Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
New California Law Requires Free Postage For Mail Ballots
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
July 18, 2018

Share

SACRAMENTO — California is requiring counties to provide free postage for vote-by-mail ballots statewide.
Gov. Jerry Brown announced Wednesday that he signed the bill requiring that return ballot envelopes have prepaid postage beginning in 2019.

10 Counties Will Pay Postage for November Ballot

Currently, 10 of the state’s 58 counties plan to provide postage ballots for the November election. Counties would bear the cost but they may be able to claim reimbursement from the state.

California Mail Ballots Would Have Cost $5.5 Million in 2016

It would have cost $5.5 million had the law been in place for the 2016 general election. The measure affects elections starting next year.

Portrait photo of Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher 
Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of San Diego says the bill eliminates a barrier that disproportionately discouraged voting by young adults because they are less likely to regularly use the postal system.
She says postage can cost up to $1 per ballot.
The bill is AB216.

DON'T MISS

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

DON'T MISS

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

DON'T MISS

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

DON'T MISS

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

DON'T MISS

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

DON'T MISS

You Can Win a Lexus in This Fresno Telethon Drawing. Get Tickets Now.

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Will Nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to Be Attorney General

DON'T MISS

Bluesky Has Added 1 Million Users Since the US Election as People Seek Alternatives to X

DON'T MISS

Trump Picks Rep. Matt Gaetz to Be His AG, Ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

DON'T MISS

California Researchers Discover Mysterious, Gelatinous New Sea Slug

UP NEXT

California Researchers Discover Mysterious, Gelatinous New Sea Slug

UP NEXT

Trump’s Proposed Tariffs, Especially on China and Mexico, Could Hit California Hard

UP NEXT

Republican John Thune of South Dakota Is Elected the Next Senate Majority Leader

UP NEXT

Republican Valadao, Democrats Min and Whitesides Win US House Races in California

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

UP NEXT

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

UP NEXT

California Counts Methodically as House Control Hangs in the Balance

UP NEXT

Voters in California City Reject Measure Allowing Noncitizens to Vote in Local Races

UP NEXT

Voters in Oakland Oust Mayor Sheng Thao Just 2 Years Into Her Term

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

1 hour ago

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

1 hour ago

You Can Win a Lexus in This Fresno Telethon Drawing. Get Tickets Now.

2 hours ago

Trump Says He Will Nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to Be Attorney General

2 hours ago

Bluesky Has Added 1 Million Users Since the US Election as People Seek Alternatives to X

2 hours ago

Trump Picks Rep. Matt Gaetz to Be His AG, Ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

2 hours ago

California Researchers Discover Mysterious, Gelatinous New Sea Slug

2 hours ago

Dallas Long, Olympic Gold Medalist and Among the Best Shot-Putters Ever, Dies at 84

2 hours ago

Trump Picks Sen. Marco Rubio as His Secretary of State

2 hours ago

Trump Meets With Jubilant House GOP and Jokes About a Third Term

3 hours ago

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez upended two incumbents to join the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Bredefeld leads Steve Brandau with 54...

2 mins ago

2 mins ago

How Will Election Winners Bredefeld and Chavez Fit in as Supervisors?

34 mins ago

California Senate Leader Calls Union ‘Morally Bankrupt’ for Opposing a Vulnerable Democrat

53 mins ago

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

1 hour ago

Speaker Mike Johnson Wins GOP Nomination to Remain in Job, Faces Full House Vote in New Year

1 hour ago

ICE Immediately Moves to Bolster Surveillance of Illegal Immigrants After Trump Win

2 hours ago

You Can Win a Lexus in This Fresno Telethon Drawing. Get Tickets Now.

2 hours ago

Trump Says He Will Nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to Be Attorney General

2 hours ago

Bluesky Has Added 1 Million Users Since the US Election as People Seek Alternatives to X

Search

Send this to a friend