California Attorney General Rob Bonta is sharing informational resources with voters, judges, local election officials, and law enforcement on rules and instructions to protect voting procedures ahead of Election Day amid heightened concerns over election interference. “I know some Californians may be wondering whether everything coming out of Washington[D.C.] has changed how they can vote,” Bonta said at a briefing Wednesday in San Francisco. “Let me be clear: California’s elections are moving forward as usual … Your fundamental voting rights remain protected under California law and the rules for casting your ballots have not changed.” With Election Day next week, concerns over possible election interference have risen, especially with recent actions from the federal government. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice recently attempted to get California to set aside 20,000 mail-in ballots of voters the DOJ claimed were noncitizens. Earlier this week, a federal appeals court rejected the attempt. “Over the past year, we’ve watched the federal administration try to take control of how Americans vote, threatened to send federal law enforcement to polling places, and spread misinformation meant to make people doubt our elections, meant to sow distrust in our elections,” Bonta said. Bonta’s office has posted four notices as a resource that contain guidance on legal protections against election interference and public warnings on possible misinformation on elections being spread through different platforms. The first “publication” is a legal alert providing guidance for judges and election officials on what to do in case law enforcement tries to seize election materials pursuant to criminal search warrants. In January, the FBI used a warrant to seize ballots from an election office in Fulton County, Georgia in connection to the 2020 election. Elections Sep 17 Bay Area voter guide: What to know about the November 2026 election Decision 2026 Oct 2 What to know about California propositions in the November election Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who also unsuccessfully ran for governor this year, seized hundreds of thousands of ballots after the state’s November 2025 special election to try to prove voter fraud. The state Supreme Court ruled that it was an illegal seizure and ordered Bianco to return the ballots. “If such a seizure occurs during the upcoming general election period, it will significantly affect the State’s ability and duty to administer the election, as well as impact Californians’ fundamental right to vote,” the alert reads. The alert seeks to provide guidance on ballot chain-of-custody requirements and recommendations for courts reviewing search warrant requests of election materials. The alert can be found at oag.ca.gov. Bonta also shared bulletins on state Senate Bill 73, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed earlier this year. The law strengthens protections against law enforcement interfering in election procedures through intimidation or taking election materials without a court order. A bulletin providing guidance for election workers and others on SB 73 can be found at oag.ca.gov. The third bulletin is directed to all law enforcement agencies and outlines various state and federal laws pertaining to law enforcement’s limitations in conducting operations in or around polling places. It can be found at oag.ca.gov. “It is a violation of the federal government’s own federal law to have armed individuals at or near polling stations, whether it be ICE, whether it be the National Guard, whether it be other members of the military,” Bonta said. The informational resources were crafted by Bonta partly in response to rising concerns over possible immigration enforcement at polling places. Recently, there were reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings near a polling center in Yuba City in Northern California last week. While the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that it’s “not planning operations targeting polling locations,” the agency also said it may conduct “intelligence-driven targeted enforcement” in case there is an “active public safety threat” at a polling place. Furthermore, DHS said that it will enforce against noncitizens casting ballots. “Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences — including criminal charges and deportation,” the agency said in a statement. Lastly, Bonta sent out a notice warning the public of possible misinformation spreading related to casting ballots. He said that artificial intelligence and social media can be used to create inaccurate information about voting eligibility and intentionally mislead voters, which is illegal under state law. The notice urges voters to approach sensational or emotionally charged content related to the election with caution, and to cross-check information, especially from social media, against credible sources. The notice can be found at oag.ca.gov. If members of the public see a social media post or other information that is false or misleading about where, when or how to vote, they are encouraged to report it to the Secretary of State’s Office by emailing [email protected]. At the briefing, Bonta urged voters to cast their ballots early, preferably at a ballot drop box or at a vote center. Vote-by-mail ballots, he said, may not arrive in time for Election Day on Tuesday if sent now. However, vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day will still be counted. Bonta said his office is prepared for any scenario that may arise in relation to election interference in the lead-up to and on Election Day. “We will be ready to deploy and roll out and address any issues that arise that threaten to interfere with your right to vote,” he said. “If you can imagine it, we are prepared for it.” Denial of voting rights can be reported in English through the Secretary of State’s confidential toll-free voter hotline at 800-345-VOTE (8683). Other language options are available at sos.ca.gov. Reports can also be made via email at [email protected]. For up-to-date information on how to vote, check official websites, including sos.ca.gov. Voters can register to track their ballot and confirm that it is counted at california.ballottrax.net. ...read more read less