Assembly BillChaptered/SignedElections
AB 2785: Elections: redistricting information.
What AB 2785 does, verified September 29, 2026
<p>The bill amends section 21000 of the Elections Code to enhance redistricting processes. It allows county elections officials to provide compiled information and data to designated representatives of the legislature rather than just the legislature itself. The bill also mandates that each county elections official supply a master street index file for identifying precincts by address. Additionally, it requires the establishment of a secure electronic process for submitting this information between county officials and legislative designees or the Secretary of State. Election returns are to be kept confidential under the new provisions.</p> <p>The bill imposes additional duties on county elections officials and includes findings that justify limiting public access to certain data due to confidentiality concerns, aligning with constitutional requirements.</p>
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
✓Second ChamberComplete
✓GovernorComplete
6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 642, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-27)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions27 total · showing 5
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 642, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6485.). |
| Aug. 24, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 27, 2026 · 1,524 words
Assembly Bill No. 2785
CHAPTER 642
An act to amend Sections 15375 and 21000 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2785, Committee on Elections. Elections: redistricting information.
Proposition 11, which was approved by the voters at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission and requires the commission to adjust the boundary lines of State Senate and Assembly districts. Proposition 11 also requires the Legislature to ensure that a complete and accurate computerized database is available for redistricting, and that the public is given access to redistricting data. Existing law requires each county elections official to compile and make available to the Legislature any information and statistics that may be necessary for use in connection with the reapportionment of legislative districts, including precinct maps and election returns for each precinct.
This bill would provide that the information and data compiled by county elections officials may be provided to any appropriate designee of the Legislature. The bill would require each county elections official to also provide a master street index file that may be used to identify the associated precinct for a given street address in the county. The bill would require the Legislature or an appropriate designee, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, to establish a secure electronic process for county elections officials to submit the information and data. The bill would make the complete, unredacted election returns for each precinct confidential, as provided. By requiring county elections officials to perform additional duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Within 31 days of an election, upon completion of the official canvass, county elections officials are required to send a complete copy of the election results to the Secretary of State.
This bill would require county elections officials to include with the results reported to the Secretary of State the complete, unredacted election returns for each election precinct reflecting the number of registered voters and the vote total for all ballots cast. The bill would require the Secretary of State, upon request, to provide those election returns to the Legislature for any county for which the Legislature has not received the election returns through the secure electronic process described above.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 15375 of the Elections Code is amended to read:15375.
(a) The elections official shall send to the Secretary of State within 31 days of the election in an electronic format in the manner requested one complete copy of all results as to each of the following:(1) All candidates voted for statewide office.
(2) All candidates voted for the following offices:
(A) Member of the State Assembly.
(B) Member of the State Senate.
(C) Member of the United States House of Representatives.
(D) Member of the State Board of Equalization.
(E) Justice of the Court of Appeal.
(F) Judge of the superior court.
(3) All persons voted for at the presidential primary. The results for all persons voted for at the presidential primary for delegates to national conventions shall be canvassed and shall be sent within 28 days after the election.
(4) The vote given for persons for electors of President and Vice President of the United States. The results for presidential electors shall be endorsed “Presidential Election Returns” and shall be canvassed and sent within 28 days after the election.
(5) All statewide measures.
(6) The total number of ballots cast.
(b) The results provided by the elections official to the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include complete, unredacted election returns for each election precinct reflecting the number of registered voters and the vote total for all ballots cast, including both the number of ballots cast by mail ballots and the number of ballots cast at polling places.
(c) The duties imposed on elections officials pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) are ministerial and nondiscretionary.
SEC. 2.
Section 21000 of the Elections Code is amended to read:21000.
(a) The county elections official in each county shall compile and make available to the Legislature or any appropriate designee of the Legislature any information and data that may be necessary for use in connection with redistricting, including for the preparation of a complete and accurate computerized database for redistricting in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 8253 of the Government Code. This information shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) Precinct maps for both registration and election precincts indicating the boundaries of incorporated cities, wards or city council districts, school districts, judicial districts, Assembly districts, senatorial districts, congressional districts, State Board of Equalization districts, and county supervisorial districts.
(2) The complete, unredacted election returns for each election precinct reflecting the number of registered voters and the vote total for all ballots cast, including both the number of ballots cast by mail ballots and the number of ballots cast at polling places, compiled pursuant to Section 15321 in the county at each statewide election.
(3) A master street index file that may be used to identify the associated precinct for a given street address in the county.
(b) If the Legislature or the appropriate designee of the Legislature has not received the complete, unredacted election returns from a county for an election in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the Secretary of State shall provide a copy of elections returns sent by that county pursuant to Section 15375 to the Legislature or its designee upon request.
(c) The Legislature or any appropriate designee of the Legislature, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, shall take all steps necessary to establish a secure electronic process that allows county elections officials to submit the information and data required pursuant to subdivision (a). This process shall include safeguards to protect the security and integrity of the submitted information. Precinct maps submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in geographic information system format, and election returns shall be submitted in comma-separated values files or tab-separated values files. Other information and data submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in an open format that is machine-readable.
(d) (1) The complete, unredacted election returns for each precinct provided in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be received and maintained on a confidential basis and protected from public disclosure, including disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code) and the Legislative Open Records Act (Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 9070) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(2) Election returns received pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be publicly posted or publicly disclosed for any contest from a precinct in which fewer than 10 voters cast ballots at an election. Information that is publicly disclosed about the election returns from a precinct in which fewer than 10 voters cast ballots may include the total number of people who voted at the precinct and a breakdown of the number of people who voted by political party preference.
SEC. 3.
The Legislature finds and declares that Section 2 of this act, which amends Section 21000 of the Elections Code, imposes a limitation on the public’s right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect a person’s right to cast a secret ballot under Section 7 of Article II of the California Constitution, while also gathering data necessary for the preparation of a complete and accurate computerized database for redistricting as required by subdivision (b) of Section 8253 of the Government Code, it is necessary that election results remain confidential for precincts in which a small number of voters cast ballots at an election.
SEC. 4.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.Text of AB 2785 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions