California Governor signs bills to tighten election security and increase transparency
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a series of measures aimed at strengthening voting safeguards, penalizing ballot seizures and enhancing disclosure rules for political influencers.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills on Saturday intended to bolster the security of California’s voting system ahead of the November 3 midterm election. The legislation includes provisions that require counties to open ballot-drop locations two days earlier than usual, prohibit electioneering within 200 feet of polling places and limit police arrests near voting sites to serious crimes. A new felony offense makes the seizure of ballots, election records or voting machines punishable by up to four years in prison, and another bill criminalizes interference with mail ballots in transit.
The measures also mandate that election officials promptly notify the attorney general and secretary of state of any warrants, subpoenas or investigations involving election equipment. Additional statutes expand protections under the California Voting Rights Act, ban voter suppression and require election materials to be provided in multiple languages.
Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber praised the actions, saying they demonstrate the state’s resolve to protect democratic processes.
The bills respond to recent controversies, including a February incident in Riverside County where Sheriff Chad Bianco ordered deputies to seize more than 650,000 ballots, a move currently being reviewed by the California Supreme Court. Lawmakers also approved a requirement for greater transparency from social-media influencers who receive payment from political campaigns, following heightened scrutiny during the June primary.