Confidentiality of voter information: cognitively impaired individuals.

Existing law permits an individual to seek confidential voter status and have their residence address, telephone number, and email address declared confidential upon presentation of certification that the person is a participant in among other programs, the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking program or the person satisfies other specified requirements. This bill would authorize an individual who holds power of attorney for an individual with a cognitive impairment to apply for confidential voter status on behalf of the individual with cognitive impairment. The bill would require the application to contain a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the individual for whom they hold power of attorney has a cognitive impairment. The bill would require the elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index, to exclude the voters with confidential voter status granted under these provisions. The bill would require the Secretary of State to submit to the Legislature, no later than January 10 of each year, a report that includes the total number of applications received for confidential voter status under these provisions. By increasing the duties of county elections officials with regard to confidential voter information and by expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.