California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of election protection bills creating new felony penalties for interfering with the state's ballots and election systems. Assembly Bill 282 makes it a felony to seize ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before election results are certified, and to direct others to do so.
Senate Bill 259 makes it a felony for a person with authority to direct others to interfere with the delivery or return of vote-by-mail ballots. The bill also makes it a misdemeanor for anyone in charge of a mail ballot to interfere with its delivery to a voter.
The legislation also includes provisions to enhance language access for voters, extend vote-by-mail drop-off hours, establish uniform procedures allowing voters to vote mail ballots at polling locations, and expand protections under the California Voting Rights Act. The package also criminalizes taking election materials or voting technology from the custody of election officials and expands materials required for preservation if an election contest is underway.
"No one should doubt the degree of our resolve in protecting our democracy," said Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber in a statement.