Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Vote By Mail topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee debates returning Mail‑Ballot to opt‑in system; SB 335 fails in committee vote
Summary
Sen. Strickland’s SB 335, which would require Californians to request vote‑by‑mail ballots rather than receiving them by default, drew sharp opposition from voting rights groups and failed on a 1–4 committee vote.
The California State Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee on Tuesday heard Senate Bill 335, authored by Sen. John Strickland, which would require voters to request a vote‑by‑mail ballot or apply for permanent vote‑by‑mail status instead of receiving ballots automatically.
Strickland said the bill is aimed at improving confidence in elections and ‘‘cleaning up our voter rolls,’’ recounting that he found multiple live ballots in a Huntington Beach PO box after the November election. “I don't think we've done a good enough job at cleaning up our voter rolls,” he said, and argued that mailing ballots broadly creates opportunities for ballot harvesting and undermines public faith in outcomes.
Dora Rose, deputy director of the League of Women Voters of California, testified in opposition, saying SB 335 would roll back efforts to modernize elections and that expanded vote‑by‑mail has increased participation and accessibility. “Expanded vote mail and early voting benefit people who face barriers to traditional voting,” Rose said, and she urged a “strong and resounding no vote” on SB 335. Disability Rights California and the Asian Law Caucus registered opposition for the record.
Sen. Richard Choi, speaking as vice chair during the hearing, said he found the bill “supportable” from an integrity standpoint but acknowledged it would reduce automatic access Californians have come to rely on; he offered to move the measure when the committee had a quorum.
A motion to pass the measure out of committee was made but the committee vote recorded one aye (Choi) and four nos (Cervantes, Allen, Limon, Umberg), resulting in a 1–4 vote against advancing SB 335. The committee noted the vote result and granted reconsideration.
The hearing record shows substantial partisan and policy disagreement: proponents framed the bill as an election integrity measure, while opponents argued it would suppress turnout and roll back reforms such as the Voter's Choice Act. No amendments were adopted during the hearing; committee staff will retain the bill on the file for possible future action.
Votes at a glance SB 335 — Motion to pass to committee on appropriations: Moved by Dr. Choi; outcome: failed (yes 1, no 4).
