With the 2020 General Election quickly approaching, voters in California are faced with a large number of issues and candidates on their ballot. To help you prepare, we've pulled together the most important information you need to know before casting your vote.

The election is among the many parts of life that has undergone changes due to COVID-19. Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order changing the voting process in the state. Now, every Californian who is eligible to vote in the November 3, 2020 General Election shall receive a vote-by-mail ballot. You're allowed to return the completed ballot by mail. You may also drop it off at any of the voting centers around the state by the time the polls close on November 3rd.

If you vote by mail, your ballot must be postmarked on or before November 3rd and received by the county election's office no later than November 20th, 2020.

You can sign up to track the status of your ballot here.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla has also announced the launch of Sam, an elections "Search Assistant Module." This new artificial intelligence search assistant, or "chatbot," is supposed to help you navigate elections resources on the Secretary of State's election website pages.

You can use the new elections chatbot at vote.ca.govorsos.ca.gov/elections.

"Sam, our new elections chatbot, will direct voters to the resources they need to register and cast their ballots with confidence," Padilla said. "With changes to our elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important that we quickly and effectively provide voters with the information they need to participate.Sam does just that by instantly answering voters’ questions — no phone calls or emails necessary."

Important Dates to remember:

Voting will be handled slightly differently from county to county in California.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
Voters can begin voting at selected Voting Centers across Los Angeles beginning Sat. Oct. 24
Voters can begin casting ballots at all Voting Centers across Los Angeles beginning Friday Oct. 30.
Vote Centers will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the early voting period.
Voter Centers/polling stations open on election day 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Last day to receive vote-by-mail ballot postmarked no later than Nov. 3, 2020.

Other Important items Amid COVID-19

Every registered voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for November's election.
Every registered voter can sign up to receive vote-by-mail ballot tracking by text (SMS), email, or voice call.
Extra sanitation methods and social distancing measures will be in place at all voting locations.
All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2020 election. Your county elections office will begin mailing ballots by October 5, 2020.
Voters who can vote-by-mail will help ensure safe physical distancing at voting locations.
Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3, 2020.Ballots returned at a secure ballot drop box or a voting location must be deposited by 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020.
In-person voting locations will offer same-day voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance to those who need it.

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Cristina Mendonsa

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