California Enacts Laws Against Ballot Interference Ahead of Midterms

California voters will see new criminal penalties for interfering with ballots and expanded access to mail voting when they cast ballots in the November midterms. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the measures into law this month. The statutes target actions that could disrupt vote counting or intimidate election workers. They also direct additional state resources toward verifying and processing mail ballots. Sponsors described the changes as routine updates to election administration. The timing coincides with public statements from former President Trump urging supporters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his agenda. No federal directive has yet altered California’s election procedures. State officials said the laws close gaps identified in prior audits without changing eligibility rules or deadlines. County election offices will receive new training and funding to implement the provisions before ballots are mailed.