On May 28, 2025, California’s Democratic-controlled State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 930 by a 59-16 vote, allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to seven days after, extending the state’s existing vote-by-mail rules. The bill, now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature, also permits election officials to appoint non-citizens to recount boards and allows out-of-county members, sparking fierce debate over election integrity. Critics, including Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, argue the measure invites “chaos” and risks fraud by prolonging the counting process and involving non-citizens in sensitive election roles. They point to California’s history of slow vote counts, with 81% of 2024 ballots cast by mail, delaying results for weeks.
Supporters, including Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a former Santa Cruz County elections official, defend AB 930 as a voter-access win, ensuring late-arriving ballots are counted. California’s vote-by-mail system, codified in 2021 by Newsom’s AB 37, mails ballots to all registered voters, with 17.7 million cast in 2020. The bill aligns with existing law allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive within seven days, a practice upheld since 2020 to boost turnout. Democrats argue signature verification and a 30-day canvass period safeguard accuracy.
The bill’s fate rests with Newsom, who faces pressure to balance voter access with Republican accusations of undermining trust. Critics warn of potential legal challenges, citing a 2020 Supreme Court ruling affirming state control over election rules. As California, a Democratic stronghold, navigates Trump’s second term, AB 930 underscores tensions over voting reforms and election security.
