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California AG Bonta Defends Mail-In Voting Security
Confirmed
In Short: California Attorney General Rob Bonta reassures voters that the state's mail-in voting system is safe and secure, despite critics' concerns.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta reassured voters Monday that the state's mail-in voting system is safe and secure, emphasizing that it helps ensure convenient participation in elections.
"Mail-in voting is safe. Mail-in voting is secure," Bonta told reporters at a press conference in Sacramento, where he also noted that mail-in ballots are already being distributed across the state's 58 counties.
However, critics such as Hans von Spakovsky, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, dismissed Bonta's claims. Von Spakovsky argued that California's lack of voter ID requirements and inaccurate voter registration lists make Bonta's assertions laughable.
"Bonta's claim that mail voting in California is 'safe and secure' when the state has no ID requirement, refuses to verify the citizenship of registered voters and has one of the most inaccurate, mistake-ridden voter registration lists in the country is laughable," von Spakovsky said.
Bonta also addressed concerns about federal intervention, stating that President Trump's threats to send armed federal agents to polling places are illegal and break a 150-year-old statute.
"President Trump wants to send armed federal agents into polling places this election," said Orlando Economos, senior staff attorney at Democracy Forward, adding that the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to send ICE agents to polling places.
Bonta urged voters who suspect irregularities to contact county election officials or the California Secretary of State's confidential voter hotline at 800-345-VOTE.
"Democracy is not self-executing. It doesn't just happen on its own. It functions best, and it requires participation, engagement, activism," Bonta said, emphasizing the importance of voter involvement.
Critics argue that relaxed mail-in procedures invite vulnerabilities, with nearly 600,000 returned ballots rejected nationwide, with roughly 18% discarded for missing deadlines, issues that do not affect in-person voting.
What this adds
The Supreme Court has recently protected mail-in voting after legal challenges involving the U.S.
What's confirmed
- "Bonta's claim that mail voting in California is 'safe and secure' when the state has no ID requirement, refuses to verify the citizenship of registered voters and has one of the most inaccurate, mistake-ridden voter registration lists in the country is laughable," (The Center Square) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta is seeking to reassure voters that the Nov. 3 general election will proceed as "business as usual," while drawing a hard line against potential federal intervention and election interference.
- "Mail-in voting is safe. Mail-in voting is secure. Mail-in voting helps ensure that Californians can conveniently participate in our elections free of unnecessary barriers," Bonta told reporters.
- "Bonta's claim that mail voting in California is 'safe and secure' when the state has no ID requirement, refuses to verify the citizenship of registered voters and has one of the most inaccurate, mistake-ridden voter registration lists in the country is laughable," said von Spakovsky, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a member of the Board of Advisors of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and a former member of both President Donald Trump's Advisory Commission on Election Integrity and the Federal Election Commission.
- "Bonta and state election officials have no idea what happened to the remaining ballots, whether voters just decided not to complete them or whether they were misdelivered, delayed in the mail or otherwise lost," von Spakovsky told The Center Square on Monday.
- He noted further that nearly 600,000 returned ballots were rejected nationwide, with roughly 18% discarded for missing deadlines — issues that do not affect in-person voting.
- "President Trump wants to send armed federal agents into polling places this election," Orlando Economos, senior staff attorney at Democracy Forward, said in a Sept. 30 video post on X.
- "Over the past year, the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to send armed federal agents, including ICE agents, to polling places," said Economos.
- "Democracy is not self-executing. It doesn't just happen on its own. It functions best, and it requires participation, engagement, activism," said Bonta, who was born in Quezon City, Philippines.
- "This is a shameless administration," Bonta said about the Trump White House.
- Speaking Monday at a press conference in Sacramento, Bonta emphasized that mail-in ballots are already being distributed across California's 58 counties.
- Supreme Court decision protecting mail-in voting after legal challenges involving the U.S.
- "That's illegal, and it breaks 150-year-old statute to do it."
What's still developing
- "Will they follow the law or not of their own accord based on what they've done so far, where we've had to take them to court 97 times when they've broken the law? I doubt it, but that's what regulators are for."
- By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a news conference, Feb.