SB1060

THE CONTEXT: All proceedings at the counting center are under the direction of the county board of supervisors or other officer in charge of elections and are conducted in accordance with the instructions and procedures manual. The proceedings at a counting center may be observed by representatives of each political party and the public.

WHAT THE BILL DID: Allows a candidate for federal office to designate a representative who may act as an observer at a counting center. Prescribes requirements relating to the conduct of party representatives, challengers and observers.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make election administration and accountability rules for federal candidates more definite. It would allows, during the general election, one representative for each candidate for federal office who is designated by the candidate to observe at a counting center, and would also stipulate that, if more than one candidate from each political party designates an observer at a counting center, a lottery must determine which candidate may send an observer, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.