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California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of 13 election-protection bills on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, creating new state felonies for seizing ballots, election records, or voting equipment before results are certified, and for directing others to interfere with vote-by-mail ballots.
The signing took place at the Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Center (Tateuchi Democracy Forum) in Los Angeles—the same site where federal agents appeared outside a Newsom event last year. Newsom’s office described the measures as a direct response to what it called escalating efforts by President Donald Trump and the federal government to interfere with California’s elections ahead of the November midterms.
“Donald Trump won’t stop until he can exert dictatorial control over your free vote and disenfranchise millions of people this November. California will stop him at every opportunity,” Newsom said. He tied the package to a July 4 pledge to defend the ballot. Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta issued supporting statements framing the bills as a “shield” against interference.
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