The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.California SB 1418 expands protections for election records and voting technology
Record date · September 4, 2026
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What This Bill Would Do
SB 1418 prohibits the destruction of all election-related records, , and electronic data until any active election contest or criminal prosecution is finalized. The bill also expands existing criminal penalties and civil liability for the unauthorized removal of these materials from the custody of election officials.
This bill increases the legal obligations of local election officials to secure and store digital election data and equipment, while expanding the scope of criminal and civil penalties for tampering with or removing election materials.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Local elections officials
They are required to store electronic media in sealed containers and are subject to new mandates regarding the preservation of all election-related equipment and data.
Election technology vendors
They are subject to expanded civil and criminal liability if they remove certified voting technology or source code from the custody of an election official.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill change the penalties for tampering with election equipment?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Version history & redline
3 versions on fileOfficial version history is partial: 3 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.
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Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Election Material Definition
The bill shifts from protecting only 'ballots' to protecting the entire digital ecosystem of an election, including source code and specific storage hardware.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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