Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Masks Strongly Encouraged, but Not Required to Vote This November in California
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
August 7, 2020

Share

Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s office has put out guidance saying Californians don’t have to wear COVID-19 masks to vote in November’s presidential election.

Photo of Secretary of State Alex Padilla

“In California, we will not force voters into having to choose between exercising their right to vote or protecting their health and that of their loved ones.”California Secretary of State Alex Padilla

However, mask-less voters may be asked to use a voting station with additional physical distancing to protect the safety of others.

Counties also must make disposable face coverings available to voters and observers who arrive without them.

“Election workers must not turn a voter away for lack of face covering. The right to vote takes precedence,” state the guidelines. “In such circumstances, election workers should consider additional physical distancing. Confrontation is not advisable.”

The guidelines also say election workers, “may not turn away observers and other visitors not using a face covering.”

If voters may come into the voting location wearing branded face coverings representing a candidate or ballot measure that may be deemed electioneering. In such cases, election workers may politely request that the voter use a different face covering, or provide another face covering.

“In California, we will not force voters into having to choose between exercising their right to vote or protecting their health and that of their loved ones,” said Padilla during a Facebook live broadcast Thursday. “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.”

Fewer Polling Places

On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law to let counties offer fewer in-person polling places in exchange for opening their sites earlier.

Lawmakers expect many counties will use the new rules. But, for counties that can’t meet the requirements partial waiver applications are available.

The new law requires “the Secretary of State to establish a process to consider requests from counties to adjust or partially waive the minimally required number, location, or operational duration, of vote centers, consolidated polling places, or ballot drop-off locations.”

Said Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth, who is president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials: “I think all counties have struggled a bit. It is an extreme, additional lift. There will be lines because you just can’t physically put all of those people together” during a pandemic.

Padilla says, “We’re going to work hard to encourage people to vote early, whether it’s by mail or safely in-person. The more we can successfully get people to vote early by mail or in-person, we hope to reduce the lines and the crowd size on Election Day.”

Fresno County started recruiting additional election workers with a social media post on Thursday.

Republicans Oppose Fewer Voting Sites

Some Republicans opposed the law, arguing it will create more confusion on Election Day when people show up at their usual polling places only to find them closed.

“We’re going to have a lot of voter confusion, and we could very well have problems in the November election,” Assemblyman James Gallagher, a Republican from Nicolaus, said during an Assembly debate.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Donald Trump Jr Says ‘Maybe One Day’ He Could Run for President

DON'T MISS

Official Pushed to Rewrite Intelligence So It Could Not Be ‘Used Against’ Trump

DON'T MISS

Southwest Airlines To Require Chargers Be in View During Use Due to Fire Concerns

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Hundreds of Dead Animals Found

DON'T MISS

The Personal Secretary and Adviser to Mexico City’s Mayor Are Shot Dead

DON'T MISS

‘Dried Out Prune’? ‘Corrupt’ and ‘Incompetent’? It’s Getting Nasty Between Springsteen and Trump

DON'T MISS

Newsom’s Budget Cuts Anger Allies and Leave the State’s Chronic Deficit Unresolved

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Delegation Takes Field Trip to Bus Depot

DON'T MISS

Trump Selects Concept for $175B ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System

DON'T MISS

US Expected to Declare Biden Fuel Economy Rules Exceeded Legal Authority

UP NEXT

George Wendt, Who Played a Beloved Barfly on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76

UP NEXT

Why California’s Biggest Local Effort to Fight Homelessness Is Starting All Over Again

UP NEXT

GV Wire Takes Home 14 California News Reporting Awards

UP NEXT

Bubic’s 7 Shutout Innings and Pasquantino’s Homer Lift the Royals Over the Giants

UP NEXT

Should CA’s Climate Budget Pay for High-Speed Rail, Firefighters?

UP NEXT

CBS News President McMahon to Step Down, Memo Shows

UP NEXT

One Killed in ‘Intentional’ Explosion Outside Palm Springs Fertility Clinic, Police Say

UP NEXT

Police and Firefighters Respond to an Explosion Rocking the California City of Palm Springs

UP NEXT

Israel Launches a New Military Operation in Gaza a Day After Trump Leaves the Middle East

UP NEXT

Kristen Stewart Was Always Ready to Direct

Stocks Drift as Worries About the US Government’s Soaring Debt Continue to Weigh

1 hour ago

Institute of Peace Reclaims Its Headquarters After Court Win Over Musk’s Cost-Cutting Team

1 hour ago

Kid Cudi Says His Car Was Set on Fire Weeks After Sean Combs Broke into His Home

1 hour ago

Israeli Politician’s Criticism of Gaza War Toll on Palestinians Sparks Outcry

2 hours ago

CA State Senator Cited for Suspicion of Impaired Driving, Says She Wasn’t Intoxicated

2 hours ago

Kim Kardashian Dons a Graduation Cap and Marches Closer to Becoming a Lawyer

2 hours ago

Multiple People on Private Plane That Crashed Into San Diego Neighborhood Are Dead

2 hours ago

2 Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Shooting Near DC Jewish Museum

2 hours ago

Senate Votes to Block California’s Rule Banning the Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035

2 hours ago

Split US Supreme Court Blocks Taxpayer-Funded Religious Charter School

3 hours ago

Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again

This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget assume...

14 minutes ago

14 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again

Petunia, GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week for May 22, 2025
24 minutes ago

Meet Petunia. She Makes Hearts Melt With Every Purr

38 minutes ago

Average Rate on a US 30-Year Mortgage Rises to 6.86%, Its Highest Level Since Mid-February

1 hour ago

Stocks Drift as Worries About the US Government’s Soaring Debt Continue to Weigh

1 hour ago

Institute of Peace Reclaims Its Headquarters After Court Win Over Musk’s Cost-Cutting Team

1 hour ago

Kid Cudi Says His Car Was Set on Fire Weeks After Sean Combs Broke into His Home

Yair Golan Portrait
2 hours ago

Israeli Politician’s Criticism of Gaza War Toll on Palestinians Sparks Outcry

2 hours ago

CA State Senator Cited for Suspicion of Impaired Driving, Says She Wasn’t Intoxicated

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend