Topic
Recent elections coverage from Humboldt County, including local decisions, public meetings, and civic updates.
The committee voted 9-1 to concur in Senate amendments on the election-security bill, which would criminalize seizure of ballots, election records and certified voting technology before results are certified.
The Assembly Public Safety Committee moved the bill to Appropriations after concurring in Senate amendments on Aug. 30.
The Assembly Elections Committee moved five election measures forward Aug. 28, including bills on paid influencers, deceptive synthetic media, ballot security and voter guide statements.
The committee sent Sen. Wahab’s bill to Appropriations after a 6-2 vote on Aug. 25.
The committee sent the election-security bill to the Elections Committee on a 7-1 vote after hearing testimony in support.
The Assembly took up SB 1418, an urgency bill on election evidence chain of custody and ballot preservation, and the floor record notes later vote changes.
The bill passed 54-16 in the Assembly after debate over whether lawmakers were overriding local authority to place the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act before voters.
At an Aug. 5 hearing, city officials, labor representatives and residents backed the Fresno County transportation measure, while the California State Association of Counties flagged local-control concerns.
The bill, called the Family Friendly City Council’s Act, moved forward in the Assembly floor session Sunday.
The council also asked the city attorney for an impartial analysis and set up the ballot-argument process for the tax measure.
Council also approved a placeholder for a future climate manager line item as it weighed reserves, staffing and election policy.
The measure heads to the Nov. 3 ballot after hotel operators and lodging representatives argued it could hurt tourism and business competitiveness.
The July 7 council agenda includes a proposed transient occupancy tax ballot measure, a $2,875,355 Balay Ko Foundation donation and a $370,000 downtown property acquisition tied to affordable or interim housing.
The elections committee moved the bill forward after support from voting-rights groups and objections from clerks and election officials who asked for clearer standards.
SB 1418 would extend existing custody protections for voted ballots to other election records, equipment and digital data, according to a committee hearing summary.
The Assembly unanimously concurred in Senate amendments to AB 182, an elections-related bill now headed to the governor.
The Assembly unanimously concurred in Senate amendments to AB 182, an elections-related bill, and sent it to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Council placed the city’s 3/4-cent sales tax renewal on the November ballot while also approving a smaller budget, a hiring freeze and a climate manager placeholder.
SB 970 moved ahead unanimously after supporters said the federal DoD FACTS shutdown left a gap in ballot-return options for deployed and overseas voters.
SB 1414 moved out of the Assembly Elections Committee after divided testimony over whether an independent commission should redraw San Bernardino County’s political maps.
The June 17 agenda ties a possible tax renewal to budget adoption, a temporary hiring freeze and other fiscal steps as Arcata confronts financial pressure.
Lawmakers pressed the Secretary of State’s office on rising security costs and whether federal election-security money could cover voter-facing work, but the budget subcommittee took no action.
Staff said the city is considering a 2026 ballot renewal for Measure G, along with an advisory question aimed at boosting road funding.
The bill passed the Assembly floor on May 11 and would strengthen the Secretary of State’s election cybersecurity unit while expanding its ability to consult with researchers.
