2020 COVID-19 Elections Information

Please see information and resources below regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and California elections:
 

• Legislation
  • AB 860 (Berman), Chapter 4, Statutes of 2020, requries county elections officials to mail a ballot to every registered active voter for the November 3, 2020 statewide general election, and makes various other accomodations regarding the casting, tabulating, and counting of vote by mail ballots for that election.
  • SB 423 (Umberg), Chapter 31, Statutes of 2020, authorizes changes to in-person voting requirements for the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, and requires the state and counties to conduct voter education and outreach campaigns to notify voters about voting in that election.
     
• Governor's Executive Orders:
  • On March 20, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that (1) permits three upcoming special elections to be conducted as mailed-ballot elections, (2) extends the deadlines for completion of the official canvass of California’s March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election, and (3) suspends the timeframes for public hearings required by political subdivisions that are changing from an at-large method of election to district elections. The executive order can be found here.
  • On April 9, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that (1) permits three upcoming local special elections scheduled for May and June to be conducted as mailed-ballot elections, and (2) clarifies the scope of the Governor's March 20, 2020 executive order as it relates to the timeframes for public hearings required by political subdivisions that are changing from an at-large method of election to district elections. The executive order can be found here. 
  • On May 8, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that requires each county’s elections official to send vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election to all registered voters. The executive order can be found here. 
  • On June 3, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that outlines requirements for in-person voting opportunities for the November 3, 2020 General Election, among other provisions. The executive order can be found here.
  • On August 26, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that extends the deadline for county elections officials to count and verify signatures submitted for initiative petitions seeking to qualify for the November 2022 ballot. The executive order can be found here.
     
• The Secretary of State prepared the following information and guidance related to the COVID-19 crisis:
  • A webpage with information about COVID-19 and the Agency’s business generally can be found here.
  • Information and guidance to county elections officials regarding the extension of the period for completing the canvass of the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election pursuant to the Governor’s March 20, 2020 executive order can be found here.
  • Guidance to county elections officials regarding the filing of petitions by initiative proponents can be found here.
  • Guidance to county elections officials regarding candidate filing for the November election can be found here.
  • A memorandum from the Secretary of State to county elections officials regarding the Governor's May 8, 2020 executive order can be found here.
     
• The Fair Political Practices Commission prepared the following information and guidance related to statements and reports that are required to be filed under the Political Reform Act:
  • Guidance to individuals who are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (a.k.a., Form 700) is available here. UPDATE: On March 26, 2020, the Fair Political Practices Commission announced that it will allow a 60-day extension until June 1, 2020 for those who otherwise were required to file a 2019 annual Statement of Economic Interests (a.k.a., Form 700) by April 1, 2020. 
  • Guidance for complying with campaign finance disclosure filing deadlines is available here.  
  • Guidance for complying with behested payment reporting requirements is available here. 
  • Guidance for complying with lobbying reporting requirements is available here.