Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, California voters will not be forced into choosing between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health and that of their loved ones, because California elections officials are rising to the challenge.
We will mail every active registered voter a vote-by-mail ballot in advance of the November election. That means voters will be able to vote from the comfort and safety of their own home. Sadly, misinformation is circulating about the integrity of vote-by-mail. As California’s Chief Elections Officer, I want to set the record straight: vote-by-mail is proven, secure, and the safest option for voters this year.
It starts with the actual ballots. Ballot printing vendors must be certified before they can do work for California elections offices. Vote-by-mail ballots use specific paper types and watermarks to prevent forgery and fabrication.
Once ballots are cast, there are several safeguards in place to protect election integrity. Each vote-by-mail ballot return envelope has a unique barcode that elections officials utilize to ensure a voter has not already cast a ballot. Voters are also required to sign the vote-by-mail ballot return envelope. This signature is compared to the signature on file in the voter’s registration record. If a signature is missing or does not match the registration record, elections officials will attempt to contact the voter to resolve the issue.
This year we’re adding more transparency to vote-by-mail by expanding “Where’s My Ballot,” a ballot tracking tool for voters statewide. Voters can sign up to receive automated notifications by text message, email, or voice call on the status of their ballot through the mail delivery process, similar to tracking a package for purchases made online. For voters, this provides peace of mind when receiving confirmation that their ballot was received and counted. For election administrators and the Postal Service, this represents a powerful tool in identifying delays in ballot delivery and return.
Sending every registered voter a vote-by-mail ballot does not mean this is an all vote-by-mail-only election. Voters will have multiple options for how to return their ballot. They can return their ballot by mail (return postage is prepaid!), deliver their ballot to any secure drop box in their county, deliver it in person to any vote center or polling place, or designate a person they trust to return the ballot for them.
From the beginning, we were committed to providing more options to vote safely, not less. Counties will still establish as many in-person opportunities to vote as feasible, both on and before Election Day. Counties will implement physical distancing and other public health measures along with supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to all voting locations.
Voting is our most fundamental right in our democracy. Sadly, there are forces disseminating election misinformation to discourage voters from participating. Thankfully, state and county election offices are hard at work to provide you with official, reliable information about the elections and multiple safe opportunities to vote, beginning with vote-by-mail.
I encourage voters to do their part. Do not wait to update your registration and make a plan to vote early. More Californians voting early, by mail or in-person, will mean shorter lines, smaller crowds, and a safer experience at the polls.
Alex Padilla is California’s secretary of state.
"do it" - Google News
August 16, 2020 at 06:00PM
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Vote by mail: Yes, we can do it securely in California - San Francisco Chronicle
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