(a)
Notwithstanding Sections 13300 and 13303, a county elections official may elect not to mail a sample ballot to a voter if all of the following are satisfied:
(1)
The voter is one of the following:
(A)
A permanent vote by mail voter pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 3200) of Division 3.
(B)
A voter in a mail ballot election conducted pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 4000).
(C)
A voter in a precinct in which an election is conducted pursuant to Section 3005.
(2)
The county elections official prepares and mails to each voter a voter information guide. The voter information guide shall include all of the information required to be included in, and shall be accompanied by all the election materials required to accompany, the sample ballot, except for both of the following:
(A)
An application for a vote by mail ballot.
(B)
A notice that a vote by mail ballot application is enclosed.
(3)
The voter is furnished with an official ballot pursuant to Section 3005 or 3010.
(b)
Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 13303, for each voter to whom the elections official elects not to mail a sample ballot pursuant to subdivision (a), the elections official may cause to be printed
one less copy of the sample ballot.
(c)
If a county elections official elects not to mail a sample ballot to a voter pursuant to this section, the elections official shall use any savings achieved to offset the costs associated with establishing a free access system for vote by mail ballots pursuant to Section 3019.5 before the savings may be used for any other purpose.