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HomeElections CodeDiv. 2Ch. 2Art. 4§ 2154 Missing Information Presumptions

§ 2154 Missing Information Presumptions

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 2154 Missing Information Presumptions

Key Takeaways

  • •If you don't write your middle name on a voter form, it's like you don't have one.
  • •If you don't pick a political party on the form, you'll be marked as 'No Party Preference'.
  • •If you forget to write the date you signed the form, they'll assume you signed it on time if they get it by the deadline.
  • •If you write 'United States' as your birthplace but don't say which state, they'll assume you were born in a U.S. state or territory.

Example

You fill out a voter registration form but forget to write the date you signed it.

As long as the elections office gets your form by the deadline (15 days before the election), they'll assume you signed it on time.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 2154 Missing Information Presumptions

In the event that the county elections official receives an affidavit of registration, executed under penalty of perjury, that does not include portions of the information for which space is provided, the county elections official shall apply the following rebuttable presumptions: (a) If no middle name or initial is shown, it shall be presumed that none exists. (b) If no party preference is shown, it shall be presumed that the affiant has declined to disclose a party preference. The county elections official shall designate the affiant’s party preference as “Unknown” on a roster under Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) and the affiant shall otherwise be treated as a “No Party Preference” voter. (c) If no execution date is shown, it shall be presumed that the affidavit was executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election, provided that (1) the affidavit is received by the county elections official on or before the 15th day before the election, or (2) the affidavit is postmarked on or before the 15th day before the election and received by mail by the county elections official. (d) If the affiant fails to identify his or her state of birth within the United States, it shall be presumed that the affiant was born in a state or territory of the United States if the birthplace of the affiant is shown as “United States,” “U.S.A.,” or other recognizable term designating the United States. The affiant’s failure to furnish his or her place of birth shall not preclude his or her affidavit of registration from being deemed complete. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 10. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

affidavit of registrationrebuttable presumptionsNo Party Preferenceexecution datecounty elections official

Related Statutes

  • § 2153 Voter Registration Affidavit Requirements
  • § 2160 Provisional Ballot Registration
  • § 18103 Voter Registration Interference
  • § 18106 Voter Affidavit Tampering Penalty
  • § 2102 Voter Registration Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 2154.
View Official Source