AP16:059
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2016
CONTACT:
Sam Mahood (916) 653-6575
Governor Brown Signs Bill to Provide Additional Election Funding
Additional Resources for Staffing and Administering Primary Election
SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation to provide the Secretary of State and county elections offices additional funding to administer the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election.
AB 120, authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, received bipartisan support in the State Senate (36-0) and State Assembly (73-0).
“I thank Governor Brown and the Legislature for recognizing the unique nature of the 2016 election cycle and working so quickly to provide critical funding to county elections officials,” Secretary of State Padilla said. “County elections officials must not only prepare for a surge in voter turnout, they also have to verify a massive number of signatures for ballot measure initiative petitions. This funding will help ensure counties can conduct smooth and successful Presidential Primary Elections.”
AB 120 provides an additional $16,288,000 to all 58 California counties. This funding will help cover costs associated with conducting the June 7, Presidential Primary Election while simultaneously completing statewide initiative signature verifications. $115,000 of the total funding will be provided to the Secretary of State’s office for elections costs—including hiring more phone interpreters for the voter hotline and conducting polling place observations in all 58 California counties.
“Voter interest is climbing, and elections officials need to be prepared,” Padilla added.
Earlier this month Secretary of State Padilla reached out to Governor Brown, legislative leaders, and county elections officials in anticipation of a surge in voter turnout in the June 7, Presidential Primary Election. AB 120 is a direct result of these discussions.
In a memo last month, the Secretary of State urged county elections officials to “ensure each polling place has a sufficient number of ballots on hand to manage the anticipated increase in turnout that has been observed in other states.”
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