Section 19204.

Prior to giving its decision approving or withholding approval of any voting machine, voting device, or vote tabulating device, the Secretary of State shall hold a public hearing to give persons interested an opportunity to express their views for or against the machine or device.

The Secretary of State shall give notice of the hearing in the manner prescribed in Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation published in Sacramento County. The Secretary of State shall also transmit written notice of the hearing, at least 30 days prior to the hearing, to each county elections official, to any person that the Secretary of State believes will be interested in the hearing, and to any person who requests, in writing, notice of the hearing.

The decision of the Secretary of State, either approving or withholding approval of a voting machine, voting device, or vote tabulating device, shall be in writing and shall state the findings of the secretary. The decision shall be open to public inspection.

(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)