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Assembly Public Safety Committee advances SB 73 to bar military at polling places and tighten ballot custody
Summary
The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 73 as amended to the Appropriations Committee after hearing supporters say it closes loopholes that could allow armed or unauthorized personnel at polling places and opponents warn it could hinder lawful investigations; the vote was 7–1 with one not voting.
The California State Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety voted to pass Senate Bill 73 as amended to the Appropriations Committee after a hearing that split supporters and law-enforcement groups.
Senator Cervantes, the bill—s author, told the committee the measure expands protections enacted in a prior bill and would "extend the criminal penalty ... to military personnel" who are deployed at polling places and make it a felony for anyone to remove ballots from the custody of a county registrar. He said the bill also would allow the secretary of state, the attorney general and county registrars to pursue civil remedies and would prohibit law enforcement from accessing voting machines or rosters without a court order.
"We cannot stand idle by while the MAGA movement continues to…
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