News Releases

Casting a Vote-by-Mail Ballot? Follow These Tips to Make Sure it’s Counted

February 20, 2020 CVF News Release -

Sacramento, CA -- A growing percentage of California voters will cast vote-by-mail ballots in the state’s March 3 Presidential Primary, but not all of those ballots will get counted.

“While casting a vote-by-mail ballot is a popular option, it’s not without its challenges,” said California Voter Foundation (CVF) President Kim Alexander, whose organization works to improve the vote-by-mail process through research and legislative reforms. 

In 2018, one out of every 100 vote-by-mail ballots cast got rejected according to data published by the Secretary of State. Mail ballots are rejected primarily for three reasons - arriving too late, or the voter forgetting to sign their ballot envelope, or the signature not sufficiently matching the voter’s signature on file.

CVF urges Gov. Newsom to help voters by signing SB 523, SB 72 and AB 681 into law

September 26, 2019

In the final days of this year's legislative session, the California Legislature passed three important bills supported by the California Voter Foundation and many other voter advocacy groups.

If signed into law, SB 72, SB 523 and AB 681 will enact important reforms that will improve the voting process and experience for potentially hundreds of thousands of California voters. CVF is urging Gov. Newsom to sign these bills into law to ensure all Californians can exercise their voting rights in 2020 and beyond:

CVF supports bills to help Californians exercise their voting rights

SB 72, SB 523 and AB 681 will improve process for voters in 2020

August 28, 2019

The California Legislature is winding down the first year of its 2019-20 session and the California Voter Foundation is supporting three important bills that, if enacted, will improve California's voting process in advance of the 2020 Presidential election:

  • Senate Bill 72, by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) will allow voters to register to vote at all polling places on Election Day starting in 2020.

Under current law, Californians may register on Election Day only at county election or satellite offices, or, if their county has implemented the Voter's Choice Act (VCA) voting model, at vote centers.

SB 72 will ensure voters have equal access to Election Day registration regardless of whether their county has implemented the VCA. Voters who register on Election Day do so "conditionally" and their eligibility is verified before their ballots are counted. If enacted, California will join nine other states and DC in providing Election Day registration at polling places. This bill is currently in Assembly Appropriations. CVF's support letter is online.

California's Secretary of State announces plan to decertify legacy voting systems

Counties must upgrade equipment in time for March 2020 Primary

February 28, 2019

On February 27, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced his plan to decertify California's legacy voting systems to ensure counties use more secure equipment in time for the March 2020 California Presidential Primary.

His office issued a news release explaining why:

New "Proposition Song” Music Video Released!

October 30, 2018

Today a new “Proposition Song” music video was released by the California Voter Foundation (CVF), designed to give voters an informative, impartial and entertaining overview of all 11 measures on California’s ballot in just five minutes. 

The song and video can be accessed at www.calvoter.org or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/PuWd4FVuM5Q. It was recorded live on October 25 at Two Rivers Cider in Sacramento. 

Announcing the launch of CVF's new web site featuring updated voter resources

Visit www.calvoter.org to find reliable election information online

October 16, 2018

Hi Folks,

We are very pleased to debut our newly redesigned web site!

Please visit www.calvoter.org and have a look - we are excited to debut our new logo as part of the site redesign as well.

CVF Applauds Governor Brown's signing of SB 759

New law will reduce vote-by-mail ballot disenfranchisement

September 18, 2018

The California Voter Foundation applauds Governor Jerry Brown's signing of Senate Bill 759 which requires all California counties, beginning with the November 2018 election, to contact voters whose signatures on vote-by-mail ballots are challenged and give them an opportunity to provide a valid signature so their ballot will be counted and not rejected. SB 759 as chaptered can be accessed here. 

Five reasons why Governor Brown should sign AB 216

Bill will provide postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot return envelopes to all California voters

July 12, 2018

Sacramento -- The California Voter Foundation urged Governor Jerry Brown to sign Assembly Bill 216 to provide postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot return envelopes to all California voters. On July 18, Governor Brown signed AB 216 into law. Below is an excerpt of the support letter CVF sent to Governor Brown, providing five reasons why the bill should be signed. 

Excerpt:

Here are five reasons why California should enact AB 216:

1) Removes a major voting obstacle.

Governor Jerry Brown proposes spending $134.3 million on new voting systems

2018-19 state budget proposal includes major funding to improve California election security

January 10, 2018

Sacramento, CA -- In a major departure from his previous budgets, California Governor Jerry Brown's new state budget includes $134.3 million to fund new voting equipment. 

"This is a welcome development and will help build California voters' confidence in the integrity and security of our voting systems," said Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, which has consistently supported increased state funding to help pay for California's election costs since 2013. 

Legislative Update: CVF Urges Governor Brown to Veto AB 840

Bill would weaken California's election verification law if enacted

October 10, 2017

In the final weeks of this year's legislative session, last-minute amendments were made to Assembly Bill 840, authored by Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) which would weaken California's post-election verification law.

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