Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes elections regulations related to ballot protection in California.

Highlights:

• Requires the Attorney General to provide information to county election officials on how election officials, precinct boards, election workers, and election volunteers should respond to requests by law enforcement agents to access areas where ballots are cast, handled, processed, counted, tabulated, tallied, audited, or recounted (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits peace officers from interfering with the administration of an election in any manner, and authorizes the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to bring civil action to enforce this section (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a vote by mail observer from challenging a signature on a vote by mail ballot that has been verified by the voter (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any individual from permitting a law enforcement agent to access, disrupt, modify, or take possession of rosters or voter lists without a court order (Sec. 5).

• Classifies the following as a crime, and authorizes the Secretary of State, Attorney General, or appropriate elections official to bring criminal action against a violator (Sec. 6-7):

• Authorizing a peace officer, security guard, or individual possessing a firearm to be stationed at a polling place; and

• Taking ballots from the custody of an elections official.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes elections regulations related to ballot protection in California.

Highlights:

• Requires the Attorney General to provide information to county election officials on how election officials, precinct boards, election workers, and election volunteers should respond to requests by law enforcement agents to access areas where ballots are cast, handled, processed, counted, tabulated, tallied, audited, or recounted (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits peace officers from interfering with the administration of an election in any manner, and authorizes the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to bring civil action to enforce this section (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a vote by mail observer from challenging a signature on a vote by mail ballot that has been verified by the voter (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any individual from permitting a law enforcement agent to access, disrupt, modify, or take possession of rosters or voter lists without a court order (Sec. 5).

• Classifies the following as a crime, and authorizes the Secretary of State, Attorney General, or appropriate elections official to bring criminal action against a violator (Sec. 6-7):

• Authorizing a peace officer, security guard, or individual possessing a firearm to be stationed at a polling place; and

• Taking ballots from the custody of an elections official.

Full Bill Text