CaliforniaCalifornia makes election material seizures before certification felonies
California law makes it a felony to seize election materials before results are certified, and separately penalizes people who direct others to do so.
What it does
A person who takes covered election materials from election officials’ control before results are certified, or causes or helps with the seizure, commits a felony punishable by 16 months, two years, or three years in prison.
A person with authority who directs someone under their supervision or authority to seize covered election materials before results are certified commits a separate felony, punishable by two, three, or four years in prison.
The act took effect immediately so its election security rules could apply to the November 3, 2026 statewide general election.
Argument forThe penalties may deter people from disrupting vote counting and certification by taking ballots or other election materials from officials.
Argument againstPeople could face years in prison for removing ballots, records, or voting technology from election officials’ control before results are certified.
More detail
A person who seizes covered election materials, or causes or helps with a seizure, commits a felony. The materials are ballots, election records, or certified voting technology, including any part of them. A seizure means removing materials from the custody and control of authorized election officials, subject to the stated exceptions. The rule applies before election results are certified under state law.
A person with authority who directs someone under their supervision or authority to seize covered materials commits a felony. The rule covers a person who directs one or more people under their supervision or authority. The directed seizure must meet the law’s definition of seizure and is subject to its stated exceptions. The rule applies when the directed seizure happens before election results are certified.
The act took effect immediately as an urgency statute. The immediate effective date applies to the whole act. The act says immediate effect was needed for its protections to apply to the November 3, 2026 statewide general election. It took effect on September 19, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 19Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 330, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 19Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 9Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31
- Vote recorded AB 282 Pellerin Concurrence - Urgency Added. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 18. Page 6899.).Major
- Vote recorded With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (August 30).Minor
- Aug 30From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Aug 30(Pending re-refer to Com. on APPR.)Minor
- Aug 30Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 6844.)
- Aug 30Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6844.)
- Aug 28From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 28). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB282 Pellerin By Wahab Urgency Clause. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on [Public Safety]. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 28Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6793.)
- Aug 28Re-referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS, PUB. S., and APPR.Minor
- Aug 28Pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2:
- Aug 28In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 28Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).Passed Senate
- Aug 27(Ayes 28. Noes 10.)
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 27From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 27).Minor
- Aug 26From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (August 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Elections and Constitutional Amendments]. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E. & C.A. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 26). Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.Minor
- Aug 24Joint Rules 61 and 62(a) suspended. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.)
- Aug 24Re-referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and E. & C.A.Minor
- Aug 24Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (c).Minor
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Aug 21Ordered to second reading.Minor
- Aug 21From inactive file.
- 2025
- Sep 8Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Gonzalez.
- Aug 20Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 19From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jul 17Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 16From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (July 15).Major
- Jul 15
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 21Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 8In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 282 Pellerin Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 8Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 13. Page 1476.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 10Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 9From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 8).Major
- Apr 8
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Coauthors revised.
- Feb 18Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and JUD.Minor
- Jan 23From printer. May be heard in committee February 22.
- Jan 22Read first time. To print.Introduced
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