Bill > AB1040

This bill amends California's Elections Code to clarify voting residency rules for individuals displaced by natural disasters. Currently, existing law defines a person's voting "residence" or "domicile" as the place where they have a fixed habitation and intend to return, even if temporarily absent. The bill specifically adds a provision that explicitly states a person who leaves their home due to a natural disaster and intends to return to that home or another address within the same jurisdiction will not lose their domicile (voting residence). Additionally, the bill updates the language to use gender-neutral terms like "the person" instead of "his or her." This means that individuals who are temporarily relocated because of wildfires, floods, earthquakes, or other natural disasters can maintain their voting registration and rights in their original jurisdiction, providing stability and continuity for voters during challenging times. The bill ensures that a temporary displacement caused by a natural disaster will not disenfranchise voters or disrupt their electoral participation.

Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1040