Governor Newsom Signs Senator Umberg’s “Protect Our Polls Act”

SB 884 protects California’s November elections from voter intimidation and federal interference

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 884, the Protect Our Polls Act. The new law takes effect immediately, establishing safeguards against voter intimidation and arrests by federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), at polling places ahead of the November general election.

“Today, we are sending a clear message to President Trump: Hands off our elections,” said Senator Tom Umberg. “California will protect its voters and exercise its constitutional authority to run safe and secure elections. I thank Governor Newsom for signing SB 884 and ensuring no Californian has to choose between their safety and their right to vote.”

“Donald Trump won’t stop until he can exert dictatorial control over your free vote and disenfranchise millions of people this November,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “California will stop him at every opportunity. We have no bigger task than fighting to protect the right to vote from interference and meddling – the future of democracy is on the line. These bills today build upon the wall California has built to safeguard our electoral process.”

SB 884 strengthens California's election protections by:

Prohibiting law enforcement officers from making arrests within 200 feet of polling places on Election Day, with exceptions for crimes involving disruptions to polling operations or crimes against people or property.
Allowing counties to expand existing restrictions on electioneering from 100 to 200 feet around voting locations.
Requiring law enforcement to report suspected, planned or actual violations of these protections to the Secretary of State and Attorney General.
Allowing election officials to extend polling hours when voting is disrupted by prohibited arrests or electioneering.
Expanding access to early voting by requiring ballot drop-off locations to open at least 30 days before an election.

SB 884 was introduced in response to escalating threats of federal interference in California’s elections, including Trump administration statements about potentially deploying ICE agents to polling places and FBI Director Kash Patel’s recent refusal to rule out sending federal agents to the polls.

The legislation takes effect immediately and applies to elections beginning November 3, 2026, through 2029.

For full text of the bill, visit: SB 884

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Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and East and South Whittier. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.

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