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By: Shirley N. Weber, PhD, California Secretary of State
Californians can confidently say this: California has implemented more significant reforms to its electoral laws and expanded voting rights further than any other state.
This achievement is especially notable as we prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act next year. This landmark legislation began dismantling a long history of voter intimidation, suppression, and disenfranchisement faced by many Americans at the ballot box for decades.
My own parents, sharecroppers, were denied their right to vote during the Jim Crow era in the South. Before we moved to Los Angeles from Hope, Arkansas, my parents, David and Mildred Nash, could not vote. My father, an adult with six children, registered to vote for the first time in California and cast his first ballot here, exercising this fundamental constitutional right.
As California Secretary of State, I do not take the progress we’ve made over the years lightly. My team and I view it as a sacred duty to ensure that our elections are secure, free, fair, and accessible to all.
Before certifying this year’s election results on December 13, we took several measures to ensure that every vote was counted. We also ensured that our ballot counting process remained credible and free from interference.
To meet this deadline smoothly, California requires election officials in all 58 counties to submit their official results by a specific date. This year, that deadline was December 6.
By law, every eligible voter in our state receives a vote-by-mail ballot. This ensures that all registered voters can exercise their right to vote.
Whether you dropped off your ballot in a designated box, voted by mail, or cast your ballot at a polling center, your vote is secure and protected. Voters can also sign up for notifications by text, email, or phone call regarding the status of their ballots using the “Where’s My Ballot?” tool.
The ballots of Californians who voted by mail are safeguarded through a partnership between the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the State of California, ensuring timely delivery. All vote-by-mail ballots are sent via First-Class Mail in prepaid envelopes provided to every registered voter.
Election security is our top priority, which is why my office developed and implemented a program to uphold this commitment.
Additionally, California takes proactive measures to ensure that our voting technology maintains election security and protects every vote.
For instance, county voting systems are not connected to the internet, safeguarding them from cyber threats. The state also conducts regular, rigorous testing to ensure voting systems function optimally and restricts access to authorized personnel only.
Staff members receive training on phishing and cybersecurity practices.
VoteCal, the state’s centralized voter registration system, plays a key role. It is regularly updated and serves as a resource for counties to verify voter signatures.
California also provides security at all ballot counting locations and ensures that drop boxes are protected and monitored.
All electoral processes are open to public observation during designated hours.
As California Secretary of State, there is nothing more important to me than defending our democracy. I am committed to safeguarding the right to vote and leading our state in upholding the highest democratic standards through policies and practices that Californians—and all Americans—can trust and look to for guidance and hope.
You can contact the California Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-345-VOTE or via email at elections@sos.ca.gov for inquiries or to report suspected incidents or irregularities. Additional information is available at www.sos.ca.gov and on the office’s social media platforms:
- Instagram: @californiasos_
- Facebook: Facebook.com/CaliforniaSOS
- X: @CASOSVote
