Assembly Approves Cervantes’s “California Voter Protection Act of 2019”

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, the Assembly unanimously approved Assembly Bill 49, the California Voter Protection (CVP) Act of 2019, by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona). The bill would help expand and protect voters’ rights in California by doing the following:

• Require county registrars to finish sending vote-by-mail ballots within 5 days to voters who register as a permanent absentee voter or request a vote-by-mail ballot 29 days before Election Day. For voters who register as absentee after the 29-day threshold, the counties can continue sending mail ballots on a rolling basis.
• In counties that have opted into the Senate Bill 450/vote center model, requires the respective county registrars to place at least one vote center in every portion of an Assembly District with at least 50,000 registered voters.

During the 2018 campaign, voters in Riverside County and in other counties across the state did not receive their vote-by-mail ballots within a timely manner. Indeed, some voters did not receive their vote-by-mail ballots until Election Day. This late mailing not only deprives affected voters from being able to do adequate research before casting their ballot, but also puts additional stress on the existing provisional ballot system. The California Voter Protection Act of 2019 will help ensure that voters receive their ballots in a timely manner.

“The right to vote is vital to maintaining our democratic form of government, and should be protected and expanded whenever possible,” Assemblymember Cervantes said. “More and more Californians are using vote-by-mail ballots to have their voices heard by their government. The California Voter Protection Act of 2019 will ensure that our counties’ election systems are adequately prepared for the rapid changes in the way Californians are casting their ballots.”

The bill will be sent to the Senate to await a hearing by a Senate policy committee. You can find more information about the bill here.

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Sabrina Cervantes proudly represents the 60th District of the California State Assembly, which encompasses the cities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, a portion of Riverside, and the unincorporated communities of Coronita, El Cerrito, and Home Gardens. Cervantes serves as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.