Bills to Protect the Integrity of the Electoral Process Pass Out of First Committee
Sacramento, Calif. — The California Senate Elections Committee today passed a pair of bills, authored by Senator Josh Newman, to uphold the rectitude of elections.
Both bills, SB 921 and SB 1131, seek to buttress the pillar of American democracy and passed with no "no" votes.
“From the first day of campaigning to the counting of the last ballot, the transparency of our electoral process and the security of election workers are paramount to maintaining our democracy,” said Senator Newman. “By adapting to rapid changes in campaign technology and responding to increasing concerns about election security, this pair of bills will provide assurance to Californians that they can continue to count on the highest standards of political accountability and electoral integrity.”
As recommended by the Fair Political Practice Commission’s (FPPC) Task Force on Digital Transparency, SB 921 will provide improved access to and legal oversight of digital political advertisements. This bill will create an online archive of every digital political ad employed by a political campaign or committee and will provide voters and stakeholders more information about campaign activity, including the messaging used by committees, their funding sources and the amounts paid to the platforms or persons.
To offset increasing harassment and violent threats directed at election workers, SB 1131 will allow those workers to enroll in either of the state’s address protection programs – the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program or the state’s address confidentiality program for public officials.
Safe at Home, designed to protect survivors of domestic violence and employees who work at reproductive healthcare facilities, redirects the mail of people enrolled in the program. Alternatively, election workers may enroll in a program that allows state and local agencies to respond to public records requests without disclosing the address of an election worker.
SB 921 and SB 1131 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in April.
To schedule an interview with Senator Newman, contact Lizzie Cootsona at 916.651.4526.
WHAT OTHERS SAYING
SB 921
“In this fast-changing digital world, a California political ad archive would provide California voters an easy way to find out who is responsible for each ad they receive,” said Richard C. Miadich, Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission, sponsor of SB 921. “The FPPC is grateful for Senator Newman’s support of this concept, which will help California to continue being a national leader in campaign finance transparency.”
SB 1131
"Election officials and their staff are democracy’s front line workers. Conducting secure elections now requires safeguarding election workers' physical safety. This legislation will help protect California’s election workers from threats and harassment and provide an additional layer of election security,” said Kim Alexander, President and Founder of the California Voter Foundation, cosponsor of SB 1131.
“Election officials should not have to fear for their safety or the safety of their families while doing their job. California must protect them as they protect our elections. Passing this bill would make the state a national leader in safeguarding election officials and keeping our democracy fair, free, and open to all,” said Gowri Ramachandran, Senior Counsel in the Democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice, cosponsor of SB 1131.
"Election workers strive every day to protect our vote and our voice in democracy," said Stephanie Doute, Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of California, supporter of SB 1131. "The ongoing violent threats against and harassment of election workers makes it vital for us to ensure their safety and privacy."
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State Senator Josh Newman represents the 29th Senate District, which is comprised of portions of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. The 29th District includes all or parts of the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Chino Hills, City of Industry, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Rowland Heights, Stanton, Walnut, West Covina and Yorba Linda. Senator Newman is a former United States Army officer, businessperson, and veterans’ advocate, and lives in Fullerton with his wife and daughter.