(1) Existing law requires the Secretary of State to prepare a state voter information guide that includes, among other things, a complete copy of each state measure, the Voter Bill of Rights, and information on candidates for the office of United States Senator and the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, as specified. Existing law requires county elections officials to prepare a county voter information guide that contains, among other things, a substantial facsimile of the official ballot.
This bill would conform provisions in the Political Reform Act of 1974 that currently refer to the ballot pamphlet or sample ballot to instead refer to the state voter information guide or county voter information guide, respectively.
(2) The Political Reform Act of 1974 authorizes a candidate for elective state, county, or city office to raise contributions for a general election before the primary election, and for a special general election before a special primary election, for the same office under specified conditions. If the candidate is defeated in the primary election or special primary election, or otherwise withdraws from the general election or special general election, the act requires the candidate to refund the general election or special general election funds, as specified.
Existing law, for purposes of these provisions, specifies that a candidate who does not file a declaration of candidacy to qualify for a primary election or special primary election is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions, and that such a candidate may transfer these funds to a committee for the same or a different office as specified.
This bill would instead provide that a candidate is not required to refund the general election or special general election contributions and may transfer these funds, as specified above, if the candidate's name has not been listed on the ballot at a primary election or special primary election, and the candidate has not qualified to have write-in votes cast on their behalf, as specified.
(3) This bill would also correct certain cross-references to federal law.
The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements.
This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Statutes affected:
AB 1511: 81001 GOV, 81002 GOV, 85318 GOV, 85600 GOV, 85601 GOV, 88000 GOV, 88001 GOV, 88002 GOV, 88002.5 GOV, 88003 GOV, 88004 GOV, 88005 GOV, 88006 GOV, 88007 GOV
03/10/25 - Introduced: 81001 GOV, 81002 GOV, 85318 GOV, 85600 GOV, 85601 GOV, 88000 GOV, 88001 GOV, 88002 GOV, 88002.5 GOV, 88003 GOV, 88004 GOV, 88005 GOV, 88006 GOV, 88007 GOV
05/01/25 - Amended Assembly: 81001 GOV, 81002 GOV, 84217 GOV, 84217 GOV, 84222 GOV, 84222 GOV, 85318 GOV, 85600 GOV, 85601 GOV, 88000 GOV, 88001 GOV, 88002 GOV, 88002.5 GOV, 88003 GOV, 88004 GOV, 88005 GOV, 88006 GOV, 88007 GOV