Special mail ballot elections: San Diego County.

Existing law provides for the calling of a special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy. Under existing law, the governing body of a local agency is authorized to conduct a local, special, or consolidated election wholly by mail under specified conditions. This bill would, until January 1, 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election or special consolidated election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy under specified conditions. The bill would also authorize the county to process vote by mail ballot return envelopes beginning 29 days before the election, and would authorize the county to process vote by mail ballots on the 10th business day before the election, as specified. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature that voter education and outreach efforts be conducted in order to assist voters accustomed to voting at the polls if an all-mailed ballot election is conducted, as specified. The bill would require the county to submit a report to the Legislature and to the Secretary of State that includes specified statistics related to any all-mailed ballot election conducted under the pilot program, as specified. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of San Diego.