Following the signing of election safeguarding bills earlier this summer, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature are doubling down to ensure California continues to defend democracy as new threats from Donald Trump and his election-rigging allies emerge. Today, that legislation is in print:

AB 282 (Pellerin) — establishes two new felonies. Prohibits any person from seizing or causing the seizure of ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before election results are certified, punishable up to 3 years in prison. Prohibits any person with authority from directing someone in their supervision to do the same, punishable by up to 4 years in prison.

SB 259 (Wahab) — establishes a new felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison for a person in a position with authority who directs another person subject to their supervision and authority to interfere with a ballot’s delivery to a voter or return to the local elections official. Additionally adds a misdemeanor punishing anyone who interferes with the delivery of a vote by mail ballot to a voter.

This “Election Protection” legislative package builds on lessons learned from recent actions and threats to interfere with election administration — ensuring California has the strongest legal protections in the nation to safeguard every lawful vote.

https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2026/08/24/after-scotus-ruling-on-mail-in-ballots-newsom-decides-he-needs-to-sue-n2206021