AB 330

Currently, an elector who casts an absentee ballot must make and subscribe to

a certificate before one witness who must be an adult U.S. citizen. The certificate

affirms the elector's residency and voting eligibility and affirms that the ballot is

voted in secret.

This bill permits any elector who is a "military elector" or an "overseas elector"

and who certifies to that fact to vote an absentee ballot without obtaining a witness.

Current law defines a "military elector" as: 1) a member of a uniformed service; 2)

a member of the merchant marine of the United States; 3) a civilian employee of the

United States or civilian officially attached to a uniformed service who is serving

outside the United States; 4) a peace corps volunteer; or 5) a spouse or dependent of

any of those listed in the above categories residing with or accompanying him or her.

An individual who is not a civilian employee of the United States need not be located

outside the United States to be considered a "military elector." Current law also

defines an "overseas elector" as a U.S. citizen: 1) who is not disqualified from voting;

2) who has attained or will attain the age of 18 by the date of an election at which the

citizen proposes to vote and who does not qualify as a resident of this state, but who

was last domiciled in this state or whose parent was last domiciled in this state

immediately prior to the parent's departure from the United States; and 3) who is not

registered to vote or voting in any other state, territory, or possession.

The bill also deletes a requirement that every absentee voter must certify that

he or she is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place for his or her residence

on election day or has changed his or her residence within the state within ten days

of the election and, if a city resident, must certify the aldermanic district in which

he or she resides and replaces it with a requirement that every absentee elector must

certify that he or she is eligible to vote absentee.