Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 73 on Wednesday, creating a crime for anyone who knowingly removes a package of voted ballots from an elections office punishable by up to three years in prison and a $1,000 fine.
- The law requires court authorization before law‑enforcement or federal agents may access voter rolls, certified voting machines, or other election systems and authorizes civil penalties and injunctive relief against violators.
- SB 73 directs the California Department of Justice to issue guidance to county election officials and gives state officials new authority to sue or intervene to protect ballot custody and election workers.
- The bill was driven by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s February seizure of more than 650,000 ballots and the California Supreme Court’s subsequent pause of his investigation, and it took effect immediately days before the June 2 primary.
- Supporters say the law aims to protect chain‑of‑custody and shield election workers from intimidation, while its passage also signals California’s broader effort to block perceived federal interference tied to President Trump and to strengthen local election safeguards.