Eight states have permanently adopted universal mail-in ballots for coming elections.
California on Monday became the latest — and the largest — state to adopt the mail-in ballot system. Now, every single eligible voter in California will be mailed ballots for elections without asking for one.
Voters in California are still allowed to cast their votes at polling stations on Election Day instead of using their mail-in ballot.
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom (CA), who recently escaped a recall challenge, signed the bill Monday. “California just made vote-by-mail PERMANENT,” Newsom boasted via Twitter. “Which means every registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail for every election.”
“Unlike other states…CA is working to make it EASIER than ever before to vote,” the Democrat claimed.
California just made vote-by-mail PERMANENT.
Which means every registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail for every election.
Unlike other states…CA is working to make it EASIER than ever before to vote.
Happy #NationalVoterRegistrationDay!! https://t.co/SNfART2NpL
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 28, 2021
The practice of mail-in voting became widespread just before the 2020 presidential election, ostensibly as a COVID precaution. The new system dramatically increased voter turnout across the nation.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), with all-mail elections, “all registered voters are sent a ballot in the mail. The voter marks the ballot, puts it in a secrecy envelope or sleeve and then into a separate mailing envelope, signs an affidavit on the exterior of the mailing envelope and returns the package via mail or by dropping it off.”
“Ballots are mailed out well ahead of Election Day, and thus voters have an ‘election period,’ not just a single day, to vote,” NCSL explained. “All-mail elections can be thought of as absentee voting for everyone. This system is also referred to as ‘vote by mail.’”
NCSL highlighted the following earlier this year:
- Five states—Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington—allow all elections to be conducted by mail.
- Three states—California, Nebraska and North Dakota—permit counties to opt into conducting elections by mail.
- Ten states allow specific small elections to be conducted by mail. [Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming]
- Six states permit all-mail elections for certain small jurisdictions. [California, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, and New Mexico.]
Critics of drop-boxes and universal mail-in ballots have cited the spike in Americans’ mistrust in election results following the widespread changes.
As highlighted by The Daily Wire earlier this week, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has demanded a freeze on all election-related materials as the office preps for litigation and further investigation, following the release of a report on the 2020 election audit in Maricopa County:
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office Election Integrity Unit (EIU) on Monday sent a letter to the Arizona Senate “requesting supporting documents from the report released last week,” a press release detailed. “Additionally, the EIU asked Maricopa County to preserve all documents and data related to the 2020 election.”
“The Arizona Senate’s report that was released on Friday raises some serious questions regarding the 2020 election,” AG Brnovich said in a statement posted to the Attorney General’s office website. “Arizonans can be assured our office will conduct a thorough review of the information we receive.”
Related: Arizona AG Demands Maricopa County Freeze All 2020 Election Materials, Releases Statement On Audit