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HomeElections CodeDiv. 3Ch. 1§ 3011 Voter Ballot Envelope Requirements

§ 3011 Voter Ballot Envelope Requirements

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

§ 3011 Voter Ballot Envelope Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •You must sign the envelope yourself for your mail-in ballot to count.
  • •The envelope must have your address and a promise that you live where you say you do.
  • •Voting twice in the same election is a crime.
  • •Someone else can return your ballot, but they don’t have to sign the envelope for it to count.

Example

You fill out your mail-in ballot and ask your neighbor to drop it off at the polling place.

You must sign the envelope yourself, and your neighbor doesn’t have to sign it for your vote to count. If you forget to sign, your vote won’t be counted.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3011 Voter Ballot Envelope Requirements

(a) The identification envelope shall contain all of the following: (1) A declaration, under penalty of perjury, stating that the voter resides within the precinct in which the voter is voting and is the person whose name appears on the envelope. (2) The signature of the voter. (3) The residence address of the voter as shown on the affidavit of registration. (4) The date of signing. (5) A notice that the envelope contains an official ballot and is to be opened only by the canvassing board. (6) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that voting twice constitutes a crime. (7) A warning plainly stamped or printed on it that the voter must sign the envelope in the voter’s own handwriting in order for the ballot to be counted. (8) A statement that the voter has neither voted nor intends to vote a ballot from any other jurisdiction for the same election. (9) The name and signature of the person authorized by the voter to return the vote by mail ballot pursuant to Section 3017. (b) Except at a primary election for partisan office, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the voter’s party preference may not be stamped or printed on the identification envelope. (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (9) of subdivision (a), a ballot shall not be disqualified solely because the person authorized to return it did not provide on the identification envelope their name or signature. (d) County elections officials may continue to use existing supplies prior to printing new identification envelopes that reflect the changes made to this section by the act adding this subdivision. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 12. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

identificationregistrationcrimepenaltyresidenceelectiondeclarationstatement

Related Statutes

  • § 8600 Write-In Candidate Requirements
  • § 11043 Petition Signer Information Requirements
  • § 8040 Candidate Declaration Form
  • § 8041 Nomination Paper Form
  • § 8081 Nomination Signature Verification

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 3011.
View Official Source