A conservative California county is trying to kill mail-in voting

Voters in Northern California's Shasta County have approved Measure B, a ballot initiative that significantly alters local election procedures by effectively ending vote-by-mail. The measure mandates that elections be conducted in person on a single day, limits who can cast an absentee ballot, requires photo identification, and calls for a hand count of all ballots. This move comes from a county known for its conservative politics and a strong election-skeptic movement, particularly following the 2020 presidential election. Proponents of Measure B, including some local election officials, have promoted claims of widespread voter fraud, despite evidence to the contrary. The measure's passage is seen as a victory for election deniers in the region. However, election integrity advocates and civil liberties organizations argue that Measure B is poised to make voting more difficult for residents, as approximately 85% of county voters currently cast their ballots by mail. The ACLU of Northern California, along with local and state chapters of the League of Women Voters, stated that the measure "plainly violates state law and exposes county taxpayers to significant litigation costs – all in pursuit of a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist." The California Attorney General's office is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to take action to protect voters' rights and enforce state election laws. Shasta County has a history of clashing with state regulations over election procedures, including past attempts to move away from voting machine companies like Dominion and implement manual tallies, efforts that were largely thwarted by state legislation.

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Measure B also plainly violates state law and exposes county taxpayers to significant litigation costs – all in pursuit of a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.