SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers are supporting an experiment with a new method of casting ballots.
Legislation sent to Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday would allow counties to send a ballot to every registered voter, then collect them by mail and at drop boxes. In lieu of neighborhood polling places, counties that opt in would establish a smaller number of vote centers where people could cast ballots during the 10 days leading up to an election.
The proposal is modeled after a similar voting system in Colorado that is credited with helping to improve voter participation rates.
Eighteen counties would be able to use the new process for the 2018 election. The rest could take it up in 2020.
The Senate approved SB450 in a 26-11 vote, with most Republicans opposed.
