CALIFORNIA
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
CALIFORNIA
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
WHERE CALIFORNIA STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
WHERE CALIFORNIA STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
NOV. 2020 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot (TEMPORARILY Statewide, Permanent for 15 Counties)
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits (OPTIONAL/PILOT)
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Absentee ballot application
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers (SOME COUNTIES)
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
✔️ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (TEMPORARY)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
SEPT. 2021 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits (OPTIONAL/PILOT)
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Absentee ballot application
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers (SOME COUNTIES)
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
✔️ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
NOV. 2020 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot (TEMPORARILY Statewide, Permanent for 15 Counties)
✔️ No excuse required
✔️ Permanent absentee voting list
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
❌ Risk Limiting Audits (OPTIONAL/PILOT)
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Absentee ballot application
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers (SOME COUNTIES)
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
✔️ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking (TEMPORARY)
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing (TEMPORARY)
SEPT. 2021 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
❌ Data integrity & security features
❌ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
❌ Risk Limiting Audits (OPTIONAL/PILOT)
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Absentee ballot application
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers (SOME COUNTIES)
✔️ Early voting
✔️ Prepaid postage
✔️ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
OPPORTUNITIES
Data Integrity
With a drastic increase in mail ballots, California has a great opportunity to reach for the gold standard of post-election security by expanding risk-limiting audits from optional to statewide. California should also become a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which would help them ensure their voter roll data is accurate.
Timelines & Admin Issues
California allows ballot pre-processing for all counties that either administer all-mail elections or have the computer capability to pre-process. While this is a great start, the State should also ensure that all counties have the computer capacity to conduct this important electoral process, which would facilitate universal pre-processing.
OPPORTUNITIES
Data Integrity
With a drastic increase in mail ballots, California has a great opportunity to reach for the gold standard of post-election security by expanding risk-limiting audits from optional to statewide. California should also become a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which would help them ensure their voter roll data is accurate.
Timelines & Admin Issues
California allows ballot pre-processing for all counties that either administer all-mail elections or have the computer capability to pre-process. While this is a great start, the State should also ensure that all counties have the computer capacity to conduct this important electoral process, which would facilitate universal pre-processing.
RECENT LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA
As of Sept. 29, 2021
The 2016 California’s Voter’s Choice Act allowed counties to transition fully to Vote By Mail (sending all voters a ballot) and required all counties to provide greater ballot return options. This policy eased the State’s 2020 transition to statewide Vote By Mail. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislature acted swiftly to speed up California’s transition. By passing AB 860, the Legislature made all counties send all voters mail ballots for the 2020 general election. Foreseeing the massive increase in mail ballots, the law extended the state’s preprocessing and already generous ballot receipt deadline and added ballot tracking to increase voter confidence. 15 of California’s 58 counties were already fully Vote By Mail by 2020, and others are preparing to transition in the future.
During its 2021 session, with AB37 the California Legislature made the transition to statewide full Vote At Home permanent, as well as other Vote At Home policies enacted from the 2020 general election, including extended preprocessing and ballot tracking, into law. Before this bill, it had done this temporarily until 2022 with SB 29. The state also passed AB 796 and SB 503 to amend its existing automatic voter registration and signature verification policies. Lastly, the state passed SB521 to allow the extended preprocessing from 2020 to 2021, as well as permanently extending postmark acceptance and allowing all counties to create vote centers.
RECENT LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA
As of Sept. 29, 2021
The 2016 California’s Voter’s Choice Act allowed counties to transition fully to Vote By Mail (sending all voters a ballot) and required all counties to provide greater ballot return options. This policy eased the State’s 2020 transition to statewide Vote By Mail. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legislature acted swiftly to speed up California’s transition. By passing AB 860, the Legislature made all counties send all voters mail ballots for the 2020 general election. Foreseeing the massive increase in mail ballots, the law extended the state’s preprocessing and already generous ballot receipt deadline and added ballot tracking to increase voter confidence. 15 of California’s 58 counties were already fully Vote By Mail by 2020, and others are preparing to transition in the future.
During its 2021 session, with AB37 the California Legislature made the transition to statewide full Vote At Home permanent, as well as other Vote At Home policies enacted from the 2020 general election, including extended preprocessing and ballot tracking, into law. Before this bill, it had done this temporarily until 2022 with SB 29. The state also passed AB 796 and SB 503 to amend its existing automatic voter registration and signature verification policies. Lastly, the state passed SB521 to allow the extended preprocessing from 2020 to 2021, as well as permanently extending postmark acceptance and allowing all counties to create vote centers.
CALIFORNIA'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First day of session: January 4,2021
Last day of session: September 10, 2021
CALIFORNIA'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First Day of session: January 4, 2021
Last day of session: September 10, 2021
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, California made enormous progress in 2020 and 2021 by transitioning to a full Vote By Mail system, proactively mailing all voters ballots, implementing statewide ballot tracking, and extending ballot pre-processing and receipt timelines. The State now has the opportunity to further strengthen its electoral system by codifying these temporary reforms, joining ERIC, and implementing RLAs statewide. These improvements will bring California one step closer to a more safe, efficient, and voter-friendly election process. As always, while policies are important, effective implementation is just as important; we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and actualize these policies and processes. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, California made enormous progress in 2020 and 2021 by transitioning to a full Vote By Mail system, proactively mailing all voters ballots, implementing statewide ballot tracking, and extending ballot pre-processing and receipt timelines. The State now has the opportunity to further strengthen its electoral system by codifying these temporary reforms, joining ERIC, and implementing RLAs statewide. These improvements will bring California one step closer to a more safe, efficient, and voter-friendly election process. As always, while policies are important, effective implementation is just as important; we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and actualize these policies and processes. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
With the November 2 election around the corner, election officials in Cumberland County, PA are ... boosting voter confidence with tips for a hassle-free #VoteAtHome experience. Check it out here 🗳️ https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/10/cumberland-county-reminds-voters-to-place-correct-postage-on-mail-in-absentee-ballots.html