(a) No later than June 30, 2005, the Secretary of State shall adopt uniform standards for the training of precinct board members, based upon the recommendations of the task force appointed pursuant to subdivision (b). The uniform standards shall, at a minimum, address the following:
(1) The rights of voters, including, but not limited to, language access rights for linguistic minorities, the disabled, and protected classes as referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.).
(2) Election challenge procedures such as challenging precinct administrator misconduct, fraud, bribery, or discriminatory voting procedures as referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.).
(3) Operation of a jurisdiction’s voting system, including, but not limited to, modernized voting systems, touch-screen voting, and proper tabulation procedures.
(4) Poll hours and procedures concerning the opening and closing of polling locations on election day. Procedures shall be developed that, notwithstanding long lines or delays at a polling location, ensure all eligible voters who arrive at the polling location before closing time are allowed to cast a ballot.
(5) Relevant election laws and any other subjects that will assist an inspector in carrying out his or her duties.
(6) Cultural competency, including, but not limited to, having adequate knowledge of diverse cultures, including languages, that may be encountered by a poll worker during the course of an election, and the appropriate skills to work with the electorate.
(7) Knowledge regarding issues confronting voters who have disabilities, including, but not limited to, access barriers and the need for reasonable accommodations.
(8) Procedures involved with provisional, fail-safe provisional, vote by mail, and provisional vote by mail voting.
(b) The Secretary of State shall appoint a task force of at least 12 members who have experience in the administration of elections and other relevant backgrounds to study and recommend uniform guidelines for the training of precinct board members. The task force shall consist of the chief elections officer of the two largest counties, the two smallest counties, and two county elections officers selected by the Secretary of State, or their designees. The Secretary of State shall appoint at least six other members who have elections expertise, or their designees, including members of community-based organizations that may include citizens familiar with different ethnic, cultural, and disabled populations to ensure that the task force is representative of the state’s diverse electorate. The task force shall make its recommendations available for public review and comment before the submission of the recommendations to the Secretary of State and the Legislature.
(c) The task force shall file its recommendations with the Secretary of State and the Legislature no later than January 1, 2005.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 119. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018