California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 1431: Elections.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 1431 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on March 5, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Elections. Primary sponsor: Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments. Most recent recorded action (August 27, 2026): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 161, Statutes of 2026.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
(1)Existing law requires an elections official to mail a ballot and ballot identification envelope to each active registered voter, including military and overseas voters, at specified times before an election. Existing law does not require a registered voter to request a vote by mail ballot to receive the ballot in this manner.
This bill would make conforming changes to require an elections official to send the ballot and related materials to each active registered military and overseas voter regardless of whether they apply for a vote by mail ballot.
(2)Existing law requires candidates for certain federal, state, and local offices to submit nomination papers to the county elections official with a specified number of signatures to appear on the ballot for the primary election. Under existing law, the number of signatures submitted must fall within a specified range, depending upon the office sought by the candidate or the number of voters in the state, county, or district where the election is to be held. If more than the maximum number of signatures is submitted, existing law permits the elections official to withdraw the excess number, as specified.
This bill would instead require the candidate to submit only a minimum number of signatures, as specified. The bill would repeal the provision permitting the elections official to withdraw an excess number of signatures. The bill would also permit the candidate to continuously submit signatures until the county elections official verifies that the requisite number of signatures has been submitted.
By establishing new procedures for local elections officials, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
Sponsors
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | Senate | — |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 161, Statutes of 2026.
- Approved by the Governor.
- Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
- In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
- Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6159.) Ordered to the Senate.
- Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
- From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.
- In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
- Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4168.) Ordered to the Assembly.
- Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.