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Berman Reacts to GOP’s Dismissal of Vote-By-Mail Lawsuit

For immediate release:

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) released the following statement today in response to the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the California Republican Party dropping their lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order requiring California voters to be mailed vote-by-mail ballots for the General Election this November:

"I always expected these Republican organizations to dismiss their lawsuit," said Assemblymember Berman. "While the Governor's executive order was necessary to send an early signal to county elections officials so they could begin planning for the general election, it was really an insurance policy in case my bill, AB 860, ran into unexpected obstacles while moving through the legislative process. The Governor’s executive order was an important precaution since, as we've seen this week, the COVID-19 pandemic can unexpectedly interfere with the Legislature's ability to operate. In the end, AB 860 was approved quickly and with strong bipartisan support, because no Californian should have to risk their health - and possibly their life - to exercise their constitutional right to vote." 

AB 860, which requires every active registered voter in California to be mailed a ballot for the 2020 General Election, was signed into law on June 18, 2020. SB 423 (Umberg), which would ensure that county elections officials establish and maintain a minimum number of polling places and vote centers for the November 3rd election, is pending in the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee.

 

Contact: Kaitlin Curry, (916) 319-2024