California's Largest Progressive Organization Applauds Gov. Newsom Vote-by-Mail Orders for November Election

LOS ANGELES — In response to the threats Covid-19 presents to the November 3, 2020 General Election, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order to address the unique voting challenges our country faces due to the pandemic.

The Executive Order includes:

A mandate that every county official must send every registered voter a vote-by-mail ballot for this year’s General Election.
A statement of intent to work with the Legislature and Secretary of State to establish how in-person voting requirements will be applied and guided by California’s principles to increase voter accessibility.
A May 30 deadline for the final requirements that are necessary to ensure in-person voting sites are safe.

Eddie Kurtz, Executive Director of Courage California, the largest progressive organization in the state, issued the following:

“We applaud the leadership Gov. Newsom has displayed today by signing an executive order that takes the initial steps needed to ensure we have a safe and fair election this year — that is accessible to all Californians. It is imperative that the challenges Covid-19 presents to our General Election doesn’t result in further voter disenfranchisement and discouragement,” said Eddie Kurtz Executive Director of Courage California. “All Californians deserve the right to be heard, while safely casting their vote to elect the representatives who will lead us out of this crisis and into recovery.”

“Through this action, California continues to lead the way for the nation, as we often do, so we must ensure that the framework developed here is truly equitable and inclusive and an ideal model that can be replicated successfully in other states,” Kurtz said.

“California will not force voters to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote.”
-Secretary of State Alex Padilla

Every California voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2020 General Election. pic.twitter.com/84TvllE6l3

— CA SOS Vote (@CASOSvote) May 8, 2020

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Courage California, formerly Courage Campaign, works to unite communities organizing for progressive change, fight the forces of corruption, and hold our representatives to account in order to ensure that California’s elected officials act with courage. Our community of 1.4 million members envision California as a model of progressive, equitable, and truly representative democracy that sets the standard for our country.