California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed a package of election-related bills designed to limit law enforcement interference with ballots and election administration ahead of the November midterm elections. The new laws create felony penalties for the seizure of ballots and election records, restrict certain law enforcement activity near polling places, expand access to ballot drop-off locations, and require translated election materials.
Key provisions of the bills include:
- Felony penalties for the seizure of ballots or election records by law enforcement.
- Restrictions on law enforcement activity within 100 feet of polling places, except for emergencies.
- Expansion of ballot drop-off locations, including additional secure drop boxes in underserved communities.
- Mandated translated election materials in the top seven languages spoken in California, including Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Armenian, and Farsi.
Newsom signed the legislation at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, a location he cited as symbolic due to the presence of federal agents outside a political rally he hosted last year. At that event, Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino and other armed agents in tactical gear were stationed outside the venue, which Newsom described as political intimidation. The governor framed the new laws as a direct response to what he characterized as ongoing threats to election integrity, including efforts by the Trump administration to restrict mail-in voting and deploy federal monitors to polling sites.
Background on the bills’ rationale
The bills were introduced amid concerns about potential interference in the November election, including:
- The Trump administration’s 2020 effort to restrict mail-in voting via the U.S. Postal Service, which was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The deployment of federal election monitors to five California counties during a 2020 special election on redistricting, a move Newsom and supporters of the bills argue was an attempt to intimidate voters.
- A 2020 incident in Riverside County, where Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, seized ballots from a drop box under disputed legal authority, prompting legal challenges.
Supporters of the bills, including voting rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, argue that the measures are necessary to protect against partisan interference and ensure equitable access to voting. Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, stated that the laws address "unprecedented concerns about law enforcement interference" in elections, citing both federal and state actions as examples.
Opposition and legal context
Critics of the bills, including some Republican lawmakers and law enforcement groups, contend that the restrictions on law enforcement near polling places could hinder public safety efforts. They argue that existing laws already provide sufficient protections against ballot tampering and that the new penalties are overly broad. Sheriff Bianco, whose 2020 ballot seizure prompted one of the bills, has not publicly commented on the new laws but previously defended his actions as necessary to prevent fraud.
The new laws also build on California’s existing election safeguards, which include universal mail-in ballots, automatic voter registration, and expanded early voting. The state has positioned itself as a leader in voting access, with a history of challenging federal election policies perceived as restrictive. The signing of these bills comes as California prepares for a high-turnout November election, with early voting already underway in some counties.