California Primary Election Day 2026: Know Your Voting Rights

Jun 1, 2026 @ 12:52 PM — by Ema Rocha

Tagged with: California Voting Rights California Primary Election 2026 Time Off To Vote California Workplace Voting Rights Election Day Rights

What are my voting rights in California on Election Day 2026?

As California voters prepare for the June 2, 2026 Primary Election, it is important to understand the voting rights and ballot protections in place for Election Day. On May 27, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 73, a new ballot protection law authored by Senators Sabrina Cervantes from Riverside and Tom Umberg from Orange County. The law responds to concerns about potential federal interference in California’s elections and to an incident that occurred earlier this year in which Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized over 650,000 ballots from his county’s registrar.

SB 73 took effect immediately and aims to protect the integrity of California’s democratic process ahead of the June 2 primary election. As Senator Cervantes stated, “SB 73 puts in protections to ensure that ballots will be secured and that voters have confidence in our election system that their voices will be heard at the ballot box.”

Some of what SB 73 does includes:

Prohibits law enforcement from accessing rosters, voter lists, or certified voting technology without a court order, except to investigate specific voter fraud offenses, and requires the Attorney General to issue guidance to county elections officials on how to respond to such requests.
Restricts peace officer interference by preventing officers from interfering with election administration or disrupting election workers, except for threats to public health and safety.
Makes it a crime for armed or uniformed security personnel to be stationed near a polling place, with narrow exceptions, punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
Makes it a crime to remove or seize voter ballots from the custody of election officials, punishable by up to three years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both.
Establishes civil penalties of up to $50,000 per act for tampering with or unauthorized interference with voting systems, equipment, or ballots.

Voting rights remain fundamental to our democracy, ensuring that workers and the public’s voices are protected and heard. Elections determine who will protect workplace rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions for everyday Californians. Every vote is an opportunity to elect leaders who fight for those interests, and SB 73 ensures California voters can cast that vote without interference or intimidation.

California workers should also know that state law provides voting protections in the workplace. If a voter does not have enough time outside of working hours to vote in a statewide election, California law may allow time off to vote without loss of pay. Employers are also required to post notices advising employees of their right to take paid leave for voting in statewide elections.

Here are additional links written by our employment attorneys to learn more about your rights:

Voting matters because every Californian’s voice helps shape the laws, protections, and workplace rights that affect daily life. Understanding your voting rights can help protect your access to the ballot and reduce confusion on Election Day. If you have questions about workplace-related voting rights, time off to vote, or possible retaliation for exercising your rights, Dolan Law Firm’s California employment attorneys are available to help. Contact us for a free consultation.