California adds new laws to preempt Trump’s voting interference

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a spate of bills Saturday that aim to safeguard California elections and preemptively address potential actions by President Donald Trump to interfere with election results or limit how Californians can vote.

• Newsom, in a statement: “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.”

Trump avows that his administration is attempting to stop widespread election fraud, which is exceedingly rare, and prevent noncitizens from voting. But critics argue that his actions make it harder for eligible voters to cast their ballots.

Among the 13 bills the governor signed is one that would make it a felony to seize — or order the seizure of — ballots, election records or voting machines before election results are certified. 

Lawmakers introduced the bill after Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 600,000 ballots in March for an investigation that Bianco characterized as a “fact-finding mission.” The seizure drew legal challenges from two local Democratic elected officials and the California attorney general, which the state Supreme Court is currently weighing.

Newsom also signed legislation that makes it a felony to interfere with the delivery or return of mail-in ballots. The move comes days after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to limit mail-in voting through new rules issued by the U.S. Postal Service.

Amid concerns among Democrats that the administration could deploy federal agents to intimidate voters at the polls, Newsom also signed a bill banning police officers from making arrests within 200 feet of a polling location on Election Day, except for crimes against a person or property, or crimes related to disrupting people from voting.

Some of the 13 bills faced opposition from Republican legislators, outside groups and individuals. Bianco said one of the bills could expose police officers to felony accusations for acting on a judicial warrant. The First Amendment Coalition opposed a bill that prohibits digitally altered campaign advertisements in a deceptive way. Meanwhile, the California State Sheriffs’ Association opposed a bill over concerns it gives the state’s attorney general too much power.

Other Newsom happenings: The governor issued an executive order directing state agencies to develop artificial intelligence safety recommendations by Nov. 16, reports CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang. Some of the rules — such as requiring AI developers to include a “kill switch” to shut off programs — were part of a bill he vetoed two years ago. 

Newsom’s reversal comes as public fears grow over AI and its potential catastrophic harms. California’s gubernatorial candidates also say AI warrants more regulations, but details on how they will ensure that remain scant.