California Assembly to allow proxy voting
SACRAMENTO — When California legislators return from their recess Monday, several will begin casting votes by proxy because they are at elevated risk of health problems if infected with the coronavirus.
The decision by legislative leaders, a sharp departure from precedent in Sacramento, comes as two lawmakers and multiple staffers have been infected with the coronavirus despite efforts in the Capitol to maintain safe physical distancing and repeated cleanings of the building.
Speaker Anthony Rendon, DLakewood (Los Angeles County), said Thursday that the Assembly will pursue a rule change that would allow “very limited” proxy voting.
“Given a spike in COVID19 cases across the state, the Assembly is obliged to pursue safety with more stringent measures,” Rendon said in a statement. “Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.”
He said the Assembly would have a quorum of members in its chamber at all times during voting. Lawmakers who want to vote by proxy must request permission to do so.
The Senate will allow remote voting, but only in committee hearings. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins has declined to allow remote or proxy voting on the Senate floor.
“As California continues making our way through this pandemic, the Legislature has to keep exploring ways to conduct the people’s business safely and in keeping with our Constitution,” the San Diego Democrat said in a statement.
Legislators were scheduled to return from summer recess July 13, but that was delayed as coronavirus cases surged across California. It’s the second time they have taken an extended absence because of the pandemic.
Rendon said the Assembly’s proxy voting rule is designed to allow the chamber’s most vulnerable members, those older than 65 or with health conditions, to vote on bills remotely for a “limited time.”
Under the proposed rules, which Assembly members are expected to consider Monday, Rendon would need to approve any lawmaker’s request to vote by proxy.
Only four legislative leaders, two in each party, would be allowed to cast proxy votes: Rendon; Majority Leader Ian Calderon, DWhittier (Los Angeles County); GOP leader Marie Waldron of Escondido (San Diego County); and GOP floor leader Heath Flora of Ripon (San Joaquin County).