To: The California State House, The California State Senate, and Governor Gavin Newsom
Require Tax Returns to Qualify for Ballot
No candidate will qualify for the elective ballot without providing their tax returns for public review: "Amends the Election Code. Provides that no candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States shall appear on the official ballot for the general election if that candidate has not released his or her tax returns at least 5 days prior to the date set for certification of the ballot for the general election. Defines "released his or her tax returns" to mean that the tax returns filed with the federal Internal Revenue Service for the 5 most recent years in which tax returns have been filed by the candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States have been filed with the Secretary of State. Requires the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on the Secretary of State's website and to certify that the tax returns have been filed to the State Board of Elections. Allows the Secretary of State to adopt rules to implement the provisions."
Why is this important?
Illinois has already passed this provision - it is time for other states to follow suit.