Newsom signs order to protect public health by using vote-by-mail in upcoming elections

A mail-in ballot for the midterm elections is displayed in upscale Laguna Niguel in southern California's Orange County, October 14, 2018. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that permits vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections in an effort to protect the public's health and safety during the coronavirus outbreak.

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The order also extends the deadline for ballot counting, tabulation, and other responsibilities related to the official canvass of California’s Presidential Primary Election that could undermine social distancing practices. It also suspends the timeframes for public hearings required by political subdivisions that are in the process of changing from an at-large method of election to district elections.

A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and the text of the order can also be found here.

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