California Voters Warned: Mail-in Ballots May Not Be Counted Due to Postal Service Delays
California state officials are warning voters that mail-in ballots dropped in mailboxes on November 4 may not be counted due to U.S. Postal Service processing delays. According to Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, ballots must be postmarked on or before election day to be counted. However, with the Postal Service’s new processing schedule, ballots dropped in the mail may not be collected and postmarked in time.
The change affects voters who live 50 miles or more from six regional mail processing facilities in Los Angeles, Bell Gardens, San Diego, Santa Clarita, Richmond, and West Sacramento. This includes large swaths of the state, such as Bakersfield, the Central Valley, the Central Coast, Palm Springs, and more. Bonta urged voters to drop off their ballots earlier than election day, saying “If you want your vote to count, which I assume you do, because you’re putting it in the mail, don’t put it in the mail on election day if you’re 50 miles from these voting centers.”
Impact on California Voters
The warning marks a significant shift in California, where mail-in voting has become accessible and popular. All registered voters in California receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and many have grown accustomed to dropping their ballots in the mail on election day. However, with the new processing schedule, voters will need to plan ahead to ensure their ballots are counted. Elections expert Paul Mitchell noted that this change will be significant for voters who have recently voted by mail on election days.
The November 4 special election will feature Proposition 50, which aims to boost the Democratic Party’s numbers in Congress by redrawing district boundaries. The proposal is a response to a redistricting measure in Texas that seeks to increase the number of congressional Republicans. With the stakes high, it’s essential that voters understand the new processing schedule and plan accordingly to ensure their voices are heard.
Postal Service Response
Natashi Garvins, a Postal Service representative, stated that same-day postmarking has never been guaranteed. Garvins advised customers who want a manual postmark to visit a Postal Service location and request one at the counter. The Postal Service has outlined some of its policy changes in a news release from February, which appears to be part of a 10-year plan rolled out several years ago.
Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two bills aimed at protecting elections from undue influence. Senate Bill 398 makes it a crime to offer voters financial payments or the chance to win a prize in exchange for casting a ballot or registering to vote. SB 42 places a measure on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether the state should repeal its statewide ban on public financing of campaigns.
For more information on the mail-in ballot processing schedule and the upcoming election, voters can visit the California Secretary of State’s website. To read the full article, click Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
