A new series of mandates signed by Governor Gavin Newsom establishes felony penalties for interfering with the state's voting equipment and ballot chain of custody. The legislation secures vote-by-mail processes and voting hardware to block attempts by federal officials or other actors to undermine the electoral process. These measures are scheduled for implementation before the November election.

The total package of 13 laws includes a requirement for companies to disclose whenever artificial intelligence is used in political advertisements. Newsom warned that current election safeguards could not be taken for granted and alleged that Donald Trump is seeking to rig the vote. This legal framework follows previous promises by the governor to strengthen the state's electoral infrastructure.