Ballot Access News

On July 14, a California bill to require that initiative, referendum and recall petitioners must wear buttons was amended. The bill originally required volunteers to wear a badge saying “volunteer circulator” but now the bill does not require volunteers to wear any badge. As amended, the bill still requires paid circulators to wear a badge saying “paid circulator.”

The bill was originally written to apply to all petitioners, because the U.S. Constitution protects the right of people to be paid to circulate petitions. The bill originally covered every circulator, because of the principle that people can’t be penalized for exercising constitutional rights. Now that the bill has been amended, it may be unconstitutional because it treats different types of petitioner differently.

On July 14, the California legislature passed AB 461, which says that write-ins are valid even if the voter forgot, or didn’t know, to “X” the box next to the name written in. The legislature had passed a similar bill several years ago, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had vetoed it.

Write-ins are still important in California primaries, and for non-partisan elections, and for President.

On June 14, the California Senate passed AB 80 by 34-3. It eliminates the February presidential primary, and instead combines the presidential primary with the primary for other office, in June. The bill saves a great deal of money for election administration. Thanks to Josh Putnam of Frontloading HQ for this news. The bill now goes to the Governor.