AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 16, 2025

AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 24, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2025

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2025

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

95

Introduced by Assembly Member Ransom

February 21, 2025

An act to amend Section 2300 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires a Voter Bill of Rights to be printed in the state voter information guide and to be included on posters provided to each precinct. The Voter Bill of Rights informs voters, among other things, that they have the right to receive a new ballot if they made a mistake.

This bill would also require the Voter Bill of Rights to inform voters that they have the right to receive a new ballot if they do not have a ballot or their ballot has been damaged.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2300 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2300.

(a) All voters, pursuant to the California Constitution and this code, shall be citizens of the United States. There shall be a Voter Bill of Rights for voters, available to the public, which shall convey all of the following to voters:

(1) (A) You have the right to cast a ballot if you are a valid registered voter.

(B) A valid registered voter means a United States citizen who is a resident in this state, who is at least 18 years of age and not serving a state or federal prison term for conviction of a felony, and who is registered to vote at their current residence address.

(2) You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not listed on the voting rolls.

(3) You have the right to cast a ballot if you are present and in line at the polling place before the close of the polls.

(4) You have the right to cast a secret ballot free from intimidation.

(5) You have the right to request and receive a replacement ballot from a poll worker or your local elections official before the closing of the polls under the following circumstances:

(A) You do not have your ballot.

(B) Your ballot has been damaged.

(C) You made a mistake on your ballot and have not yet cast submitted it.

(6) You have the right to receive assistance in casting your ballot, if you are unable to vote without assistance.

(7) You have the right to return a completed vote by mail ballot to any precinct in the county.

(8) You have the right to election materials in another language, if there are sufficient residents in your precinct to warrant production.

(9) (A) You have the right to ask questions about election procedures and observe the election process.

(B) You have the right to ask questions of the precinct board and elections officials regarding election procedures and to receive an answer or be directed to the appropriate official for an answer. However, if persistent questioning disrupts the execution of their duties, the precinct board or elections officials may discontinue responding to questions.

(10) You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent activity to a local elections official or to the Secretary of State’s office.

(b) The Voter Bill of Rights shall include a toll-free telephone number to call if a person has been denied a voting right or to report election fraud or misconduct.

(c) The Secretary of State may do both of the following:

(1) Develop regulations to implement and clarify the Voter Bill of Rights set forth in subdivision (a).

(2) Revise the wording of the Voter Bill of Rights as necessary to ensure the use of clear and concise language free from technical terms.

(d) The Voter Bill of Rights set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be made available to the public before each election and on election day, at a minimum, as follows:

(1) The Voter Bill of Rights shall be printed in the state voter information guide, pursuant to Section 9084, in a minimum of 12-point type. Subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) may be printed in a smaller point type than the rest of the Voter Bill of Rights.

(2) Posters or other printed materials containing the Voter Bill of Rights shall be included in precinct supplies pursuant to Section 14105.