Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that California will establish hundreds of locations around the state where voters can cast ballots in-person, a month after he decided to send every registered voter a mail-in ballot for the November election. The decision is an effort by the administration to balance the necessity of protecting public health during the coronavirus outbreak, while recognizing that some residents want, or need, to vote in person. His earlier order to send each voter a mail-in ballot was criticized by national Republicans, who saw it as a possible pathway to large-scale abuse. The governor’s office said the order would ensure in-person voting options are available in sufficient numbers to allow voters to maintain physical distancing. Counties must open a minimum of one in-person voting location for every 10,000 registered voters, beginning the Saturday before Election Day. The executive order also requires ballot drop-box locations be available between October 6 and November 3. As is already the case, in-person voting sites will be available in county elections offices starting 29 days before Election Day.
