Golden State Today

California Common Cause is urging state legislators to reaffirm their authority over California's election processes following President Donald Trump's recent executive order. The order, issued on Tuesday, seeks to place the White House in control of California elections by introducing measures that affect ballot counting and voter verification.

The executive order threatens to withhold funding from states that do not comply, despite questions about its legality. Current legislation passed by Congress outlines the requirements for voter registration in federal elections, which this executive order does not align with.

The implications for California's election system could be significant, particularly affecting funding related to vote-by-mail laws. These laws allow ballots received after election day to be counted. The order would also permit the Department of Homeland Security and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to subpoena voting records in California. The Secretary of State’s office oversees these records and administers both federal and state elections in the state.

"A president does not set election law for California and never will," stated Russia Chavis Cardenas, Deputy Director of California Common Cause. "Trump’s executive action is another brazen attempt to enact baseless voter suppression tactics, especially in diverse states like ours that have consistently opposed his ongoing assaults on our democracy. We will not allow the president to wield executive actions in an attempt to twist the arm of election officials to comply with his agenda by threatening access to federal funds. Voter suppression has no place in California, and we will fiercely resist it."