My ace reporter Tom, who lives in Grass Valley, already voted in California’s presidential primary. Although the California primary is not for another two weeks, early voting is permitted. In 2018 “drop box voting” started in five counties. Each county was allowed to adopt the process, and in this election 14 counties had drop boxes where voters could turn in their early ballots. (Butte County, home of Chico State, and Santa Clara County, home of San Jose State, were among the 14.)
Tom is a “decline to state” voter, which means he was allowed to vote in the Democratic primary. Republicans only allow Republicans to vote in their primary.
What impressed me the most, besides the early voting and the “drop box” ease of voting, was a 48 page booklet each voter received that explained the process. And what a process! You can register to vote on election day. You can check your voter status online. You can pre-register at sixteen and vote at eighteen. You can read a short summary of each party’s platform. If you are in the armed forces, the way you vote is explained in detail. California evidently believes voting is important and makes every attempt to increase turnout.
Contrast that with states like Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida, which make every attempt to suppress voting. Not only that, but California has a citizens’ commission which draws the district lines and eliminates gerrymandering.
The moving vans are coming tomorrow. We’re moving back.
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