On June 3, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-67-20 that calls for an all Vote-By-Mail election for the November 3rd General Election. This means that all registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail in order to avoid long lines at polling places as we continue dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some key guidelines include:
- All ballots will use the Secretary of State’s vote-by-mail ballot tracking system using Intelligent Mail Barcodes.
- One polling place must be established per 10,000 registered voters from Saturday, October 31, 2020 through Monday, November 2, 2020 for at least eight hours during regular business hours each day; and that on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, the polling place must be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Vote-by-mail ballot drop-off locations must be made available from Tuesday, October 6, 2020 and continue during regular business hours each day through the close of voting on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Counties must have at least one vote-by-mail ballot drop-off location per 15,000 registered voters; and not less than two vote-by-mail ballot drop-off locations regardless of the number of registered voters.
- Counties must have at least one vote-by-mail ballot drop-off location available for at least twelve hours per day during regular hours between October 6, 2020 and Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
- Counties must open vote centers prior to Saturday, October 31, 2020 to maximize opportunities for voter participation.
Under newly approved state law, every active, registered voter in California should receive a ballot in the mail by 29 days before the Election. You may drop off your completed ballot in the mail (postage is now prepaid), at a ballot drop box, or any voting location in California. Ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day will be processed and counted by county elections officials as long as they arrive no later than 17 days after Election Day.
Californians can:
- Check their voter registration information at VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov
- Make updates to their registration at RegisterToVote.ca.gov
- Sign-up for ballot tracking at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov
For the latest information, go to the California Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections
