Gavin Newsom wants to make seizing ballots a felony

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will introduce new legislation making ballot seizure before they are counted and certified by a state or county official a felony. In a July 4 recorded speech, Newsom was not shy about who the law targets.

“We will not be his victims,” Newsom said. “We will be the wall he cannot get past, because we believe that once an election is decided, the winner governs for everyone. That’s the architecture of American liberty.”

The “he” refers to President Donald Trump, who has spearheaded a movement of election skepticism through repeated — and repeatedly proven false — claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

In June, Trump said Democrats were “stealing” California’s primary election, despite no evidence proving this and a well-documented absentee ballot counting process within the state.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who lost the Republican primary election for governor in the state, seized over 650,000 ballots after a redistricting referendum last year. 

Bianco is a longtime election conspiracist. Democracy Docket reported on his ardent anti-voting stance, including social media comments that “some people should never be allowed to vote” in March.

Newsom warned in his speech that anyone who aided Trump in his crusade of election interference would face prosecution, no matter who gave the order.

“If you violate California’s laws, if you interfere with our voters, tamper with our ballots or meddle in our election, you will be prosecuted,” Newsom said. 

The governor has already signed a bill — Senate Bill 73 — making county-wide ballot seizures by anyone, including law enforcement, a crime. This would result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to three years in prison. 

But Newsom’s new proposed legislation is different. 

The legislation, which has not yet been made public, still targets anyone who may interfere with an election within the state but will establish ballot seizure specifically as a “new felony,” according to a fact sheet provided by the governor’s office.

With the state’s recent budget approval, Newsom also invested over $40 million in election security measures, including $750,000 toward ensuring “the state is prepared to guard against federal interference,” according to the fact sheet.

In his speech on Independence Day, Newsom also made note of the Department of Justice’s repeated failed attempts to obtain private voter data, Trump’s unprecedented National Guard deployment in Los Angeles and the intimidation of poll workers by federal agents.

“In this state, our vote is sacred,” Newsom said. “Our polling places will be free of intimidation. Our counting will be open, honest, and complete.”