Existing law requires the official canvass of all ballots received in an election to commence no later than the Thursday following the election and to continue daily, except on weekends and holidays, for not less than 6 hours each day until completed. Existing law requires elections officials to prepare a certified statement of the results of the election and submit that certified statement to the governing body of the jurisdiction within 30 days of the election. Existing law requires elections officials, within 31 days of the election, to send the Secretary of State a complete copy of all election results. Existing law requires elections officials, beginning no later than the Thursday following an election, to post updated election results on their internet website at least once per week until publication of the certified statement of results or until the only ballots left to count are vote by mail ballots for which a voter has the opportunity either to verify or provide their signature.
This bill would require elections officials to count all ballots and prepare the certified statement of the results of the election within 21 days of the election, and to send the Secretary of State a complete copy of all election results within 22 days of the election. The bill would require elections officials to count at least 25% of ballots by the 7th calendar day following the election and at least 67% of ballots by the 14th calendar day following the election. The bill would require elections officials to post updated election results on their internet website at least twice per week, and to provide, by no later than the close of polls on election day, the dates on which those updates will be posted. By increasing the duties of local elections officials, 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, 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.

Statutes affected:
AB 1214: 15301 ELEC, 15306 ELEC, 15372 ELEC, 15375 ELEC
02/21/25 - Introduced: 15301 ELEC, 15306 ELEC, 15372 ELEC, 15375 ELEC