Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) has announced Senate Bill 270 passed out of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee with strong support. SB 270 updates California’s recall process by protecting the personal information of voters who initiate a recall election. Specifically, the bill ensures that the published Notice of Intention to Recall omits proponents’ signatures and street addresses—information that is currently required to be made public.
“In the digital age, publishing the personal information of voters can expose them to harassment, scams, and even violence,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “SB 270 strikes a balance between transparency and protecting those who engage in our democratic process. The recall is a critical tool for electoral accountability. We must ensure it remains accessible and safe for Californians who choose to use it.”
Under existing law, recall proponents must publish a notice containing their full name, signature, and home address in a newspaper of general circulation. That information is also available electronically, creating risks of identity theft and doxxing. SB 270 requires that only the name, city, state, and ZIP code be published. Elections officials and the Secretary of State would also be required to redact signatures and street addresses before releasing these records publicly.
“I am proud to see the support from the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee for this bipartisan effort to enhance voter privacy and security,” said Chris Robles, fair elections advocate. “As more personal information is stored on digital platforms, we must take action to protect voters from unnecessary risks. I am grateful to Senator Ochoa Bogh for her leadership on SB 270 and advocating for Californians’ right to privacy.”
While SB 270 keeps full information available to elections officials and the targeted officeholder, it eliminates the unnecessary exposure of personally identifiable information in public records.
SB 270 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.