California Expands Mail-In Voting in Defiance of Opposition
- Governor orders ballot drop boxes open a month before election
- Newsom ties moves to coronavirus and social justice protests
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California Governor Gavin Newsom doubled down on his efforts to use mail-in voting for the presidential election despite Republican resistance, ordering counties to set up drop boxes for ballots nearly a month before election day to expand accessibility during the coronavirus pandemic.
In an executive order signed Wednesday, Newsom told county election officials to have drop boxes open to receive ballots on Oct. 6. Walk-in polling stations must open at least three days before the Nov. 3 election. And with virus cases still rising in California, each county must offer enough polling stations to ensure social distancing for the voters inside.