The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety advanced Senate Bill 259 on Tuesday, sending the measure to the Elections Committee on a 7-1 vote after a hearing on the bill.
Assemblymember Schultz presented the measure on behalf of Sen. Wahab after the senator’s office did not arrive in time, according to the committee summary. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to interfere with the delivery of a vote-by-mail ballot to a voter and a felony for someone in a supervisory role to interfere with the return of a ballot to an elections official or its delivery to a voter.
A witness from SCI California testified in support, saying California should strengthen election protections and that the proposal is aimed at willful interference rather than mistakes by volunteers or local election officials. No one testified in opposition during the hearing.
After testimony, the committee approved a do-pass motion and moved SB 259 forward. The committee summary does not identify the lone no vote.
