Senate approves felony for seizing ballots or voting machines before certification

The California State Senate on the floor passed Assembly Bill 282, which would make it a felony to seize ballots, election records or certified voting technology before election results are certified by the elections official.

Senator Wahab, presenting AB 282 on behalf of Assemblymember Pellerin, said the bill is intended to “prevent threats to our elections by preventing any attempts to seize ballots, election records, and certified voting technology before our election results are certified.” She told the chamber the measure would criminalize the seizure or attempted seizure of those materials, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Senator Scioto urged a no vote on the measure, arguing on the floor that “we're taking up our time solving a problem that doesn't exist,” and questioned whether the bill addressed a real and present risk in California’s elections. No other speakers pressed further debate, and the measure moved to a roll call vote.

The Senate adopted the urgency and passed the measure by roll call. The bill’s supporters described it as a protective measure aimed at ensuring that lawfully cast ballots can be counted and that election procedures are not disrupted prior to certification.

What happens next: AB 282 will be returned to the enrolled bill file for the next steps specified by law.