Alex Padilla

FILE - California Secretary of State Alex Padilla talks during a news conference Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. “It is appalling that Congress has not provided the needed resources for state and local elections officials during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Padilla. “Elections officials’ ability to fill the gap is nearly impossible given the already strained state and local government budgets.”(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)