SB1360 - Elections: translation of election materials.

Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2026 Amended IN Assembly August 13, 2026 Amended IN Senate April 14, 2026 Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1360 Introduced by Senator Cervantes (Coauthor: Senator Rubio) (Coauthors: Senators Rubio and Wahab) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Fong, Garcia, and Nguyen) Nguyen, and Pellerin) February 20, 2026 An act to amend Sections 2103, 2158, 2201, 2265, 2406, 2408, 4005, 4008, 9054, 12303, 13107, 13209, 13211.7, 13307, 14105.3, 14111, 14200, 14201, 14219, 14282, and 19101 of, and to add Sections 14034 and 14035 to, and to repeal Section 14032 of, the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1360, as amended, Cervantes. Elections: translation of election materials. The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 requires a state or political subdivision in which more than 5% of voting-age citizens, or more than 10,000 voting-age citizens, are members of a single language minority and limited-English proficient to provide certain election materials, including ballots, in the language of the applicable language minority group. Existing state law requires the Secretary of State to determine for each county and precinct whether it is appropriate to provide facsimile copies of the ballot and other election materials in languages other than English. If the Secretary of State determines the number of voting age residents in a county or precinct who are members of a single language minority, and who lack sufficient skills in English to vote without assistance, is 3% or more of the voting-age residents of the county or precinct, county elections officials must provide facsimile ballots and other election materials in the applicable language. This bill would require the Secretary of State, on or before December 15, 2027, 2031, and on or before December 15 in every year ending in 1 or 7 thereafter, to identify the counties where at least 10,000 voting age citizens, or 5% of voting age citizens, are limited English proficient and either members of a single language minority group or speak a shared language. The bill would require the elections official in an identified political subdivision to provide translated election materials in any language that meets those criteria or, for an election occurring before December 15, 2027, 2031, in any language in which the political subdivision is required to provide language assistance under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, within a specified period of time. The elections official would be required to translate, among other things, all official and sample ballots, voter registration forms, and election notices and instructions. The elections official would also be required to have a sufficient number of bilingual election workers to provide language assistance to any voter who needs it. If the Secretary of State or another state agency provides election-related forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or services in an identified political subdivision, the bill would require the Secretary of State or other state agency to translate the materials or services into any language that meets the criteria within that political subdivision. The Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill would also authorize the Secretary of State to require a political subdivision to provide translated election materials in any language that does not meet the above-described criteria, if interested citizens or entities provide the Secretary of State with a preponderance of evidence that a language group that has not been determined by the Secretary of State to meet meets any of the above-described criteria in fact meets one or more of those criteria. criteria. The bill would also make various conforming changes. By increasing the duties of local elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 13307 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 715 to be operative only if this bill and SB 715 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) California has the nation’s highest proportion of households, over 43 percent, that speak a language other than English at home; over 3 million eligible California voters, more than 12 percent of the state electorate, self-identify as limited-English proficient; and translated election materials are crucial to reducing barriers to voting. The Legislature further finds that studies of language assistance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Elections Code have found a correlation between the availability of translated election materials and an increase in voter participation. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, be encouraged to vote and enabled to vote independently and with full understanding of the voting materials provided to them. Election materials should be clear and easy to understand, and should help voters comprehend the contests, measures, instructions, and procedures necessary to cast an informed ballot. Therefore, appropriate efforts should be made on a statewide basis to minimize language-related obstacles to voting by providing language assistance to limited English proficient voters. SEC. 2. Section 2103 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2103. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the election board of each county, in order to promote and encourage voter registrations, shall establish a sufficient number of registration places throughout the county, and outside the county courthouse, for the convenience of persons desiring to register, to the end that registration may be maintained at a high level. (b) It is also the intent of the Legislature that county elections officials, in order to promote and encourage voter registrations, shall enlist the support and cooperation of interested citizens and organizations in such a way as to reach most effectively every resident of the county. (c) It is also the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote. Therefore, appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to registration by citizens who lack sufficient skill in English to register without assistance. