Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday he has signed an executive order that allows all California voters to receive a mail-in ballot for the November election.
Newsom made the announcement along with Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who was on the phone, during his daily coronavirus briefing at a California flower shop.
Walk-in voting will still be available, and the governor also said the state is working on setting up safe places for walk-in voters to fill out a ballot as California continues to respond with caution to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Padilla, California is the first state to take an action that provides every voter a mail-in ballot.
Newsom also said the launch of Phase 2 of his state reopening plan during the coronavirus shelter-at-home order allows 70% of California businesses to resume operations on some level and with limitations. He added that more specific guidelines for Phase 2 will come Tuesday.
Those businesses include flower shops, clothing stores, bookstores and sporting goods stores, all of which will be allowed to provide curbside services as detailed in Phase 2 of California's reopening.
On Thursday, Newsom was asked about nail and hair salons and revealed for what was believed to be the first time that community spread of the virus in California started at a nail salon. When asked to elaborate Friday, the governor said it was just a factual statement and by no stretch an indictment of the industry, which he called "noble" and one of the most entrepreneurial industries in the nation.
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He added that he had made references to the nail salon fact previously.
Nail and hair salons are in Phase 3 of Newsom's reopening plan.
Story will be updated.
