SECTIONS 2135-2143 - California Statutes

ELECTIONS CODE

SECTION 2135-2143

2135. The county elections official shall provide voter
registration forms for use in registration by deputy registrars of
voters. The voter registration forms shall be bound into books or
pads. The affidavits included in the voter registration forms shall
be numbered and shall have a stub attached as prescribed by Section
2160.
Each affidavit and stub shall bear the same number. The numbering
shall begin with one and continue in a sequence until all of the
blanks provided are numbered. The numbering shall begin anew with
each 1,000,000 affidavits of registration numbered pursuant to this
section. Each set of numbers shall be designated alphabetically as a
series, beginning with series A, following the first 1,000,000.

2136. Each deputy registrar of voters shall be issued a receipt by
the county elections official for all books or pads issued,
specifying the numbers of the affidavits received. The deputy is
responsible for them until they are returned to the county elections
official.

2137. When any elector is registered, his or her name, residence,
and residence telephone number, if furnished, shall be entered on the
stub attached to the original affidavit. If for any cause the
affidavit is spoiled in the course of execution or a mistake is made,
the affidavit shall not be destroyed, but the name of the elector
for whom it was intended, with his or her residence, shall be entered
on the stub as in other cases, and the stubs and affidavits each
marked with the word "spoiled."

2138. Individuals and organizations distributing voter registration
cards pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158 and who receive
completed voter registration cards from voters shall return the
completed cards to the county elections official or shall deposit the
cards in the postal service within three days, excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and state holidays, of receipt from a voter.

2138.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an affiant's
driver's license number, identification card number, and social
security number, contained on an affidavit of registration or voter
registration card, are confidential and shall not be disclosed by an
individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards
pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158, or by any person
entrusted with an affidavit of registration from an elector pursuant
to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2158. However, this
section shall not be construed to prohibit a person entrusted with an
affidavit of registration from an elector pursuant to paragraph (1)
of subdivision (b) of Section 2158 from returning that affidavit to
the person or organization that distributed the voter registration
card pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 2158.

2139. On the day of the close of registration for any election all
deputy registrars of voters or individuals and organizations that
have submitted plans for distribution shall immediately return all
completed affidavits of registration in their possession to the
county elections official. Unused affidavits shall be returned upon
completion of the distribution plan.

2140. The county elections official shall report to the district
attorney of the county, under oath, the name of any deputy registrar
of voters who has not complied with this article.

2141. If the county elections official deems a duplicate file of
voter registration cards to be necessary for administrative purposes,
the county elections official may prepare, upon the receipt in his
or her office of each original affidavit of registration, a
reproduction thereof in compliance with the following conditions:
(a) The affidavit is photographed, microphotographed, or
reproduced in a manner approved for permanent records by the National
Bureau of Standards.
(b) The device used to reproduce the affidavit is one that
accurately reproduces the original thereof in all details.
(c) The photographs, microphotographs, or other reproductions are
placed in conveniently accessible files and provision is made for
preserving, examining, and using the same.
Wherever in this code the term duplicate affidavit is used it
shall be deemed to include the reproduced affidavit authorized by
this section.
Any signature comparison required by this code may be made against
these duplicates.

2142. (a) If the county elections official refuses to register any
qualified elector in the county, the elector may proceed by action in
the superior court to compel his or her registration. In an action
under this section, as many persons may join as plaintiffs as have
causes of action.
(b) If the county elections official has not registered any
qualified elector who claims to have registered to vote through the
Department of Motor Vehicles or any other public agency designated as
a voter registration agency pursuant to the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973gg), the elector may
proceed by action in the superior court to compel his or her
registration. In an action under this section, as many persons may
join as plaintiffs as have causes of action.
(c) No fee shall be charged by the clerk of the court for services
rendered in an action under this section.

2143. Costs shall not be recovered against the county elections
official in any action under this chapter, unless it is alleged in
the complaint, and established on the trial, that the county
elections official knowingly and willfully violated his or her duty.