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that county elections officials be permitted to distribute affidavits of registration and voter registration cards, in all languages required by Section 14035, or Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, by using the county’s internet website. SEC. 3. Section 2158 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2158. County elections officials shall do all of the following: (a) Provide voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 for the registration of voters at their office and in a sufficient number of locations throughout the county for the convenience of persons desiring to register, to the end that registration may be maintained at a high level. The cards shall be available in all languages required by Section 14035, or Section 203 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503) or Section 4(f)(4) (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10303(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. (b) Provide voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 in sufficient quantities to any individuals or organizations that wish to distribute the cards other than to persons who have been convicted of violating this section within the last five years. Individuals and organizations shall be permitted to distribute voter registration cards anywhere within the county. (1) An individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 shall obtain the voter registration cards from the county elections official or the Secretary of State. The individual or organization shall comply with all applicable regulations established by the Secretary of State when distributing the cards. (2) If, after completing their voter registration card, an elector entrusts it to another person, the latter shall sign and date the attached, numbered receipt indicating their address and telephone number, if any, and give the receipt to the elector. Failure to comply with this paragraph shall not cause the invalidation of the registration of a voter. (3) An individual or organization that distributes voter registration cards designed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2157 shall give a voter registration card to any elector requesting it, provided that the individual or organization has a sufficient number of cards. (4) If distribution of voter registration cards pursuant to this subdivision is undertaken by mailing cards to persons who have not requested the cards, the person mailing the cards shall enclose a cover letter or other notice with each card instructing the recipients to disregard the cards if they are currently registered voters. (c) Mail a voter registration card immediately to a person who wishes to register to vote and requests a voter registration card. SEC. 4. Section 2201 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2201. (a) The county elections official shall cancel the registration in the following cases: (1) At the signed, written request of the person registered. (2) When the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established as provided in Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, and 2211. The county elections office shall use only information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2211.5 to cancel a voter registration for this reason. (3) Upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned for conviction of a felony. The county elections office shall use only information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2212, by a United States District Court, or by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to cancel a voter registration for this reason. (4) Upon the production of a certified copy of a judgment directing the cancellation to be made. (5) Upon the death of the person registered. (6) Pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2220). (7) Upon official notification that the voter is registered to vote in another state. (8) Upon proof that the person is otherwise ineligible to vote. (b) The Secretary of State may cancel the registration in the following cases: (1) When the mental incompetency of the person registered is legally established as provided in Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, and 2211. (2) Upon proof that the person is presently imprisoned for the conviction of a felony. (3) Upon the death of the person registered. (c) (1) Between 15 and 30 days, inclusive, before canceling a person’s registration for the reasons specified in paragraph (2), (3), (5), or (6) of subdivision (a), the county elections official shall send a forwardable notice by first-class mail, including a postage-paid and preaddressed return form, to the voter. (A) The forwardable notice shall be provided in the person’s preferred language if the county is required to provide translated ballots in that language pursuant to Section 14035 or Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503). (B) The notice shall include a statement substantially similar to the following: “IMPORTANT NOTICE. Your voter registration record is scheduled to be canceled on [date]. This cancellation is due to information the [county name] County elections office has received indicating your ineligibility to vote in that county due to a change of residence, death, prison commitment or mental incapacity to vote pursuant to Sections 2208, 2209, 2210, or 2211 of the California Elections Code, as applicable. If you believe this cancellation is in error, please notify our office within 15 days from the date of this notice either by returning the attached postage-paid postcard or by calling [county elections office phone number] toll free. If we do not receive your response to this notice, you may be required to reregister to vote in the next election or to vote using a provisional ballot. You can find more information about voter eligibility rules on the Secretary of State’s internet website at [URL] or voter hotline at [phone numbers]. You can also check your current registration status at [URL].” (2) The preaddressed return form described in paragraph (1) shall include all of the following: (A) Space for the voter to provide their current place of residence. (B) Space for the voter to provide their current mailing address, if different from the place of residence. (C) A box next to a statement substantially similar to the following: “The cancellation of my voter record is in error because I have not been deemed mentally incompetent to vote by a court of law, I am not currently serving a state or federal prison term, and I have not died. Additionally, if I have moved, I have provided my new residential address on this form.” (D) Space for the voter to provide their signature and the date. (3) The elections official may send additional written notices to a voter, and may also notify the voter in person, by telephone or email, or by other means of the planned registration cancellation. SEC. 5. Section 2265 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 2265. (a) (1) The department, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish a schedule and method for the department to electronically provide to the Secretary of State the records specified in this section. (2) The department and the Secretary of State shall develop and enter into an interagency agreement specifying how the department and the Secretary of State will cooperate to fulfill the requirements of this chapter. The agreement shall be updated as necessary, and the current version of the agreement shall be published on the internet website of the Secretary of State, except those parts of the agreement for which publication would compromise security. (b) (1) The department shall provide to the Secretary [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]