(SACRAMENTO,CA) – Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to protect the rights of voters with disabilities as more communities in California administer elections by mail.
“This new law is vital to ensure that the convenience of vote by mail elections is widely shared,” said Ting. “Greater flexibility makes voting by mail easy but convenience for some cannot undermine the right of all citizens vote. California has led the way for technology to permeate our daily lives and it’s time to harness this power to ensure that everyone who wants to cast a vote may do so.”
Sponsored by Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Assembly Bill (AB) 2252 would allow voters with disabilities to vote with the same convenience that military and overseas voters have today by receiving their vote by mail ballots via email. The bill would also make voting easier for disabled voters by delivering their ballot in an electronic format that can be read and marked using existing assistive technology prior to being mailed back and counted with county election officials.
“The constitution guarantees every voter the right to a cast a secret ballot free from intimidation,” Secretary of State Padilla said. “AB 2252 will ensure this fundamental right is secured for Californians with a disability. I thank Governor Brown for signing this measure, which responsibly expands the use of technology to protect voting rights.”
The bill was inspired by a lawsuit filed last December by the California Council of the Blind against San Mateo County after its first all vote by mail election last fall. Local elections officials noted that it boosted turnout. Plaintiffs noted that vote by mail systems are an obstacle for some voters to participate with the confidentiality of their vote intact.
Several counties such as San Mateo, San Diego, Monterrey, Yolo, and Sacramento have the authority to hold vote-by-mail-only local elections. According to the National Federation of the Blind, there are over 790,000 Californians living with a visual impairment.
AB 2252 passed the Senate last month 37-0, following a 75-0 Assembly vote in April. Further information about AB 2252 is available online at www.leginfo.ca.gov.