Section § 2183

Explanation

This law requires election officials to provide up-to-date copies of voter rosters for all county elections, and upon request, for city, school district, or other local elections. These rosters must exclude the names of voters who are no longer registered.

The county may charge a fee to cover the costs of providing these rosters. Each roster includes the name, address, phone number (if provided), and political party preference of voters, along with a space for noting the line number of each voter. Names can include personal titles like "Miss" or "Mr." if the voter chooses.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2183(a) The elections official shall supply an electronic copy, or paper copy upon request, of the roster and of supplements to the roster, necessary to bring it up to date, for all elections to be held within the county. The county elections official shall also supply copies of the roster and supplements as may be requested by the elections official of a city, school district, or other body. The name of each voter whose affidavit of registration has been canceled shall be removed from the roster and supplement. The county elections official may charge an amount sufficient to reimburse the county for the expense incurred in preparing and furnishing the roster and supplements.
(b)Copy CA Elections Code § 2183(b)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 2183(b)(1) The roster shall contain the name, address, residence telephone number if furnished, and political party preference of each voter, and also a ruled space to the left of each name, within which to write, in figures, the line number designating the position of the name of the voter.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2183(b)(2) The name shall include the given name and the middle name or initials, if any. At the affiant’s option, the given name may be preceded by the designation “Miss,” “Ms.,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.”

Section § 2184

Explanation

This law allows certain individuals and campaign committees to request a list of voters from county elections officials for a fee. Specifically, Members of the Legislature, Congress, or any candidates voting in a county, city, or political subdivision can request these rosters. The roster can also be requested by committees that support or oppose ballot measures, referendums, or initiative measures. The cost for this list is fifty cents per thousand names, and the money collected goes to the county's general fund.

Upon request of any Member of the Legislature, of Congress, or any candidate who is to be voted for in the county, in a city therein, or in a political subdivision of either, or upon written demand of his or her campaign committee, of any committee for or against any proposed ballot measure, or of any committee for or against any referendum or initiative measure for which legal publication has been made, the county elections official shall furnish to the Member of the Legislature, of Congress, or to either the candidate or his or her campaign committee or to the ballot measure committee the roster for the primary and general elections in which the Member of the Legislature or Congress may participate as a candidate, or for the election in which the candidate will participate, or the ballot measure will be voted upon, at a charge of fifty cents ($0.50) per thousand names. All moneys collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the general fund.

Section § 2185

Explanation

This law requires county election officials to provide party central committees with the rosters of voters for primary, general, and certain special elections. These rosters are provided for free and can be given in electronic or paper format, as requested by the committee chairs.

Upon written request of the chair or vice chair of a party state central committee or of the chair of a party county central committee, the county elections official shall furnish to each committee, without charge therefor, the roster for the primary and general elections, for any special election at which a partisan office is to be filled, or for any statewide special election. The county elections official shall furnish one copy per election in an electronic form, or in paper form upon request, of the rosters specified in this section.

