Ahead of California’s November 4 special election, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber outlined the state’s security protocols, registration deadlines, and expanded voting options, urging voters to verify their status and trust the integrity of the process.
Less than a week before the statewide special elections on November 4, 2025, California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber led a virtual press briefing help by American Community Media (ACoM) to explain how the state ensures the integrity of every ballot and facilitates voter participation in the electoral process. The meeting, aimed at journalists, addressed three main topics: ballot security, voter registration, and voting options.
Weber opened the briefing by reaffirming her office’s commitment to transparency. “Our task is to ensure that every vote counts and that Californians have full confidence in the electoral system,” she stated. The Secretary highlighted that California has multiple layers of verification, ranging from mandatory manual audits to both digital and physical security protocols in ballot handling. Each county, she said, “is responsible for protecting the ballot boxes and maintaining a traceable and verifiable process.”
During the session, Weber emphasized the importance for voters to confirm their registration before Election Day, whether to verify their address or update their personal information. This can easily be done at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov. “It’s a simple step that helps avoid delays, mistakes, or the need to cast a provisional ballot,” she noted.
Weber also explained that Californians can vote by mail, at official drop boxes, or in person. Counties operating under the Voter’s Choice Act will offer “more days and more ways to vote,” allowing vote centers to open up to four days before November 4. This flexibility, she added, is designed to assist those who cannot vote on Election Day itself.
A key point of the briefing was the “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking system, which allows voters to monitor the status of their ballot in real time via text or email notifications. “Transparency builds trust, and every voter deserves to know when their ballot was sent, received, and counted,” Weber said. According to technical staff present at the briefing, the tool has already been adopted by millions of voters and remains one of the most effective innovations in California’s election process.
Officials from the Secretary of State’s Office also clarified that vote counting does not end on election night, since the state must verify signatures and process mail ballots postmarked by November 4, as long as they are received within seven days after the election. This procedure, they assured, is part of California’s commitment to accuracy and transparency. “Speed should never replace precision in a democratic process,” said a member of the election staff.
Weber further emphasized that all drop boxes and vote centers meet certified security standards. Each drop box is sealed against tampering, monitored by cameras, and emptied under the supervision of election officials. In addition, in-person voting centers are equipped to serve voters with disabilities and to provide bilingual assistance in multiple languages —a reflection of California’s diverse electorate.
The Secretary also reminded attendees that even though this is a special election, the security and auditing procedures are identical to those of a general election. These include public testing of tabulation systems before and after vote counting, as well as real-time signature verification. “The security standard does not change depending on the size of the election. Every vote carries the same weight,” Weber stressed.
Weber also highlighted the role of the media in ensuring transparency throughout the electoral process. “Democracy works when people participate, when they trust that their voice will be heard and their vote respected. Our duty is to ensure that this trust is never lost,” she said.
The American Community Media briefing served as a prelude to an election in which California seeks to reaffirm its reputation as one of the states with the highest levels of transparency, technology, and accessibility in its democratic processes. Weber closed the briefing by emphasizing that security and participation are not opposing concepts, but rather the complementary pillars of a modern democracy.