Chapter 5Facsimile Copies of Ballots

Section § 13400

Explanation

If you vote by mail in California and need a ballot in a different language, you can ask to get a facsimile (copy) of it in your preferred language. This is possible if your precinct requires such copies. You can request it via regular mail, email, phone, or online, and you need to do this at least seven days before election day. Instructions on how to make this request are available in your county voter information guide and online.

Your county elections office must prepare and process these facsimile requests no later than 10 days before election day. If your request is made 10 days or more before election day, they will process it by then. Importantly, elections officials can provide these facsimile copies more widely or earlier if they choose.

(a)CA Elections Code § 13400(a) A vote by mail voter may request that a facsimile copy of his or her ballot in the language of his or her preference be sent to him or her by regular mail or electronic mail if the voter lives in a precinct that requires a facsimile copy of the ballot in that language pursuant to Section 14201. The county elections officer shall provide instructions to vote by mail voters in the county voter information guide and on the county elections Internet Web site on how to request a facsimile copy of a ballot, in all languages that the county is required to provide facsimile copies of ballots. A vote by mail voter may request a facsimile copy of a ballot by telephone, mail, online, or when requesting a vote by mail ballot from the county no later than seven days before election day.
(b)CA Elections Code § 13400(b) The county elections official shall prepare the requested facsimile copies described in subdivision (a) no later than 10 days before election day. Requests received by the county elections official 10 days or more before election day shall be processed by the 10th day prior to election day.
(c)CA Elections Code § 13400(c) This section does not limit an elections official from distributing facsimile copies of the ballot more widely than as required by subdivision (a) or earlier than required by subdivision (b).
vote by mail facsimile ballot language preference county elections officer election day voter guide precinct language requirements ballot request deadlines county elections website multilingual voter services ballot distribution facsimile request procedure mail ballots voter instructions
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 845, Sec. 7. (AB 918) Effective January 1, 2018.)