§ 15001 Election Vote Program Submission

This law requires that election computer vote count programs be sent to the Secretary of State before a deadline, kept securely for a while, and only used for specific checks like recounts or tests.

Key Takeaways

•Submit the vote‑count program by 5 p.m. seven days before the election.
•If the program is changed, resend it by noon on election day.
•The Secretary keeps the program for at least six months, then returns it; the county must keep it for 16 months.
•The stored program can only be used for recounts, court actions, or logic‑accuracy tests.
•The Secretary can force counties to submit the program, and any legal action must be filed in Sacramento County.

Example

A county wants to run a statewide election. They must send the vote-counting software to the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. seven days before the election. If they change the software after sending it, they must send the new version by noon on election day. The Secretary keeps the files for at least six months, then returns them, and the county must keep them for another 16 months. The files are only used if there is a recount, court case, or accuracy test.

The county follows the deadline, updates the program if needed, and the Secretary stores it safely. The stored program can later be pulled out to double‑check results or run logic tests, but it can't be used for anything else.

(a) A copy of each election computer vote count program for a statewide election or state special election to fill vacancies shall be deposited with the Secretary of State. The copy of the election computer vote count program shall be received by the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. on the seventh day before the election. (b) If the election computer vote count program is modified or altered after the submission specified in subdivision (a), the elections official immediately shall deposit the subsequent program no later than 12 p.m. on the day of the election. (c) The Secretary of State shall hold the deposited programs for a period of not less than six months, at which time the program shall be returned to the elections official. (1) The elections official shall preserve the returned program for a period of 16 months. (2) The programs deposited in accordance with this section shall be used only for a recanvass of the vote, an official recount, court action, or for logic and accuracy tests required by the Secretary of State. (3) Any tape, diskette, cartridge, or other magnetic or electronic storage medium containing the vote count program submitted pursuant to this section shall be maintained by the Secretary of State in a secure location when not in use for an official purpose specified in paragraph (2). (d) The Secretary of State may, by mandamus or other appropriate proceeding, require and compel the county elections officials to submit the computer vote count program specified in subdivision (a). Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 1999.)

This law requires that election computer vote count programs be sent to the Secretary of State before a deadline, kept securely for a while, and only used for specific checks like recounts or tests.

Key Takeaways

•Submit the vote‑count program by 5 p.m. seven days before the election.
•If the program is changed, resend it by noon on election day.
•The Secretary keeps the program for at least six months, then returns it; the county must keep it for 16 months.
•The stored program can only be used for recounts, court actions, or logic‑accuracy tests.
•The Secretary can force counties to submit the program, and any legal action must be filed in Sacramento County.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

§ 15001 Election Vote Program Submission

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References