SACRAMENTO— Today, Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) announced his Assembly Bill (AB) 1413 was signed by the Governor. 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 (SCA) 4, which was passed by the voters as Proposition 14 at 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, the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Paul Fong, 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.
“When the Legislature approved SCA 4, which was then passed by the voters which enacted the ‘top two’ primary, elections officials expressed their concerns of the cost and ability to efficiently implement the system,” said Assemblymember Fong. “AB 1413 will save California taxpayers millions of dollars and ensure that election officials can hold the first scheduled election using the “top two” primary.”
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
