California Governor Signs Two New Voting Bills Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, Sept. 26, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed two voting bills into law, Assembly Bill 2815 and Senate Bill 1131. A.B. 2815 expands the number of drop box locations throughout the state by requiring election officials to place an additional drop box on each California State University campus and any University of California campuses that request one. S.B. 1131 protects election workers from harassment by keeping private information, like their home addresses, out of public records.
In recent years, California has become a leader in protecting the right to vote. Thanks to legislation signed by Newsom in 2021, every California voter automatically receives a mail-in ballot at least 29 days before every election. A.B. 2815 builds on this law by making it even easier for Californians, especially students, to return their mail-in ballots. With S.B. 1131, California is also taking steps to address the unprecedented attacks on election workers due to conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
S.B. 1131 took effect immediately, while A.B. 2815 will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.