Assembly Member Alanis's proposal to revise California's vote-by-mail ballot processing requirements would mandate that elections officials begin processing ballots on the day they are mailed to voters, replacing the current system that permits jurisdictions to start processing up to 29 days before an election. The bill maintains existing prohibitions on releasing vote counts before polls close on election day.

The legislation outlines specific requirements for ballot processing transparency and observation. Elections officials must provide 48-hour advance notice of processing activities to the public and designated observers, including members of the county grand jury and representatives from political parties with candidates on the ballot. These observers would be permitted to monitor signature verification, ballot duplication, and security measures, while being prohibited from interfering with or handling ballots directly.

Under the bill's provisions, local agencies would receive state reimbursement for any additional costs incurred from implementing the new processing timeline and observation requirements, as determined by the Commission on State Mandates. This reimbursement aligns with California Constitutional requirements regarding state-mandated local programs.