Assemblyman Essayli Introduces First Bill to Clean Up Elections
SACRAMENTO, Calif., December 5, 2022 – Today, Assemblyman Bill Essayli was sworn in to represent the people of the 63rd Assembly District in the California State Legislature. As his first official act, Asm. Essayli introduced Assembly Bill 13 to clean up our elections.
“It is has been 27 days since Election Day and yet there are two legislative races yet to be called, denying the people of those districts a voice in their government. Elections should not take weeks or months or certify — it is wrong, and we can fix it,” remarked Assemblyman Bill Essayli.
“My bill, AB 13, will reform vote by mail, ensuring only those who request an absentee ballot in the mail receive one. It will return us to a system of in-person voting on Election Day as we have always done. To ensure every California will have the opportunity to vote, my bill would make Election Day a holiday. It will also ban the practice of ballot harvesting, which is currently illegal in most other states. These reforms will strengthen the integrity of our elections while ensuring the will of the voters is timely and accurately represented,” Asm. Essayli added.
A recent poll found that voters thought that “making sure that there is no cheating in elections” was more important than “making it easier to for everyone to vote” by a margin of 62% to 36%.
Assemblyman Bill Essayli brings with him to the Legislature a career of public service as a former state and federal prosecutor. Asm. Essayli is also a small business owner and practicing attorney.
AB 13 now awaits referral by the Assembly Rules Committee and will receive its first policy committee hearing in the new year.
Assemblyman Bill Essayli represents the 63rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the whole cities of Norco, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Canyon Lake, as well as portions of the cities of Eastvale, Riverside, and Corona.