Los Angeles, Sept 2026 : California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of 13 bills aimed at strengthening protections for the state’s November midterm elections, covering areas including mail-in ballots, election records, voting technology, cybersecurity and voter access.
The measures were signed on September 19, ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election, which will feature contests for the US House of Representatives, California state offices and the state Legislature.
Among the measures is Assembly Bill 282, which makes it a felony to seize, or assist in the seizure of, ballots, election records or certified voting technology before election results are officially certified. The law also applies to individuals with authority who direct someone under their supervision to carry out such an action.
Senate Bill 259 establishes criminal penalties for interference with vote-by-mail ballots. Under the legislation, it is a felony for a person with authority to direct someone under their supervision to interfere with the delivery or return of a vote-by-mail ballot. It also creates a misdemeanor offence for a person responsible for a vote-by-mail ballot who interferes with its delivery to a voter.
Another measure, Assembly Bill 1664, requires local agencies, political subdivisions and election officials to notify California’s Secretary of State and Attorney General within one calendar day after becoming aware of certain warrants, subpoenas or active law-enforcement investigations involving the search, seizure or retention of election records or certified voting technology.
The wider legislative package also addresses deceptive election-related communications, manipulated media, paid political content, election cybersecurity, voting rights, language access and vote-by-mail procedures.
The legislation comes amid an ongoing dispute between California officials and the administration of US President Donald Trump over federal election policies. California officials have opposed certain federal efforts involving access to voter information and proposed changes concerning mail-in voting. The state has also challenged federal actions in court.
Newsom, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta have said the measures are intended to strengthen election administration and protect against interference. These characterisations reflect the position of California officials.
Weber said the legislation was intended to ensure that California voters would not be “silenced or intimidated”, while Newsom said the measures would build on safeguards already in place across the state.
The 13 bills signed as part of the package are AB 282, SB 259, AB 2103, AB 502, AB 686, AB 1130, AB 1664, AB 2281, SB 1164, SB 1360, SB 884, SB 1418 and SB 1420.
The new measures will be in effect as California prepares for the November 2026 elections and further expands its legal framework governing election administration and voter access.
