California Covid Legal Information
We drew these resources principally from Justin Levitt's list of COVID-19 election cases, Standford-MIT Healthy Elections Project COVID-Related Election Litigation Tracker, and the National Center for State Legislatures' COVID-19 and 2020 Primary Elections page.
Litigation Tracker
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Eilenberg v. City of Colton
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 7/29
Date Filed
20/04/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Description
Challenge to signature gathering requirements for placement on ballot.
Links
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California Republican Party v. Newsom
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Temporary Restraining Order Denied 5/15, Dismissed 5/22
Date Filed
29/04/2020
Court
California Superior Court, Sacramento County
Description
Request for court to decide whether campaign ballot gatherers are considered essential workers.
Links
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Fugazi v. Padilla
Topics
Vote by Mail; Election Postponement
Status
Temporary Restraining Order Denied 5/22
Date Filed
12/05/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Description
Challenge to ballot counting practices for mail-in ballots.
Links
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Issa v. Newsom
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Voluntarily Dismissed 7/9
Date Filed
21/05/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Description
Challenges Executive Order N-64-20 as unconstitutional.
Links
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Republican National Committee v. Newsom
Topics
Vote by Mail
Status
Voluntarily Dismissed 7/9
Date Filed
24/05/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Description
Challenges Executive Order N-64-20 as unconstitutional.
Links
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Common Sense Party v. Padilla
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 6/26
Date Filed
29/05/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Description
Request for court to require the Secretary of State to register the Common Sense Party as an official political party in California without more voter registrations.
Links
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Macarro v. Padilla
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Relief Granted 7/2
Date Filed
09/06/2020
Court
California Superior Court, Sacramento County
Description
Challenge to 180-day deadline for initiatives until stage 3 of COVID-19 reopening or extend for at least 90 days.
Links
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Gallagher v. Newsom
Topics
Election Suspension
Status
Temporary Restraining Order Granted 6/12; Reversed 7/10
Date Filed
12/06/2020
Court
California Court of Appeals for the Third Appellate District
Description
Challenges Executive Order N-67-20. Court suspended Executive order N-67-20.
Links
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Sangiacomo v. Padilla
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Relief Granted 7/2
Date Filed
23/06/2020
Court
California Superior Court, Sacramento County
Description
Challenge to 180-day deadline for initiatives until stage 3 of COVID-19 reopening or extend for at least 90 days.
Links
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Kishore v. Newsom
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Preliminary Injunction Denied 7/20
Date Filed
30/06/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Description
Challenge to ballot access requirements.
Links
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Blankenship v. Newsom
Topics
Ballot Access; Signature Requirements
Status
Pending
Date Filed
07/07/2020
Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Description
Challenge to ballot access requirements.
Links
Executive Actions
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EXECUTIVE ORDER N-64-20
Topics
Vote by Mail
Date Filed
08/05/2020
Description
California's Governor issued an executive order requiring every county to send mail ballots to all registered voters for the General Election in November.
Links
Legislative Actions
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CA AB 860
Topics
Vote by Mail
Date Filed
18/06/2020
Description
Requires county election officials to mail ballots to all registered voters for elections in 2020.
Links