Targeted outreach efforts are crucial for reaching first-time, low-propensity and limited-English speaking voters.

California is taking dramatic steps to prepare the state to vote safely during a pandemic. Most notably, every registered California voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot a month before Election Day, so they can vote from the safety of their home.

In-person voting options will still be available, though they too will see change. Many counties will for the first time offer consolidated voting sites – fewer, larger sites, open for more days – and ballot drop boxes. 

High-propensity and high-information voters will stay updated on these and other changes and continue turning out to the polls. In contrast, first-time and low-propensity voters may be confused, deterred by the changing environment or unprepared to participate. These voters already have some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the state. 

Thankfully, we have strong insight on how to reach these voters and bring them into our electorate. For low-propensity, limited-English speaking voters in California, the option to cast a ballot by mail is particularly attractive in 2020 because of COVID-related fears about visiting voting sites, but trust in mail voting increases dramatically when they are informed they have access to a new system that allows voters to track their vote-by-mail ballot as it is processed. When public health rules are clear and well-publicized, confidence in in-person voting increases. 

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