California’s vote-by-mail system is back in the spotlight after President Donald Trump again attacked it on Fox News, falsely claiming the state has no polling places and calling mail voting a fraud issue. California does have in-person voting locations, and 3.1 million voters went to polling places in the 2024 election alone.[2]
Trump also signed an executive order in March directing the U.S. Postal Service to stop delivering mail ballots if states do not submit voter rolls, but multiple courts have already rejected the order.[2] California election officials say the state uses security measures such as signature verification, and the California secretary of state says misinformation has fueled confusion and distrust.[3]
Research cited in the article suggests vote-by-mail can increase turnout. A University of Chicago study found that full mail voting increased turnout by 2 to 4 percentage points, and MIT Election Lab says recent research has generally found a modest turnout boost rather than a dramatic partisan advantage.[7] In this year’s primary elections, California’s turnout was 40%, while Oregon’s was 41%; Indiana recorded 17% and Mississippi 15%.[1][7]
The political risk may be as much about Republican turnout as Democratic gains. The article points to competitive House districts represented by Rep. David Valadao in California’s Central Valley and in San Diego, where a drop in GOP enthusiasm could affect the outcome.[1]
