Statewide — California Attorney General Rob Bonta praised a newly enacted state law designed to strengthen election protections and prevent interference with ballots and election administration, calling it an important step in safeguarding public confidence in the state’s voting system ahead of the June primary election.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 73 into law on May 27, giving the measure immediate effect less than a week before Election Day.

The legislation was authored by state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes and state Sen. Tom Umberg, along with Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.

The law comes amid heightened scrutiny of election security in California following legal disputes over the seizure of ballots in Riverside County earlier this year.

“California’s elections are already secure, and SB 73 introduces additional safeguards to enhance their integrity,” Bonta said in a statement issued after the bill was signed.

He thanked Newsom and the Legislature for taking action that he said would strengthen public trust in the electoral process.

Bonta added that “voting is the fundamental right from which all other rights flow” and said the new law makes clear that “election interference or intimidation has no place in our state.”

The legislation is part of a broader effort by California officials to bolster election safeguards amid concerns about interference in election administration.

According to state leaders, SB 73 was designed to clarify protections surrounding ballots and election infrastructure while establishing additional consequences for unauthorized interference with election materials.

Newsom signed the measure after months of controversy stemming from actions taken by Riverside County Sheriff and gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco, who launched an investigation into alleged election irregularities and seized hundreds of thousands of ballots related to California’s 2025 Proposition 50 election.

State officials, voting-rights advocates and the attorney general’s office challenged those actions in court, arguing they threatened voter confidence and exceeded the sheriff’s authority.

Newsom said the new law was intended to protect California elections from future interference and strengthen safeguards surrounding ballots and election administration.

The measure also limits unauthorized access to election infrastructure and reinforces state authority to respond when election materials are improperly handled.

In conjunction with SB 73, Bonta highlighted separate legislation sponsored by the California Department of Justice. Assembly Bill (AB) 1664, authored by Assemblymembers Corey A. Jackson and Marc Berman, would expand the attorney general’s ability to respond when election records or voting systems become the subject of law enforcement investigations.

The proposal would require local agencies and election officials to notify the attorney general and Secretary of State within one business day after learning of warrants, subpoenas or investigations involving election materials.

It would also authorize the attorney general to intervene in court proceedings when appropriate.

The attorney general’s office also used the announcement to remind voters about recent changes in U.S. Postal Service operations that could affect mail-in ballots.

According to the office, ballots mailed on Election Day in some inland areas may not receive a same-day postmark, potentially preventing them from being counted.

“As California voters begin casting their ballots, I encourage them to make their voices heard by voting early at a vote center, ballot drop box, or by mail,” Bonta stated.