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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 4Art. 1§ 15305 Unprocessed Ballot Reporting Requirements

§ 15305 Unprocessed Ballot Reporting Requirements

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

§ 15305 Unprocessed Ballot Reporting Requirements

This law makes election officials tell the Secretary of State how many ballots still haven’t been counted, first two days after the election and then again each time they update the results until everything is finished.

Key Takeaways

  • •An “unprocessed ballot” is any ballot that’s been cast but not yet counted.
  • •On the second day after the election, officials must send an initial estimate of those ballots to the Secretary of State.
  • •Starting on the sixth day, they must send a new estimate every time they publicly release updated results, and one last report when the count is finished.

Example

After a city council election, the county clerk sends a report on day 2 saying there are about 5,000 ballots still waiting to be counted. Six days later, when the first batch of results is posted, the clerk sends another estimate, and keeps sending updates each time new numbers are released until the last ballot is counted.

The clerk is following the rule by giving the Secretary of State an early guess of uncounted ballots, then updating that guess whenever new results are shared, and finally sending a final update when the count is done.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15305 Unprocessed Ballot Reporting Requirements

(a) For purposes of this section, “unprocessed ballot” means a voted polling place ballot, voted vote by mail ballot, voted provisional ballot, or voted conditional registration ballot that has not yet been counted or processed for counting. (b) On the second day after the election, an elections official shall send to the Secretary of State an initial report containing the estimated number of outstanding unprocessed ballots. (c) Commencing on the sixth day after the election, an elections official shall, on any day that the elections official publicly releases updated election results, send to the Secretary of State a report on the estimated number of outstanding unprocessed ballots. The report shall be submitted to the Secretary of State in the form and manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, and the last report shall be delivered upon the completion of the official canvass. (Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 91, Sec. 1. (AB 566) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

unprocessed ballotelections officialSecretary of Stateofficial canvass

Related Statutes

  • § 11301 Petition Signature Examination Rules
  • § 12309 Precinct Inspector Training Requirements
  • § 11302 Recall Election After Vacancy
  • § 11303 Recall Petition Signature Withdrawal
  • § 12300 Precinct Board Member Application

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15305.
View Official Source