Section § 2187

Explanation

This law requires county elections officials to give the Secretary of State precise details about voter registration numbers. They must report the total number of voters, along with details about their political party preferences, or lack thereof, in various political areas like districts and cities. The Secretary of State must then put together a statewide report from this data and make it accessible to any voter who asks for it. Reports from counties are due at specific times before and around primary and general elections, and one additional report is due every odd-numbered year. The Secretary of State can set more reporting times as needed, but there can't be more than 12 in a year.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2187(a) Each county elections official shall provide notice to the Secretary of State that the following information is available:
(1)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(1) The total number of voters in the county.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(2) The number registered as preferring each qualified political party.
(3)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(3) The number registered as preferring nonqualified parties.
(4)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(4) The number registered without choosing a political party preference.
(5)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5) The number of voters by political party preferences in each of the following political subdivisions, located in whole or in part within the county:
(A)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(A) A supervisorial district.
(B)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(B) Congressional district.
(C)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(C) Senate district.
(D)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(D) Assembly district.
(E)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(E) Board of Equalization district.
(F)CA Elections Code § 2187(a)(5)(F) Cities and unincorporated areas.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2187(b) The Secretary of State, within 30 days after receiving the information specified in subdivision (a), shall compile a statewide list showing the number of voters, by party preferences, in the state and in each county, city, supervisorial district, Assembly district, Senate district, and congressional district in the state. A copy of this list shall be made available, upon request, to any elector in this state.
(c)CA Elections Code § 2187(c) The county elections officials shall prepare the information referenced in subdivision (a) and provide notice to the Secretary of State at the following times:
(1)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(1) On the 135th day before each presidential primary and before each direct primary, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 154th day before the primary election.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(2) Not less than 50 days before the primary election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 60th day before the primary election.
(3)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(3) Not less than seven days before the primary election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 15th day before the primary election.
(4)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(4) Not less than 102 days before each presidential general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 123rd day before the presidential general election.
(5)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(5) Not less than 50 days before the general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 60th day before the general election.
(6)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(6) Not less than seven days before the general election, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on the 15th day before the general election.
(7)CA Elections Code § 2187(c)(7) On or before March 1 of each odd-numbered year, with respect to all voters who are registered voters on February 10.
(d)CA Elections Code § 2187(d) The Secretary of State may adopt regulations prescribing additional regular reporting times, except that the total number of reporting times in any one calendar year shall not exceed 12.

Section § 2188

Explanation

This law outlines the process for applying to access voter registration information in California. It requires applicants to submit a form with their full name, addresses, phone number, driver's license or ID number, the specific data they want, and why they need it. If someone else is making the request for another party, they must also include details about that party. The applicant's ID will be checked to verify the information, and they must sign a declaration under penalty of perjury. Applications are kept on file for five years. This rule doesn't apply to requests from election officials for electoral or governmental purposes.

The Secretary of State can require additional information on these applications. Counties are restricted from providing voter data for areas outside their boundaries.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2188(a) Any application for voter registration information available pursuant to law and maintained by the Secretary of State or by the elections official of any county shall be made pursuant to this section.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2188(b) The application shall set forth all of the following:
(1)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(1) The printed or typed name of the applicant in full.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(2) The complete residence address and complete business address of the applicant, giving street and number. If no street or number exists, a postal mailing address as well as an adequate designation sufficient to readily ascertain the location.
(3)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(3) The telephone number of the applicant, if one exists.
(4)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(4) The number of the applicant’s driver’s license, state identification card, or other identification approved by the Secretary of State if the applicant does not have a driver’s license or state identification card.
(5)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(5) The specific information requested.
(6)CA Elections Code § 2188(b)(6) A statement of the intended use of the information requested.
(c)CA Elections Code § 2188(c) If the application is on behalf of a person other than the applicant, the applicant shall, in addition to the information required by subdivision (b), set forth all of the following:
(1)CA Elections Code § 2188(c)(1) The name of the person, organization, company, committee, association, or group requesting the voter registration information, including their complete mailing address and telephone number.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2188(c)(2) The name of the person authorizing or requesting the applicant to obtain the voter registration information.
(d)CA Elections Code § 2188(d) The elections official shall request the applicant to display his or her identification for purposes of verifying that identifying numbers of the identification document match those written by the applicant on the application form.
(e)CA Elections Code § 2188(e) The applicant shall certify to the truth and correctness of the content of the application, under penalty of perjury, with the signature of his or her name at length, including given name, middle name or initial, or initial and middle name. The applicant shall state the date and place of execution of the declaration.
(f)CA Elections Code § 2188(f) Completed applications for voter registration information shall be retained by the elections official for five years from the date of application.
(g)CA Elections Code § 2188(g) This section shall not apply to requests for information by elections officials for election purposes or by other public agencies for governmental purposes.
(h)CA Elections Code § 2188(h) The Secretary of State may prescribe additional information to be included in the application for voter registration information.
(i)CA Elections Code § 2188(i) A county may not provide information for any political subdivision that is not wholly or partially contained within that county.

