Celebrate California Enacting New Election Safeguards

California has enacted a package of new election laws establishing additional safeguards for ballots, voting technology, election records, and election administration ahead of November’s midterm elections.

At the center of the 13-bill package is Assembly Bill 282, which makes it a felony to seize, cause, or assist in the seizure of ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before election results are certified. The law also creates penalties for people in positions of authority who direct someone under their supervision to carry out such a seizure.

Another measure, Assembly Bill 1664, requires local agencies and election officials to notify California’s secretary of state and attorney general within one calendar day after learning of a warrant, subpoena, or active law-enforcement investigation involving election records or certified voting technology. Other bills address interference with mail ballots, election cybersecurity, deceptive election content, language access, and voting procedures.

The package builds on Senate Bill 73, which Newsom signed earlier this year. That law restricts unauthorized law-enforcement access to or disruption of voter rolls, election technology, and election workers, while establishing additional protections against the removal of ballots from election officials’ custody.

Add your name to celebrate California establishing new safeguards for ballots, election records, voting technology, and the administration of the November election!