State attorney general defends security for mail-in ballots

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(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta reiterated voting procedures during a Los Angeles press conference on Tuesday, urging voters to mail their ballots at least one week before Election Day while hitting back against voter fraud claims and potential federal interference.

With three weeks remaining until the Nov. 3 general election, Bonta sought to address voter concerns following federal policy changes and recent legal disputes surrounding elections.

“It is business as usual,” Bonta said at the press conference. “You can still vote in all the ways, on all the days that California law has made available to you.”

California operates under universal vote-by-mail, automatically dispatching ballots to all registered voters. According to Bonta, nearly 90% of state voters cast their ballots by mail.

State officials are encouraging early submission due to postmarking and postal delivery timelines. To be counted, a mail-in ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and arrive at county election offices within seven days after Election Day.

During California's primary election in June, nearly two-thirds of the roughly 150,000 rejected mail ballots were turned away because they were postmarked or delivered after legal deadlines, Bonta said. He advised voters mailing ballots close to Election Day to request a direct hand-postmark at a post office counter or drop them off at designated vote centers or drop boxes.

The online voter registration deadline is Oct. 19. Eligible residents missing the deadline can register in person through same-day voter registration at local election offices or vote centers up to and on Election Day.

Bonta pointed to several legal victories defended by his office, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that blocked federal attempts to restrict mail-voting access ahead of the November election. He also referenced court rulings ordering the return of 650,000 ballots in Riverside County and upholding an injunction against Shasta County’s Measure B, which sought to eliminate vote-by-mail and early voting options. 

Responding to queries about potential Election Day disruptions, Bonta said the state Department of Justice is preparing for contingencies, including potential presence by federal law enforcement, armed military personnel, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers near polling locations.

“It's illegal under federal law to have military or people with weapons at or near polling stations,” Bonta said. “If you can imagine it, we are ready for it, because we owe our constituents here in California readiness and preparedness for any scenario that involves the Trump administration interfering with Californians' fundamental right to vote.”

The Center Square reached out Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which said ICE is not planning to target polls and referred to comments that Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin made at his Senate confirmation hearing.

“I don't understand what the concern is about enforcement of immigration at polling places anyways because honestly if you're not a citizen, you shouldn't be voting anyways so technically there shouldn't be illegals at the polling spot," Mullin told senators. “The only reason why my officers would be there is if there was a specific threat for them to be there, not for intimidation.”

When asked about claims surrounding vote-by-mail security, Bonta rejected allegations of systemic voter fraud, calling them "conspiracy theories" and asserting that audits and court reviews have repeatedly affirmed election integrity.

"There is no widespread voter fraud," Bonta said.

He added that his office will deploy attorneys, investigators and support staff across the state to monitor compliance and respond to potential election law violations through Election Day.

In addition to Bonta's comments, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks defended mail-in voting.

“Despite Donald Trump’s unfounded attacks on vote-by-mail and our Democracy, California voters should know this: Voting by mail remains a safe, secure, and legal way to conveniently make your voice heard in this election," Hicks told The Center Square in an email Tuesday afternoon.

The Center Square reached out Tuesday to the White House and state Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin for their responses to Bonta's comments. They did not respond by publication time.

The California attorney general's press conference was held a month after federal authorities announced criminal charges related to California's ballot petition process. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, three individuals were indicted in the Central District of California for allegedly paying individuals on Los Angeles' Skid Row to use stolen identities of registered voters to fraudulently sign ballot initiative petitions.

“These defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

Federal officials framed the California case alongside other recent federal enforcement actions in Kansas and Louisiana involving noncitizens charged with illegal voting.

“If you are gaming the election system, voting illegally, or committing voter fraud, you are breaking the law, and the department will ensure such individuals cannot corrupt future elections,” said U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.

FBI Director Kash Patel added that the bureau “will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.”

Despite federal inquiries into signature collection, state officials maintain that California’s multi-tiered verification systems, audit procedures, and safeguards prevent fraudulent initiatives or illegal ballots from compromising election outcomes.

Californians can check registration status, locate drop boxes, or track ballots online through the California Secretary of State Election Portal or register at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.