Sacramento – August 4, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2786 into law Monday.  Assemblymember Mary Salas authored AB 2786 - a bill that extends the sunset, from 2009 to 2011, for the program in current law which allows military personnel, or voters who are temporarily living outside of the US, to return his or her vote by mail ballot by fax.

“Voting is essential to the democratic process and we need to make sure that the young men and women in our Armed Services have every opportunity and right to vote while they are overseas protecting the United States,” stated Ms. Salas as she spoke to members of the California Senate.

Assembly Bill 2786 had no opposition and was supported by the National Guard Association of California, California State Commanders Veterans Council, California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, and the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials.