A bill aiming to protect the personal information of elected officials and candidates is on its way to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1392, authored by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-La Mesa), passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15 with a 13-0 vote. Sharp-Collins is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
“Unfortunately, in this current climate, political violence is on the rise, including increases of threats and actual violence against elected officials,” Sharp-Collins said. “In California, voter roll information is publicly accessible. So, a change in state law is necessary to protect elected officials, candidates, and their families.”
AB 1392 prevents the disclosure of residence addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses listed on voter registration affidavits for federal, state, and local elected officials and candidates.
This legislation comes amid increasing concerns about security threats and harassment directed towards public officials. Recently, in Minnesota, elected politicians and their spouses where were targeted in their homes.
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber is a sponsor of Sharp-Collins’s bill.
The bill directs the Secretary of State, via a certificate of election, to notify county elections officials of newly elected officials in their jurisdiction,” Weber stated in a letter to the committee. “It also requires counties, within five business days of receiving that certificate, to make the official’s voter registration information confidential.”
The California Broadcasters Association, the California News Publishers Association, and the First Amendment Coalition oppose AB 1392.
Those press freedom advocates are concerned that the measure would hinder transparency and accountability. The groups argue that the public and the press should be able to at least obtain information on which city the candidate or official resides in to ensure the candidate lives in the area they are seeking to represent.
Danny Cando-Kaiser, a representative for the First Amendment Coalition, told the committee that she hopes the conversation continues about the safety of candidates while the reporters can still do their jobs effectively.
“We remain opposed to the bill but hopeful that our conversation, should the bill get out today, will help to narrow concerns around First Amendment access to information that is so vital to journalists and others,” Cando-Kaiser said.
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Bo Tefu, CBM contributed to this report.
