California Senate Bill 73 strengthens protections for voters and the state’s election system. The law defends our vote from interference, intimidation, and improper law enforcement activity. Signed into law on May 27, 2026, this emergency legislation took effect immediately.
Thanks to Senator Cervantes and Senator Umberg for authoring this important measure, as well as the legislators who supported the bill and Governor Newsom for signing it into law. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights co-sponsored the legislation.
SB 73 equips the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and allied civil rights groups with legal tools to prevent interference and protect communities during election cycles. The law improves existing restrictions on law enforcement, armed personnel, and federal agents from guarding polling stations or interfering with election administration without authorization. It gives a basis to demand the removal of unauthorized armed individuals or federal officers that might intimidate voters and provides enhanced legal tools if officials attempt to suppress votes of historically disenfranchised communities.
What SB 73 Does
- Restricts Access to Voter Information: Prohibits giving law enforcement agents, including federal officials such as ICE and Border Patrol agents, access to voter rolls or voting systems without a court order.
- Limits Law Enforcement Interference: Bars peace officers from interfering with election administration or disrupting election workers, except under public health or safety threats.
- Standardizes Guidance for Local Officials: Requires the California Department of Justice to issue clear protocols for local election officials on how to handle law enforcement requests seeking access to polling places.
- Limits Armed Guards at the Polls: Strengthens existing prohibitions by giving the California Secretary of State and Attorney General the authority to block local attempts to station armed or uniformed personnel at polling places.
- Strengthens Protections against Ballot Seizure: Makes it a crime punishable by a fine, prison time, or both to knowingly remove ballots from the custody of an elections official.
- Limits Challenges to Mail-in Ballots: Prohibits election observers from making such challenges on the basis that the signature on a return envelope does not match the one that appears in the voters’ registration records.
Racial justice can’t be achieved without eradicating discriminatory barriers to voting and guaranteeing every person has a say in our democracy. Raising our voices through the democratic process helps us influence governments to deliver what we need, from worker protections to immigrant justice to housing rights. At Asian Law Caucus, we fight for Asian American, Pacific Islander, immigrant, limited-English speaking, and other disenfranchised people to make sure their voices are heard.
Support the California Voting Rights Act of 2026
ALC will continue to fight for the future of our multiracial democracy. The Callais decision gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and made it significantly harder to challenge racial discrimination in redistricting at the federal level. SB 73 reflects California’s broader commitment to defending voting rights through state law at a moment when federal protections are being eroded by addressing polling place interference and voter intimidation. The Asian Law Caucus is proud to be on the steering committee of the California Democracy Partnership. This coalition sponsors the California Voting Rights Act of 2026, legislation to add new protections against voter discrimination and bolster our democracy.
Know Your Voting Rights and Help Protect Democracy in California:
In the U.S., Asian American immigrants were barred from becoming naturalized citizens until 1952––and by extension, denied a voice in our democracy. For generations, we have fought for the right to vote freely and fairly, and today, we’re still fighting to make sure every voter, no matter what language we use, can cast our ballots. During each election season, the Asian Law Caucus prepares a wide range of voting rights and voter engagement fact sheets and resources. Translated versions of the materials are also available on this page.
We offer training sessions and workshops on voter registration and know-your-rights for first-time voters.