September 18, 2020 - SACRAMENTO, CA – Secretary California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement after a call between US Postmaster General Tom DeJoy and Secretaries of State from across the nation.

“Following the nationwide distribution of a postcard by the US Postal Service (USPS) with misleading information on vote-by-mail that created voter confusion in many states, I have been concerned that additional elements of the USPS’s public information campaign could cause further confusion. On today’s call with the National Association of Secretaries of State, I asked USPS Postmaster General DeJoy for his commitment to work with elections officials to refine messaging before disseminating any future public education materials. He committed to doing so and I expect him to honor the commitment.”

“I also shared with them findings from my recent trip to a mail processing plant in Los Angeles, and asked if there was a plan to handle the increase in letter mail volume as ballots, voter information guides, and a large influx of political mail go out in the coming weeks. While federal USPS leaders assured me they have daily reviews of mail conditions and staffing levels, I will request regular updates and reports to confirm that regional and local postal service facilities have the resources they need to process election mail in a timely manner.”

“USPS also committed to share the written directives given to letter carriers and other employees on how to handle elections mail.”

“The USPS is a critical partner in ensuring free, fair elections. Providing transparency to the public, while maintaining the service citizens expect and deserve, is a must. I will continue to monitor any developments with the postal service as we enter the final stretch of this election.”

California voters can sign-up for the Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tool at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov. Voters who sign-up will receive automatic updates by text (SMS), email, or voice call on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot. This allows voters to know their vote-by-mail ballot has been mailed to them and when their cast ballot has safely arrived to county officials and has been counted.

CHANGES EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION RULES FOR APP-BASED TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY DRIVERS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Establishes different criteria for determining whether app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers are “employees” or “independent contractors.” Independent contractors are not entitled to certain state-law protections afforded employees—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Instead, companies with independent contractor drivers will be required to provide specified alternative benefits, including: minimum compensation and healthcare subsidies based on engaged driving time, vehicle insurance, safety training, and sexual harassment policies. Restricts local regulation of app-based drivers; criminalizes impersonation of such drivers; requires background checks. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increase in state personal income tax revenue of an unknown amount. (19-0026A1.)

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1883 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 19-0026.

The proponents of the measure, Davis White, Brian McGuigan, and Keith Yandell, must collect signatures of 623,212 registered voters (five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2018 general election) in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than June 30, 2020. The proponents can be reached c/o Kurt R. Oneto of Nielsen Merksamer, LLP at (916) 446-6752. The address for Nielsen Merksamer, LLP is 1415 L Street, Suite 1200, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Source: CA. SOS