SACRAMENTO— Today, Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) announced his Assembly Bill (AB) 1413 passed the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting unanimously. AB 1413 streamlines the election process to ensure that California's new "top two" primary election system is efficient and cost effective.
In February 2009, the Legislature approved Senate Constitutional Amendment 4, which was passed by the voters as Proposition 14 during the June 2010 statewide primary election. As a result, a "top two" primary election system in California for most elective state and federal offices was authorized. In March 2010, Assemblymember Paul Fong, Chair of the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee, held an oversight hearing on the impacts of the “top two” primary election system. Election officials testified with concerns about unnecessary ballot printing requirements and significant costs to implementing the “top two” primary election system.
“At an oversight hearing regarding the “top two” primary system, election officials expressed concerns about their ability to effectively and efficiently implement the system without changes to the law,” said Assemblymember Fong. “AB 1413 addresses those concerns and saves money so that election officials have the necessary tools to implement the first scheduled election using the “top two” primary system in a smooth and efficient manner.”
Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee and is a member of the Higher Education, Utilities and Commerce, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committees. In addition, Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Select Committees on High Technology and Climate Change and Coastal Protection and is a member of the Select Committees on Biotechnology, Career Technical Education and Workforce Development, Community Colleges, Government Efficiency, Technology and Innovation, Homelessness, Job Creation for the New Economy and Regional Strategies for the Green Economy. He represents Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose.
CONTACT: Bryan C. Singh, (916) 319-2022
