SACRAMENTO – (INT) – County election officials may be required to provide polling places in the November presidential election in spite of a push to vote by mail.

The State Senate passed 29-4 Thursday SB 423 whose backers say would protect public health and voting rights by requiring California election officials to provide safe and accessible polling places or vote centers.

They argue that safe and accessible voting locations are critical for protecting voter rights for all Californians. For many voters, the services they need to vote privately and independently are available at polling sites.

SB 423 guarantees that voters will have safe, secure, and convenient in-person opportunities to cast their ballots in case voting by mail is not a viable option for them for the statewide general election on November 3rd.

The measure requires county elections officials to establish, and maintain, a minimum number of polling places and vote centers.

Story Date: August 31, 2020