A new California bill will permit registered voters to indefinitely vote by mail in statewide and local elections beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The law will require the state to send ballots to nearly 22 million registered voters in June and November during the election year.   As the COVID-19 pandemic led to temporary authorization of mail-in ballots sent to every registered voter, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 37—drafted by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park)—into law Sept. 27, which permanently codified the interim ruling.  “As states across our country continue to enact undemocratic voter suppression laws, California is increasing voter access, expanding voting options and bolstering elections integrity and transparency,” Newsom said in a statement.  All registered voters received absentee ballots for the 2020 United States presidential election and 2021 gubernatorial recall election as a safety measure to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in polling stations. The governor’s office foresees the change will “increase access to democracy,” according to a September press release.  California is now the eighth state to enact a universal mail-in-ballot policy.  “The bill will permanently expand access and increase participation in our elections by making voting more convenient and meeting people where …