New Laws by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin Bolster Election Security

Sacramento, CA - Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), chair of the Assembly Elections Committee, strengthening California's election safeguards by making it a felony to seize ballots before results are certified, keeping hate speech out of official voter guides, and cracking down on deceptive uses of artificial intelligence in elections and the legislative process.

Pellerin, who spent 27 years as Santa Cruz County's chief elections official, authored the bills in response to growing federal threats and new technology that put voters at risk of disinformation and interference.

"Secure, transparent, and fair elections are the foundation of a healthy democracy," Assemblymember Pellerin said. "As technological advances and federal action threaten the integrity of our elections, I'm grateful to Governor Newsom and my colleagues in the Legislature for their quick action to ensure our elections remain secure."

Protecting Ballot Custody

AB 282 (Pellerin) - Signed September 19, makes it a felony to seize ballots, election records, or certified voting equipment before results are certified, or to direct someone else to do so.

The bill responds to growing threats of interference in election administration and the need to protect the integrity of the vote-counting process. Those concerns were underscored by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of more than 650,000 ballots following the November 2025 special election. That incident highlighted the need for clear safeguards against officials taking control of ballots before the count is complete.

Keeping Disinformation Out of State Information Guides

AB 1853 (Pellerin) - Signed September 27, limits candidate statements printed in voter guides to a candidate's education, professional experience, public service, community involvement, and qualifications for office. Statements may not contain links to external content (other than a candidate's campaign website), false or misleading claims, or content that is profane, vulgar, or that threatens or incites violence. The Secretary of State and county elections officials can reject content that breaks these rules, and any registered voter can go to court to enforce them.

Pellerin introduced the bill after a candidate used the June 2026 Official State Voter Information Guide to spread antisemitic and hateful rhetoric instead of sharing any qualifications. A priority bill for the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, AB 1853 was jointly authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and co-authored by 14 legislators.

"AB 1853 ensures that our taxpayer-funded, official state voter guides will not serve as an avenue for dishonest and irrelevant attacks," Assemblymember Pellerin said. "Californians deserve to trust that nonpartisan, state-issued information is accurate, and this bill gives elections officials the authority to uphold that standard."

Guarding Against Deceptive AI

AB 502 (Pellerin) - Signed September 19, this bill strengthens California's law against knowingly distributing deceptive election-related content, including AI-generated deepfakes. Supported by Attorney General Rob Bonta, the bill builds on Pellerin's 2024 law, AB 2839, by refining when and how the protections apply, ensuring voters are shielded from false content about voting systems, elections, and candidates' beliefs in the run-up to Election Day.

AB 1736 (Pellerin) - Signed July 13, bars lobbyist employers from "astroturfing," or using AI to create fake people who flood public comment portals on bills, regulations, and other government actions. Sponsored by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the bill extends the Political Reform Act's existing restrictions on deceptive lobbying techniques to lobbyist employers.

"As artificial intelligence tools become more sophisticated and accessible, California must be proactive in protecting the integrity of our legislative and governmental processes," FPPC Chair Adam E. Silver said. "The Fair Political Practices Commission thanks Governor Gavin Newsom for signing AB 1736 into law, and we thank Assemblymember Gail Pellerin for her forward-thinking leadership in enacting these vital protections. By keeping pace with technological change, we are safeguarding our democratic institutions and ensuring that the voices our leaders hear remain genuine, transparent, and authentic."

Investing in Voter Education and Election Administration

Pellerin also championed election funding in the 2026-27 state budget, which includes:

• $29 million for increased staffing, technology and equipment upgrades and purchases to help counties improve efficiency and capacity in processing and counting ballots.
• $5 million for voter outreach and education at the county level to help Californians know resources and tools available in their community.
• $5 million for voter outreach and education at the statewide level via the Office of the Secretary of State.
• $750,000 to support statewide efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation and ensure the state is prepared to guard against federal interference.

Assemblymember Gail Pellerinrepresents California's 28th Assembly District including Santa Cruz County and parts of Santa Clara County. She chairs the Assembly Elections Committee and the Select Committee on California's Mental Health Crisis. Courtesy photos can be foundHERE.

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