CAL.Regulation
California sets temporary poll protections for the 2026-2029 elections
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 884, the Protect Our Polls Act (Chapter 340, Statutes of 2026), on September 19, 2026 as an urgency statute for elections from November 2026 through 2029. Ballot drop-off locations must open at least 30 days before election day, officers may not arrest anyone within 200 feet of a polling place on election day except for specified crimes, counties may extend electioneering bans to 200 feet, and disrupted polling places may stay open later.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) →
Key points
- Chapter 340, urgency statute; effective September 19, 2026; applies from the November 3, 2026 election.California Legislative Information
- Vote-by-mail drop-off locations must open at least 30 days before election day during regular business hours.California Legislative Information
- Officers may not arrest within 200 feet of a polling place on election day, except for specified crimes.California Legislative Information
- County boards may extend electioneering bans to 200 feet around specified voting locations.California Legislative Information
- Officers must report suspected violations to the Secretary of State and Attorney General.California Legislative Information
- Poll hours may be extended where voting was disrupted; late votes are cast provisionally.California Legislative Information
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California Legislative Information
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RegulationCal.SB 884 (Umberg) - Protect Our Polls Act (2026)CriminalElectionsRegulatoryFor practitionersFor governance