The votes of Californians who drop their ballots in mailboxes on Nov. 4 will not be counted due to U.S. Postal Service processing delays, state officers warned Thursday.
In lots of components of the state, a poll dropped within the mail is now collected the subsequent day, stated Atty. Normal Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber at a information occasion Thursday.
The change impacts voters who dwell 50 miles or extra from six regional mail processing services in Los Angeles, Bell Gardens, San Diego, Santa Clarita, Richmond and West Sacramento, in accordance with Bonta’s workplace.
Ballots that aren’t postmarked on or earlier than Election Day usually are not counted.
The big swaths of the state affected by the Postal Service modifications embody each rural and concrete areas comparable to Bakersfield, the Central Valley, the Central Coast, Palm Springs and extra.
The warning by state officers to drop off ballots sooner than Election Day marks a dramatic shift in California, the place mail-in voting has grow to be accessible and widespread. All registered voters in California obtain a vote-by-mail poll.
“If you would like your vote to depend, which I assume you do, since you’re placing it within the mail, don’t put it within the mail on Election Day in the event you’re 50 miles from these voting facilities,” Bonta stated.
Within the Nov. 4 particular election, California voters will determine on Proposition 50, championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and different Democrats to attempt to enhance their occasion’s numbers in Congress by redrawing district boundaries.
The proposal got here in response to a redistricting measure in Texas that seeks to extend the variety of congressional Republicans on the behest of President Trump.
Postal Service consultant Natashi Garvins stated in an e-mail that same-day postmarking has by no means been assured. Garvins stated that clients who desire a guide postmark ought to go to a Postal Service location and request one on the counter.
At Thursday’s information occasion, state officers unveiled a big map with six circles across the mail services. Communities situated outdoors the circles are affected by the postmarking change. The Secretary of State’s workplace wasn’t capable of present a determine for what number of registered voters are affected.
Elections skilled Paul Mitchell examined the map at The Instances’ request.
“That is going to be a major change for any voters who’re outdoors of those circles which have not too long ago voted by mail on election days,” stated Mitchell, who drew the proposed congressional districts that might be earlier than voters on Nov. 4.
Some municipalities have elections on the Nov. 4 poll along with Proposition 50, Mitchell famous.
A information launch from the U.S. Postal Service in February outlined a few of coverage modifications, which look like a part of a 10-year plan rolled out a number of years in the past.
The Postal Service isn’t funded by the federal government however does obtain some cash from Congress for sure providers.
Bonta on Thursday defended his determination to not instantly inform voters concerning the modifications, arguing that the announcement would have gotten misplaced within the information cycle.
“Now is an ideal time to inform folks about this,” stated Bonta. “That is the voting window. That is when individuals are enthusiastic about voting.”
Weber stated her workplace was solely knowledgeable “a few weeks in the past” concerning the modifications.
Ballots will exit to California registered voters beginning Oct. 6. Voters can mail ballots, drop them off at a poll field or take them to a vote heart.
Weber on Thursday additionally responded to questions on defective voter guides mailed to some voters, which mislabeled a congressional district represented by Rep. George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce) as District 22 reasonably than District 27.
Weber blamed the Legislative Analyst’s Workplace for the error and stated her workplace caught the error. About 8 million folks will obtain postcards informing them of the error, she stated, at a value to taxpayers of about $3 million to $4 million.
In the meantime, Newsom on Thursday signed a pair of payments that he stated will defend elections from undue affect.
Senate Invoice 398 by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Orange) makes it against the law to supply voters monetary funds or the prospect to win a prize in trade for casting a poll or registering to vote.
The brand new legislation exempts transportation incentives, comparable to rides to voting areas, or compensation supplied by a authorities company to vote.
The invoice was launched in response to Elon Musk’s America PAC asserting in 2024 that it could maintain a lottery in swing states for $1 million for many who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
The plan was extensively criticized as an effort to drive voter registration in favor of then-candidate Donald Trump.
SB 42, additionally by Umberg, locations a measure on the November 2026 poll asking voters whether or not the state ought to repeal its statewide ban on public financing of campaigns.
If voters approve, California might start contemplating methods the place taxpayer {dollars} assist fund candidates for public workplace, which supporters say diminishes the ability of rich donors to sway the result of races. Constitution cities are already permitted to have public financing packages, with Los Angeles, Lengthy Seashore and San Francisco amongst people who have chosen to take action.
Newsom stated the payments are a part of a broader push in California to safeguard democracy.
“Proper now, our founding beliefs and values are being shredded earlier than our eyes in Washington D.C., and California won’t sit idle,” Newsom stated. “These new legal guidelines additional defend Californians’ voices and civic participation in what makes our state and our nation nice.”
