AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 17, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 2, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 11, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

95

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

January 8, 2026

An act to add and repeal Section 12325 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires a county elections official to divide each jurisdiction within the county into precincts and to appoint a precinct board for each precinct at least 29 days before an election within the jurisdiction. Any voter may apply to the county elections official for appointment as a precinct board member.

Until January 1, 2033, this bill would authorize a county elections official to propose, and a county board of supervisors to adopt, a system for each election in the county in which individuals are randomly selected to serve as precinct board members. The bill would make every registered voter who resides in the jurisdiction eligible to be selected, but would authorize an eligible person to be excused if the person is 70 years of age or older, or if the elections official determines the person is in ill health or has another good and sufficient reason. The bill would also authorize the elections official to disqualify a person from service if the elections official, in their discretion, deems the person unsuitable to serve. The bill would require an elections official to mail written notice to each person who is selected as a precinct board member at least 15 days before the reporting date designated by the elections official. On the reporting date, the person selected to serve would be required to report to the office of the elections official or another designated location to complete any informational forms and receive training, as provided.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 12325 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

12325.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for each election, a county may adopt a system in which individuals are randomly selected to serve as precinct board members.

(2) The elections official may develop and propose a plan for the random selection of precinct board members at the election. The plan shall be implemented only if it is approved by the county board of supervisors.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), every registered voter who resides in the jurisdiction is eligible to be selected to serve as a precinct board member pursuant to this section.

(2) A candidate for an office to be voted on at the election is not eligible to serve as a precinct board member pursuant to this section.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the elections official may disqualify a person who has been selected to serve as a precinct board member if the elections official, in their discretion, deems the person unsuitable to serve.

(2) An eligible person shall not be excluded from service as a precinct board member pursuant to this section on the basis of any characteristic identified in Section 11135 of the Government Code.

(d) (1) (A) An eligible person may be excused from service as a precinct board member pursuant to this section for ill health or another good and sufficient reason, as determined by the elections official.

(B) An eligible person who is 70 years of age or older may request to be excused from service as a precinct board member pursuant to this section.

(2) An elections official who administers a system for random selection of precinct board members pursuant to this section shall develop a form that a person who is selected may use to request to be excused from service pursuant to paragraph (1). The form shall be publicly available on the elections official’s internet website.

(e) (1) An elections official shall provide written notice to each person selected as a precinct board member pursuant to this section. The notice shall be mailed at least 15 days before the reporting date designated by the elections official for each election.

(2) On the reporting date designated in the notice, each person selected to serve as a precinct board member shall report to the office of the elections official or another location designated by the elections official to complete any informational forms and receive training regarding their duties. The training shall include any instruction deemed necessary by the elections official.

(3) Each person selected pursuant to this section shall serve for the duration of the election for which they are selected, unless they are excused pursuant to subdivision (d).

(f) The elections official shall assign the individuals selected pursuant to this section to precincts within the jurisdiction in which the election will occur. The assigned individuals shall constitute the precinct board for that precinct.

(g) (1) A precinct board member selected pursuant to this section shall receive compensation pursuant to Section 12310.

(2) Section 12945.8 of the Government Code applies to an employee who serves as a precinct board member pursuant to this section in the same manner as that section applies to an employee who takes time off to serve on a jury.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.