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CaliforniaAB 9302025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Elections: domicile.

Sponsored By: Christopher Ward (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

More time for mail ballots to arrive

Mail ballots still must be returned by 8 p.m. on election day. But a ballot delivered by the Postal Service or an approved private carrier within seven days after election day counts if it was postmarked or time‑stamped by election day. If there is no usable postmark, the elections office date‑stamps the envelope on receipt, and it must be signed and dated by election day. An approved private carrier means a courier that regularly accepts items to deliver to the address on the item.

How recounts are run and timed

If you request a recount, you pick manual or machine for each voting system. If manual, and ballot images exist, you pick paper ballots or images; if anyone asks for paper, the paper count controls. You may set the order by precinct or by batch, and for multi‑county recounts, the county order. Recounts start within seven business days and run at least six hours each business day, after one day’s public notice to candidates and others. You can ask to review materials, but only officials and recount boards may handle ballots, and no images with personal data may be shared. Ballot challenges are decided by the elections official before the recount ends. If a contest is not fully recounted in every precinct (or statewide for statewide contests), that recount is void; changed precinct results become the official returns where counted.

Clear deadlines to request recounts

Any voter can ask for a recount after the canvass is done. File within five calendar days, no later than 5 p.m. on day five. For multi‑county contests, the five‑day window starts on the 31st day after the election and you can file in any affected county. For statewide recounts, file with the Secretary of State within five days starting on day 31, say which counties to recount, and on whose behalf. The Secretary of State sends the request to counties electronically, and counties must confirm they got it.

Recount results posted within one day

Within one day after a recount ends, the elections office posts the results in the office or on its website for 30 days. The office also notifies candidates, authorized presidential elector representatives, measure proponents or argument filers, and the Secretary of State for state or federal contests. The law replaces the old rule with this posting and notice requirement.

State repayment for local election costs

If the state mandates new election‑related costs, local agencies and school districts can get reimbursed. Payment follows existing Government Code procedures for state‑mandated costs.

Upfront deposits and costs for recounts

Before a recount starts and each day it continues, the requester must deposit enough money to cover that day’s costs. The county sets the amount. Money is refunded if the recount changes the outcome as defined in law, or if the deposit was more than the actual cost. The requester also pays for members of the four‑person special recount boards. If the elections official’s own office is being recounted, an experienced alternate officer is appointed to run the boards.

Some recount rules depend on AB 1513

A specific recount provision takes effect only if three things happen by January 1, 2026. Both this law and AB 1513 must be enacted and effective, both must amend the same recount section, and this law must be enacted after AB 1513. If all are true, one earlier section of this law does not take effect.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Christopher Ward

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 167 • No: 52

House vote • 9/9/2025

Item 233 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 59 • No: 19

Senate vote • 9/8/2025

Item 346 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 29 • No: 10

legislature vote • 7/1/2025

Vote in CS45

Yes: 4 • No: 1

House vote • 5/19/2025

Item 84 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 59 • No: 16

legislature vote • 5/14/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 11 • No: 4

legislature vote • 4/30/2025

Vote in CX04

Yes: 5 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 282, Statutes of 2025.

    10/3/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/3/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

    9/16/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 19. Page 3114.).

    9/9/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/8/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10. Page 2589.).

    9/8/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/2/2025Senate

  8. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    7/15/2025Senate

  10. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

    7/14/2025Senate

  11. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/1/2025Senate

  12. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

    6/16/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

    5/28/2025Senate

  14. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    5/20/2025Senate

  15. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 59. Noes 16. Page 1606.)

    5/19/2025House

  16. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/15/2025House

  17. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).

    5/14/2025House

  18. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    5/5/2025House

  19. Read second time and amended.

    5/1/2025House

  20. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 30).

    4/30/2025House

  21. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    4/22/2025House

  22. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

    4/21/2025House

  23. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    4/1/2025House

  24. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. Read second time and amended.

    3/28/2025House

  25. Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

    3/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/3/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/11/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    8/29/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    6/16/2025

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  • Amended Assembly

    5/1/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    4/21/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    3/28/2025

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  • Introduced

    2/19/2025

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