Governor Gavin Newsom announced California's intent to sue the Trump administration over its Executive Order concerning mail-in ballots, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision. This action comes alongside the introduction of new legislation aimed at safeguarding the electoral process in the state.
"The Supreme Court just let the Trump administration move ahead (for now) with its plan to disenfranchise voters across the country. California will be suing AGAIN to block these Orwellian rules from being implemented," Governor Gavin Newsom said. This legal challenge underscores California's commitment to defending its elections.
New legislative proposals, AB 282 (Pellerin) and SB 259 (Wahab), establish new felonies to protect ballots and election integrity. AB 282 prohibits seizing ballots or election records before certification, with penalties up to three years in prison, and up to four years for those in authority directing such actions. SB 259 criminalizes interfering with ballot delivery to voters or election officials, carrying up to four years in prison for those in authority, and a misdemeanor for others.
These "Election Protection" measures are complemented by significant budget investments. The state allocated $29 million for county staffing and technology to speed up ballot counting, $10 million for voter outreach and education, and $750,000 to combat mis- and disinformation and guard against federal interference. These efforts build on Governor Newsom's history of signing over 30 bills to defend democracy during his tenure.