Poll Finds Wide Partisan Split on Trust in California Elections

Overview

• The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released Tuesday found 65% of registered Californians trust local election officials while 31% do not, with 79% of Democrats, 62% of independents and 42% of Republicans expressing confidence.
• Mark DiCamillo, the poll director, said the sharp trust gap is driven largely by narratives promoted by President Trump and his supporters that question election integrity.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last week that bars federal agents from seizing ballots, voter rolls or voting machines without a warrant and the state attorney general says his office is preparing legal responses for a range of possible federal actions.
• Concerns have been amplified by local moves such as Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s recent seizure of hundreds of thousands of ballots, an action that critics say raises legal and public-confidence questions.
• Election experts say there is little evidence of widespread fraud in California and legal fights over Trump administration orders on proof of citizenship and mail ballots are ongoing, which could shape how federal and state officials interact before and after upcoming elections.