Vote by mail

The US Supreme Court has turned down the Trump administration's effort to impose restrictions on mail-in voting. The decision preserves existing access to absentee ballots, a voting method used by millions of Americans. The ruling is drawing attention from both parties, with critics of the restrictions calling it a win for voter access and Republicans weighing the setback ahead of future elections.

Candidates running for California governor, including Steve Hilton, are meeting for the only scheduled debate of the race as mail ballots begin reaching voters. The timing gives the candidates a final, high-stakes chance to reach a broad audience before early voting gets under way, and attention is focused on how Hilton performs against his rivals.

Los Angeles County election officials will start mailing ballots to all registered voters on Thursday ahead of the upcoming election. The county, the largest voting jurisdiction in the United States, sends ballots by mail as the standard voting method. Local outlets including Spectrum News are covering the rollout as voters prepare to return ballots by mail or at drop-off locations.