AB 1853 — Voter information guide: candidate statements.

Summary

Under existing law, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives or local elective office may purchase space in the county voter information guide to make a candidate statement. A candidate for United States Senate may purchase space for a candidate statement in the state voter information guide. A candidate for state elective office may also purchase space to make a candidate statement in the state voter information guide, but only if the candidate accepts certain voluntary campaign expenditure limits. Existing law prohibits these candidate statements from making any reference to the candidate's opponents. This bill would limit a candidate statement to a recitation of the candidate's own education, professional experience, public service, community involvement, and qualifications. The bill would prohibit a candidate statement from including, in addition to references to other candidates, a link or other reference to external content other than the candidate's campaign website; content that is vulgar or profane, or that threatens or incites violence; false statements or misleading claims; or any other content that is unrelated to the candidate's qualifications. The candidate would be required to submit a declaration with the candidate statement that attests that the statement is true and correct. Because a person who willfully makes a false statement in that declaration would be guilty of the crime of perjury, this bill expands the scope of that crime and thereby creates a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to omit from the voter information guide any portion of a candidate statement that does not comply with the bill, except false statements and misleading claims, and it would require them to print the remainder of the statement if it can stand independently and does not mislead voters. The bill would make a fee paid by a candidate for the printing or inclusion of a candidate statement nonrefundable if any part of the statement is printed in the voter information guide, but the fee would be refunded if the statement is omitted. By increasing the duties of county elections officials, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the public examination of state and county voter information guides. During the 20-day examination period for the state guide, an elector may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted. During the 10-day examination period for the county guide, a voter of the relevant jurisdiction in which an election is being held, or the relevant local elections official themselves, may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted. A court will issue such a writ of mandate or injunction only upon clear and convincing proof that the material in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with law, and that issuance of the writ or injunction will not substantially interfere with the printing or distribution of official election materials as provided by law. This bill would similarly allow any registered voter to seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the material in a candidate statement in the state or a county voter information guide to be amended or deleted, as specified. This bill would require that, as in current law, the writ of mandate or an injunction only be issued upon clear and convincing proof that the material in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with the requirements of the bill, and that issuance of the writ or injunction will not substantially interfere with the printing or distribution of official election materials as provided by law. This bill would additionally allow a county elections official to bring such an action for a writ or injunction challenging a candidate statement in the county voter information guide over which they have jurisdiction. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/27/26 - Chaptered html September 27, 2026
• Enrolled 09/03/26 - Enrolled html September 03, 2026
• Amended 08/21/26 - Amended Senate html August 21, 2026
• Amended 08/13/26 - Amended Senate html August 13, 2026
• Amended 07/02/26 - Amended Senate Current pdf July 02, 2026
• Amended 06/22/26 - Amended Senate pdf June 22, 2026
• Amended 06/08/26 - Amended Senate pdf June 08, 2026
• Introduced 02/11/26 - Introduced pdf February 11, 2026
• AB1853 View text html

Action History

1. September 10, 2026

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

2. August 30, 2026

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10.).

3. August 28, 2026

   From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 28).

4. August 26, 2026

   Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended.

5. August 26, 2026

   Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

6. August 25, 2026

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

7. August 25, 2026

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 0.).

8. August 24, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

9. August 21, 2026

   Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

10. August 17, 2026

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

11. August 13, 2026

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

12. August 13, 2026

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).

13. August 03, 2026

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

14. July 02, 2026

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

15. July 01, 2026

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 30).

16. June 22, 2026

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.

17. June 22, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

18. June 16, 2026

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 3. Noes 1.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

19. June 08, 2026

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

20. May 06, 2026

    Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

21. April 09, 2026

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

22. April 09, 2026

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0. Page 4556.)

23. March 26, 2026

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

24. March 25, 2026

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25).

25. February 23, 2026

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

26. February 12, 2026

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

27. February 11, 2026

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Gail Pellerin · Primary

Votes

Subjects