Section § 2188.1

Explanation

This law allows the Secretary of State in California to add fake voter names into the voter registration database. The purpose is to help find and prevent any misuse of voter registration information.

The Secretary of State may insert fictitious names of voters into the voter registration information database as an investigative and enforcement tool for determining inappropriate or unauthorized uses of voter registration information.

Section § 2188.2

Explanation

This section states that the Secretary of State must create rules on how to properly store and secure voter registration information. Additionally, they can require people to complete a free training course on data security before they receive this information.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2188.2(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations that describe the best practices for storage and security of voter registration information received by an applicant pursuant to Section 2188.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2188.2(b) The Secretary of State may require an applicant to take a training course regarding data security as a condition for the receipt of voter registration information if that course is made available to the applicant at no cost to the applicant.

Section § 2188.3

Explanation

If someone or an organization gets voter registration data and there's a security breach, they must promptly tell the Secretary of State about it as soon as possible, without dragging their feet.

A person or entity who has received voter registration information pursuant to an application made under Section 2188 shall, following discovery or notification of a breach in the security of the storage of the information, disclose the breach in security to the Secretary of State. The disclosure shall be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay.

Section § 2188.5

Explanation

This law says that if someone gets voter information or petition signatures in California, they can't send that information outside the United States or share it electronically with anyone outside the U.S. This rule also applies if someone is accessing that information over the internet. 'United States' in this context includes all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2188.5(a) A person who requests voter information pursuant to Section 2188 or who obtains signatures or other information collected for an initiative, referendum, political party qualification, or recall petition shall not send that information outside of the United States or make it available in any way electronically to persons outside the United States, including, but not limited to, access over the Internet.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2188.5(b) For purposes of this section, “United States” includes each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

Section § 2189

Explanation

Before the polls open on election day, the county elections official must give each precinct board at least one updated roster of voters for that polling place. This roster should show any canceled names and include any recent updates.

Before the first day of the opening of the polls for any election held throughout the county, the county elections official shall deliver to the precinct board in each precinct at least one printed or electronic copy of the roster for that polling place, with canceled names lined out or otherwise indicated and with necessary supplements to bring the roster up to date.

Section § 2191

Explanation

This law says that if someone asks, election officials must create a list of voters, organized by area, who have voted in past elections. The list should be made when updating voter registration files to remove inactive voters. The information included in this list must meet certain requirements outlined in another part of the law.

People like candidates or committees can request this voter information in writing. They will be informed if the list includes vote by mail history. There might be a cost involved, but it can't be more than what it costs to copy the information.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2191(a) Upon request, the elections official shall compile a voter list or file, by precinct, of all persons who voted in previous elections. This information shall be compiled in conjunction with the purge of voter registration files conducted pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220) of Chapter 3.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2191(b) Information compiled pursuant to this section shall include the information that is required to appear in the index as set forth in Section 2183.
(c)CA Elections Code § 2191(c) Any person, candidate, or committee who is entitled to obtain a copy of any information contained in this article shall, upon written request to the elections official, be entitled to obtain the voter list or file compiled pursuant to this section. The elections official shall inform any recipient of this information whether the voter list or file includes a voting history of vote by mail voters. The elections official may require the payment of a fee not to exceed the cost of duplicating the information as a condition to furnishing the information contained in this section.

Section § 2193

Explanation

This law requires the Secretary of State to check for and identify potential duplicate voter registrations using information provided by county election officials. If duplicates are found, they must be combined, and the registration with the most recent date will become the active record for that voter.

The Secretary of State shall, from the information furnished by the county elections officials pursuant to Section 2187, identify possible duplicate voter registrations. Those voter registrations determined to be duplicates shall be merged and the voter registration bearing the most recent date shall be the active record for that voter.

