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EXECUTIVE ORDER N-64-20

WHEREAS on March 4, 2020, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in
California as a result of the threat of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS on November 3, 2020, California—like the other states of the
United States—will hold a General Election, and Californians throughout the
state will exercise their right to vote; and

WHEREAS it is unknown to what degree COVID-19 will pose a threat to
public health in November, and California and its counties must begin taking
action now—to procure supplies, secure polling places, enlist volunteers, and
draw up plans, among other steps—to ensure that the November 3, 2020
General Election is held in a manner that is accessible, secure, and safe; and

WHEREAS to preserve public health in the face of the threat of COVID-19,
and to ensure that the November election is accessible, secure, and safe, all
Californians must be empowered to vote by mail, from the safety of their own
homes; and

WHEREAS it is also essential to ensure that all Californians who may need
access to in-person voting opportunities—including individuals with disabilities,
individuals who speak languages other than English, individuals experiencing
homelessness, and others who may find vote-by-mail less accessible than in-
person voting—are able to access such opportunities and exercise their right to
vote; and

WHEREAS the Secretary of State has been working with California elections
officials, voting rights advocates, and other stakeholders to explore how best to
implement procedures for the November election that will make in-person
voting opportunities available, give county elections officials needed flexibility,
and preserve public health; and

WHEREAS discussions concerning the November election have been
informed, and should continue to be informed, by the ways in which existing
California law—including, in particular, the California Voter’s Choice Act—
provide standards to ensure that, even in the context of an “all-mail ballot”
election, voters are able to access in-person voting opportunities; and

WHEREAS work in partnership with the Legislature and the Secretary of
State, guided by the standards in existing California law and the exigencies of
the COVID-19 pandemic, will be essential to ensure that the November election
is accessible, secure, and safe; and