It is Election Eve in California.
We’re approaching an election like no other in California or U.S. history. More than 12 million votes have already been cast in California - a record early vote. Many changes are in store for those who still want to vote in person on Election Day.
"Just as COVID-19 has impacted all other aspects of our daily lives, voting is different this year as well," California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. "For voters who need to vote in person, be prepared for a different experience."
Voters should bring their masks and expect to see poll workers outfitted with PPE.
A worker sanitizes a hand rail at a Vote Center located at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on the first weekend of early in-person voting on October 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.Mario Tama/Getty Images
Padilla said all equipment is sanitized "before and after very voter."
"Between the number of folks we anticipate to turn out, plus these additional protocols, it could be a little bit longer of a line than you would hope for and a little bit longer of a wait time that you could hope for," Padilla explained.
Besides voting early, there is another way to avoid the line.
Padilla said voters that received a ballot by mail can complete it at home, bring it with them and simply drop it off. Vote-by-mail has been increasing in popularity in California, and Padilla said several million ballots have already been returned.
When can Californians expect results?
"Be prepared to see more ballots accounted for in those early reports," Padilla told KCBS Radio's "The State Of California" on Monday. "We’ve afforded counties the ability to start processing those ballots earlier than in previous years. We won’t have final, final numbers on Election Night. We never do in California. We’ll have a pretty good sense for the outcome in most contests."
As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m. Tuesday, you are allowed to vote.
