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration, to change the voter's residence address or political party preference by submitting to the voter's county elections official a written request containing the new residence address or political party preference and signed under penalty of perjury. The bill would require a ballot or provisional ballot to be provided to the voter, as specified, and would require the registration of the voter to be immediately updated. By imposing additional duties on local elections officials and expanding the scope of crimes, this 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so 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. Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.

  2. Vetoed by Governor.

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

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 65. Noes 13. Page 3568.).

  5. From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (September 13).

  6. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 3461.)

  7. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 3439.)

  8. Re-referred to Com. on E. & R. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  9. Assembly Rule 77 suspended. (Page 3370.)

  10. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after September 12 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

  11. Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 11. Page 2781.).

  12. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  13. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  15. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  16. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 30).

  17. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  18. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  19. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  20. Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  21. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  22. Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 60. Noes 16. Page 2122.).

  23. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  24. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  25. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 4.) (May 16).

  26. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  27. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  28. Re-referred to Com. on E. & R.

  29. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E. & R. Read second time and amended.

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

  31. From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  32. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"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

AB 681 Gonzalez Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Passed 65 Yea · 13 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 22000
Unaffiliated 421000
Republican 1301
Total 651301
% of votes cast 82%16%0%1%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Mullin — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Ting — Yea
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Levine — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Low — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Burke — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Wood — Yea
Medina — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Chu — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Weber — Yea
Fong — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Brough — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Obernolte — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Salas — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Cooley — Yea
Smith — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Diep — Yea
Chau — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Bloom — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Gray — Yea
Holden — Yea
Daly — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Nay
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia 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
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB681 Gonzalez By Umberg Urgency Clause

Passed 29 Yea · 11 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 19800
Democratic 10000
Republican 0300
Total 291100
% of votes cast 73%28%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Rubio — Yea
Monning — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Beall — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Hill — Yea
Roth — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Allen — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Hertzberg — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Pan — Yea
Moorlach — Nay
Borgeas — Nay
Bates — Nay
Morrell — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Wilk — Nay
Chang — Nay
Mark Stone — Nay
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended

Passed 5 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4100
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 5200
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Hill — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Nay
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 1000
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bates — Yea
Hill — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

AB 681 Gonzalez Third Reading Urgency

Passed 60 Yea · 16 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 381004
Democratic 22000
Republican 0600
Total 601604
% of votes cast 75%20%0%5%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Salas — Yea
Mayes — Yea
Frazier — Yea
Smith — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Chau — Yea
Gloria — Yea
Bloom — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Chiu — Yea
Gray — Yea
Holden — Yea
Daly — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Ting — Yea
Kamlager-Dove — Yea
Levine — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Low — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Burke — Yea
Cooper — Yea
Wood — Yea
Medina — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Chu — Yea
O'Donnell — Yea
Weber — Yea
Fong — Nay
Voepel — Nay
Kiley — Nay
Obernolte — Nay
Mathis — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Melendez — Nay
Cunningham — Nay
Waldron — Nay
Cooley — Not Voting
Diep — Not Voting
Brough — Not Voting
Cristina Garcia — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Not Voting
Jim Patterson — Nay
Luz Rivas — Yea
Mark Stone — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia 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
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy 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 as amended.

Passed 13 Yea · 4 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 6100
Unaffiliated 7301
Total 13401
% of votes cast 72%22%0%6%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Quirk — Yea
Chau — Yea
Brough — Nay
Obernolte — Nay
Bigelow — Nay
Diep — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Nay
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 681 do?
Existing law requires a voter to disclose a preference for a political party in order to participate in the political party's primary election. However, existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to request the ballot of a political party at a partisan primary election if the political party authorizes a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote the ballot of the political party at that partisan election. Existing law requires that information to be included in the voter registration card, the vote by mail ballot application, the state and county voter information guides, the internet websites of the Secretary of State and the county elections officials, and the nonpartisan vote by mail ballot that is sent to a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference. This bill would require a county elections official, between the 130th and 102nd day before a presidential primary election, to send each registered voter in the county a notice containing specified information, including the voter's current political party preference, the type of ballot the voter will be able to cast at the presidential primary election, and instructions on how the voter may change the voter's political party preference. The bill would require a county elections official, between the 99th and 71st day before a presidential primary election, to send each registered voter within the county who has declined to disclose a political party preference, and who has not requested the ballot of a political party, a second similar notice that also allows the voter to request a vote by mail ballot for a specified political party by signing and returning the notice. Existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to request the ballot of a political party that has authorized a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in its partisan primary election in the voter's vote by mail application, by telephone, over the internet if available, or by email or facsimile transmission if permitted by the county elections official. Existing law permits a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference and who has received a nonpartisan vote by mail ballot to, no later than 7 days before the date of the partisan primary election, return the unvoted ballot to the county elections official and receive the ballot for a political party, as specified. This bill would revise and clarify how a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference may request the ballot of a political party. The bill would require a county elections official to accept from a vote by mail voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference a request submitted by telephone, email, or facsimile transmission, as specified. The bill would permit an unvoted nonpartisan ballot to be returned in exchange for the ballot of a political party at any time before the close of the polls on election day. The bill would make other nonsubstantive conforming changes. Existing law requires a county elections official to accept affidavits of registration received on or before the 15th day before an election and to accept conditional voter registration affidavits received during the 14 days immediately preceding an election and on election day. Existing law establishes procedures for a voter to change the voter's residence address by executing a new affidavit of registration or a notice or letter of the change of address, or for a voter to change the voter's political party preference by executing a new affidavit of registration. This bill would permit a voter, from the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day, in lieu of executing a new affidavit of registration, to change the voter's residence address or political party preference by submitting to the voter's county elections official a written request containing the new residence address or political party preference and signed under penalty of perjury. The bill would require a ballot or provisional ballot to be provided to the voter, as specified, and would require the registration of the voter to be immediately updated. By imposing additional duties on local elections officials and expanding the scope of crimes, this 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so 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 AB 681?
AB 681 is sponsored by Gonzalez, Jeff (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 681?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 681?
Track AB 681 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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