Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a bulletin ahead of the upcoming November 5, 2024, General Election. The document summarizes state laws regarding third-party collection of voter ballots and unofficial ballot drop-off containers. Registered voters can track their ballots at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov and verify their registration status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

"Here in California, all active registered voters are mailed vote-by-mail ballots because we want to make it as easy as possible for your voice to be heard," said Attorney General Bonta. He emphasized that California law allows voters to entrust their completed mail ballots to another person for delivery to election officials. "But, to ensure the integrity of our elections, those who accept another person’s ballot for delivery have serious responsibilities and, with today’s bulletin, we want to raise awareness of those responsibilities."

The California Elections Code outlines several ways for voters to return their vote-by-mail ballots: by mailing them without needing postage (postmarked on or before Election Day), returning them in person at any polling place or county elections office by 8:00 pm on Election Day, using an official drop-off location by the same deadline, or authorizing a third party to deliver the ballot under specific conditions.

When a third party is entrusted with returning a voted ballot, they must include their name and signature on the return envelope and submit the ballot no later than three days after receiving it or before polls close on Election Day—whichever is sooner. They cannot receive compensation based on the number of ballots returned nor engage in criminal acts related to the ballot.

The code also prohibits fraudulent voting activities such as signing someone else's name or voting with false identities, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or fines up to $1,000.

Official ballot drop boxes are established only by city and county election officials following stringent regulations from the Secretary of State's office concerning design and security. The use of unofficial drop-off containers intending to deceive voters into thinking they are official is illegal. This conduct could result in fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to three years.

The full bulletin is available online for public access.