As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following definitions:
(a) “Bona fide association of citizens” means an organization or association that is organized by articles of incorporation, articles of organization, statement of organization, articles of association, partnership documents, bylaws, or any similar document.
(b) “Central counting site” means a location or locations where ballots are counted by the elections official.
(c) “County elections official” shall mean the county registrar of voters or county clerk.
(d) “County election observer panel member” means individuals, interested organizations, groups, and entities who have accepted an invitation from their county elections official to observe and provide feedback in an official capacity on the election process.
(e) “Election observer” means a person who observes the conduct of elections in California.
(f) “Elections official” shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section 320. As used in this Chapter, an elections official has decision making authority for election processes and activities.
(g) “Election worker” is a person who assists with the conducting of the election. An election worker includes poll workers, employees of the elections official, volunteers, and any other person designated or assigned by the elections official to assist in all processes necessary for conducting an election.
(h) “Observe” means to watch, view, listen, take notes, and ask questions.
(i) “Polling place” shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section 338.5, which includes vote centers, and shall also include any satellite office as provided in Elections Code section 3018.
(j) “Precinct board” shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section 339.
(k) “Precinct” shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section 338.6.
(l) “Sufficiently close” shall mean the distance determined by the elections official that enables an observer to observe and see the vote-by-mail identification envelopes and the signatures and dates, date stamps, or postmarks thereon and challenge whether those individuals handling vote by mail ballots are following established procedures, which includes all of the following:
(1) Verifying signatures on the vote by mail ballot return envelopes by comparing them to voter registration information.
(2) Duplicating accurately damaged or defective ballots.
(3) Securing vote by mail ballots to prevent tampering with them before they are counted on election day.
(m) “Vote-by-mail ballot processing” shall mean the activities set forth in Elections Code section 15101 and shall also include the activities set forth in Section 20873(c).
(n) “Voting equipment” as used in this Chapter shall include the following:
(1) “Ballot on demand system” as defined in Elections Code section 303.4,
(2) “Electronic poll book” as defined in Elections Code section 2550,
(3) “Vote tabulating device” as defined in Elections Code section 358,
(4) “Voting device” as defined in Elections Code section 360,
(5) “Voting machine” as defined in Elections Code section 361,
(6) “Voting system” as defined in Elections Code section 362, and
(o) “Voter list” shall have the same meaning set forth in Elections Code section 359.2.
