(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations governing the manufacture, finishing, quality standards, distribution, and inventory control of ballot cards and ballot on demand systems.
(b) A ballot printer shall not manufacture or finish ballot cards, or manufacture unfinished ballot cards, for use in California elections, or accept or solicit orders for ballot cards or unfinished ballot cards, before certification as a ballot printer by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may impose conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.
(c) For commercial ballot manufacturers and finishers, the Secretary of State shall require a biennial inspection of the certified manufacturing, finishing, and storage facilities.
(d) Not later than five working days before the Secretary of State begins the initial inspection, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify or disclose to the Secretary of State in writing any known flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes. Once approved by the Secretary of State, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify the Secretary of State and the affected local elections officials in writing within 24 hours after it discovers any flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes.
(e) For purposes of this section, “ballot printer” means any company or jurisdiction that manufactures, finishes, or sells ballot cards, including test ballots, for use in an election conducted pursuant to this code.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 605, Sec. 3. (SB 1328) Effective September 25, 2024.)