SB 73: Elections.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Existing state and federal law provides for the enforcement of laws related to elections.

This bill would prohibit a peace officer from interfering with the administration of an election, as specified. This bill would authorize certain persons to enforce those prohibitions by filing a civil action, as specified. This bill would also prohibit any individual from permitting an agent of a law enforcement agency, as specified, to access, disrupt, modify, or take possession of rosters, combined rosters, or voter lists unless authorized by a court order or to investigate certain types of voting fraud. The bill would additionally require the Attorney General to provide guidance and information regarding how to respond to requests by law enforcement, as defined, to access areas where ballots are present.

(2)Existing law requires an elections official, upon receiving a vote by mail ballot, to compare the signature on the identification envelope with the voter’s prior signatures, and it also provides a mechanism by which a voter can verify their signature and cure this defect. Existing law provides that the processing of vote by mail ballots is open to the public and permits specified persons and organizations to observe this processing.

This bill would prohibit a vote by mail observer from challenging a signature on a vote by mail ballot that has been verified by the voter.

(3)Under existing law, it is a crime for a person in possession of a firearm, a uniformed peace officer, private guard, or security personnel, or any person wearing the uniform of a peace officer, guard, or security personnel, to be stationed in the immediate vicinity of, or posted at, a polling place without authorization from the appropriate elections official. It is also a crime for a person to hire or arrange for such a person to be stationed in the immediate vicinity of, or posted at, a polling place without authorization from the elections official.

This bill would authorize the Secretary of State or Attorney General to object to authorization provided by the appropriate elections official, in which case the person stationed or posted at the polling place, or the person who hired or arranged for such a person to be stationed or posted at the polling place, is guilty of a crime. By expanding the scope of these crimes, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 8

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 10, Statutes of 2026.
2. May 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. May 26, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
4. May 26, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 4439.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. May 22, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. May 22, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 57. Noes 19. Page 5251.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. May 18, 2026Ordered to third reading.
8. May 18, 2026Read third time and amended.
9. May 14, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. May 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 13).
11. May 11, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. May 7, 2026Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Ayes 52. Noes 16. Page 4947.)