Section § 2194

Explanation

This law covers how voter registration information in California is handled to protect privacy. The information can't be used for personal or commercial purposes like harassment or marketing and is kept confidential from public viewing at election offices except in certain circumstances. The law allows some authorized entities, like candidates and government officials, to access the information for election-related purposes. Important personal data such as driver's license, ID numbers, social security numbers, and voter signatures are strictly confidential. Home addresses or signatures can only be released during specific challenges of a person's vote. No civil liability arises from disclosure unless there is gross negligence or willfulness. 'Voter’s household' includes people living at or using the voter's address. If a vote-by-mail ballot's signature doesn't match the one on record, this information is also kept confidential but can be shared with authorized individuals or entities.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2194(a) Except as provided in Section 2194.1, the affidavit of voter registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code:
(1)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(1) Shall be confidential and shall not appear on any computer terminal, list, affidavit, duplicate affidavit, or other medium routinely available to the public at the county elections official’s office.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(2) Shall not be used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to:
(A)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(2)(A) The harassment of any voter or voter’s household.
(B)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(2)(B) The advertising, solicitation, sale, or marketing of products or services to any voter or voter’s household.
(C)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(2)(C) Reproduction in print, broadcast visual or audio, or display on the internet or any computer terminal unless pursuant to paragraph (3).
(3)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(3) Shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions of Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, and 2188, to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State.
(4)CA Elections Code § 2194(a)(4) May be used by the Secretary of State for the purpose of educating voters pursuant to Section 12173 of the Government Code.
(b)Copy CA Elections Code § 2194(b)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 2194(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the California driver’s license number, the California identification card number, the social security number, and any other unique identifier used by the State of California for purposes of voter identification shown on the affidavit of voter registration of a registered voter, or added to voter registration records to comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), are confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2194(b)(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the signature of the voter shown on the affidavit of voter registration or an image thereof is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, except as provided in subdivision (c).
(c)Copy CA Elections Code § 2194(c)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 2194(c)(1) The home address or signature of any voter shall be released whenever the person’s vote is challenged pursuant to Sections 15105 to 15108, inclusive, or Article 3 (commencing with Section 14240) of Chapter 3 of Division 14. The address or signature shall be released only to the challenger, to elections officials, and to other persons as necessary to make, defend against, or adjudicate the challenge.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2194(c)(2) An elections official shall permit a person to view the signature of a voter for the purpose of determining whether the signature compares with a signature on an affidavit of registration or an image thereof or a petition, but shall not permit a signature to be copied.
(d)CA Elections Code § 2194(d) A governmental entity, or officer or employee thereof, shall not be held civilly liable as a result of disclosure of the information referred to in this section, unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.
(e)CA Elections Code § 2194(e) For the purposes of this section, “voter’s household” is defined as the voter’s place of residence or mailing address or any persons who reside at the place of residence or use the mailing address as supplied on the affidavit of registration pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2150.
(f)CA Elections Code § 2194(f) Notwithstanding any other law, information regarding voters who did not sign a vote by mail ballot identification envelope or whose signature on the vote by mail ballot identification envelope did not compare with the voter’s signature on file shall be treated as confidential voter registration information pursuant to this section and Section 7924.000 of the Government Code. This information shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions of Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, and 2188, to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State, but otherwise shall not be disclosed to any person. Any disclosure of this information shall be accompanied by a notice to the recipient regarding Sections 18109 and 18540. Voter information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be updated daily, include the name of the voter, and be provided in a searchable electronic format.

Section § 2194.1

Explanation

This law states that voter registration records become open to the public 100 years after they were created. If these records are in large volumes that include multiple years, they must be 100 years old before they can be made public.

Any affidavit of registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code in existence 100 years after the creation of the record shall be available to the public. If records are contained in the great registers of voters and the bound register contains information covering more than one year, the records shall not be available to the public until the entire contents of the register have been recorded for at least 100 years.