(1) Existing law prohibits the name of a candidate for Governor from being printed on the ballot of the direct primary election unless the candidate, at least 98 days before the direct primary election, files with the Secretary of State copies of every income tax return the candidate filed with the Internal Revenue Service in the 5 most recent taxable years. Existing law requires the candidate to redact specified information from each submitted return. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to review the redacted copy of each tax return, and, if the Secretary of State determines that the candidate has redacted information other than that which is specified, to prepare a new version of the tax return with only the permitted redactions.
This bill would extend the deadline for a candidate to submit tax returns to 88 days before the direct primary election. The bill would instead require the Secretary of State to notify the candidate of deficiencies in redactions, as specified, and require the candidate to submit hard copies of returns with corrected redactions no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 78th day before the direct primary election. A candidate who does not timely submit corrected hard copies would not be qualified to have their name placed on the ballot of the direct primary election. The bill would make conforming changes.
(2) Existing law makes it a crime to conduct certain political activities, including electioneering, within 100 feet of a polling place, an election official's office, or a satellite voting location, as defined. Existing law defines electioneering as displaying visible or disseminating audible information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot in specified locations. Existing law makes it a crime to conduct certain activities that constitute corruption of the voting process, including certain activities within 100 feet of a polling place with the intent of dissuading another person from voting.
This bill would expand the prohibited activities to include obstructing ingress, egress, and parking, and specify that such activities are prohibited within 100 feet of (1) the entrance to a building that contains a polling place, an elections official's office, or satellite voting location, as defined, and (2) an outdoor site at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot. The bill would also prohibit a person from soliciting a vote, speaking to a voter about marking the voter's ballot, or disseminating visible or audible electioneering information in the immediate vicinity of a voter in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot, as further specified. The bill would require notice regarding prohibitions on electioneering and activity related to corruption of the voting process to be provided to the public. The bill would require the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations specifying the manner in which such notice would be given.
(3) Existing law imposes, for specified acts of interference with the placement, collection, or counting of ballots, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment for 16 months or 2 or 3 years, or both.
This bill would also impose this penalty on: (1) a person who displays a container for the purpose of collecting ballots, with the intent to deceive a voter into casting a ballot in an unofficial ballot box, and (2) a person who directs or solicits a voter to place a ballot in such a container.
Because this bill would change or expand the definition of certain crimes related to elections, it 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
SB35: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC
12/07/20 - Introduced: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC
02/24/21 - Amended Senate: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC
03/09/21 - Amended Senate: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
03/18/21 - Amended Senate: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
06/17/21 - Amended Assembly: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
07/15/21 - Amended Assembly: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
08/26/21 - Amended Assembly: 319.5 ELEC, 8902 ELEC, 8903 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
09/13/21 - Enrolled: 319.5 ELEC, 8902 ELEC, 8903 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
09/27/21 - Chaptered: 319.5 ELEC, 8902 ELEC, 8903 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC, 18568 ELEC
SB 35: 319.5 ELEC, 18370 ELEC, 18541 ELEC