AB-919
Government Operations

Confidentiality of voter information: cognitively impaired individuals.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes confidential voter status protections for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia.
  • Authorizes power of attorney holders to apply for voter confidentiality on behalf of cognitively impaired individuals.
  • Requires county election officials to exclude protected voters from all public voter lists and rosters.
  • Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on confidential voter status applications and misuse allegations.
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Summary

Assembly Member Lowenthal's voter privacy legislation would enable individuals holding power of attorney to secure confidential voter status for those with cognitive impairments, shielding their residential addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses from public voter records. The measure defines cognitive impairment to include conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, with the Secretary of State maintaining discretion to determine qualifying conditions.

Under the proposed system, authorized representatives must submit applications containing signed statements, made under penalty of perjury, confirming both their power of attorney status and the voter's cognitive impairment. County elections officials would then exclude these protected voters from public electoral lists, rosters, and indexes. The confidential status would transfer when voters move between counties, with new jurisdictions required to maintain these privacy protections.

The bill establishes oversight mechanisms through mandatory annual reporting to the Legislature. The Secretary of State must document the total applications received, approvals granted, and any reported misuse of confidential voter information. While the legislation shields government entities from negligence claims related to inadvertent information disclosure, it preserves liability for cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. County elections offices would bear additional administrative responsibilities, though certain implementation costs may qualify for state reimbursement pending review by the Commission on State Mandates.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Josh Lowenthal
Josh LowenthalD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Alexandra Macedo
Alexandra MacedoR
California State Assembly Member

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Latest Voting History

April 9, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1100
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Elections Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Alexandra MacedoR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assembly Member
Committee Member

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes confidential voter status protections for individuals with cognitive impairments like dementia.
  • Authorizes power of attorney holders to apply for voter confidentiality on behalf of cognitively impaired individuals.
  • Requires county election officials to exclude protected voters from all public voter lists and rosters.
  • Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on confidential voter status applications and misuse allegations.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Josh Lowenthal
Josh LowenthalD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Author
Alexandra Macedo
Alexandra MacedoR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Lowenthal's voter privacy legislation would enable individuals holding power of attorney to secure confidential voter status for those with cognitive impairments, shielding their residential addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses from public voter records. The measure defines cognitive impairment to include conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, with the Secretary of State maintaining discretion to determine qualifying conditions.

Under the proposed system, authorized representatives must submit applications containing signed statements, made under penalty of perjury, confirming both their power of attorney status and the voter's cognitive impairment. County elections officials would then exclude these protected voters from public electoral lists, rosters, and indexes. The confidential status would transfer when voters move between counties, with new jurisdictions required to maintain these privacy protections.

The bill establishes oversight mechanisms through mandatory annual reporting to the Legislature. The Secretary of State must document the total applications received, approvals granted, and any reported misuse of confidential voter information. While the legislation shields government entities from negligence claims related to inadvertent information disclosure, it preserves liability for cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. County elections offices would bear additional administrative responsibilities, though certain implementation costs may qualify for state reimbursement pending review by the Commission on State Mandates.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1100
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Elections Hearing
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Latest Voting History

April 9, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Alexandra MacedoR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assembly Member
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assembly Member
Committee Member