AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 21, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 1, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 19, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 7, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

94

Introduced by Assembly Member Sharp-Collins

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Section 2166.9 Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, 2166.9, and 2194 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Under existing law, the residence address, telephone number, and email address of a registered voter is confidential, except that under certain circumstances a county elections official must disclose that information to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes. Existing law exempts from that disclosure requirement the residence address, telephone number, and email address of a federal, state, or local elected official or candidate, unless the official or candidate opts out or the information is sought for bona fide journalistic or governmental purposes. Voters in life-threatening circumstances and voters who participate in specified confidentiality programs may also have their residence address, telephone number, and email address exempted from the disclosure requirement.

This bill would expand those exemptions to apply to the voter’s entire voter registration record, except as specified. The bill would recast the provisions creating that exemption. the exemption for the voter registration record of an elected official or candidate. The bill would permit the information of an elected official’s immediate family member who lives at the same residence to be made confidential. For an elected official or candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record to be confidential, the elected official or candidate would be required to make a written request to the county elections official, and a candidate would also need to qualify to appear on the ballot. The Secretary of State would be required to notify county elections officials when a state or federal candidate qualifies to appear on the ballot, and it would require county elections officials to notify the Secretary of State under certain circumstances if the confidential designation is added to, or removed from, a federal or state elected official or candidate’s voter registration record. The Secretary of State and county elections officials would be required to implement the provisions creating the exemption immediately once the statewide voter registration database and county election management systems have made conforming changes, but the bill states that it does not authorize any reduction in current, ongoing implementation efforts. The bill would require the Secretary of State to develop and implement a process by no later than September 30, 2027, for a person with confidential voter status to vote at a polling place or vote center and retain confidential voter status. To the extent the bill imposes additional requirements on local elections officials, the bill imposes a state-mandated local program.

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, 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.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2166 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.

(a) Any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration may have the information relating to his or her residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, their voter registration record declared confidential upon order of a superior court issued upon a showing of good cause that a life-threatening circumstance exists to the voter or a member of the voter’s household, and naming the county elections official as a party.

(b) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections or until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the court or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of his or her their residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

(2) The elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status. This exclusion applies to the voters’ entire voter registration record and includes, but is not limited to, voter participation history and voter registration information before the voters’ confidential voter status.

(3) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, obtain an order from the superior court of the new county pursuant to subdivision (a). The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

(A) Contact the confidential voter and provide information regarding the application for confidential voter status in the new county.

(B) Honor the confidential voter status from the former county for 60 days from the date of notice.

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not provided a court order to the new county during the 60-day period.

(c) No action in negligence may be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information which is the subject of this section unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

SEC. 2.

Section 2166.5 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.5.

(a) Any person filing with the county elections official a new affidavit of registration or reregistration may have the information relating to their residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit, or any list or roster or index prepared therefrom, their voter registration record declared confidential upon presentation of certification that the person is a participant in the Address Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking program pursuant to Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 6205) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, or a participant in the Address Confidentiality for Reproductive Health Care Service Providers, Employees, Volunteers, Patients, and Other Individuals Who Face Threats or Violence Because of Work for a Public Entity program pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 6215) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(b) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections and all subsequent reregistrations inside or outside the county until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of their residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

(2) The elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status. This exclusion applies to the voters’ entire voter registration record and includes, but is not limited to, voter participation history and voter registration information before the voters’ confidential voter status.

(c) An action in negligence shall not be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person granted confidentiality upon receipt by the county elections official of a written notice by the address confidentiality program manager of the withdrawal, invalidation, expiration, or termination of the program participant’s certification.

SEC. 3.

Section 2166.7 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.7.

(a) If authorized by the county board of supervisors, a county elections official shall, upon application of a public safety officer, make confidential that officer’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration, voter registration record in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

(b) The application by the public safety officer shall contain a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the person is a public safety officer as defined in subdivision (f) and that a life-threatening circumstance exists to the officer or a member of the officer’s family. The application shall be a public record.

(c) The confidentiality granted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall terminate no more than two years after commencement, as determined by the county elections official. The officer may submit a new application for confidentiality pursuant to subdivision (a), and the new request may be granted for an additional period of not more than two years.

(d) Any person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a) shall:

(1) Provide a valid mailing address and be considered a vote by mail voter for all subsequent elections or until the county elections official is notified otherwise by the Secretary of State or in writing by the voter. A voter requesting termination of vote by mail status thereby consents to placement of the voter’s residence address, telephone number, and email address in the roster of voters.

(2) The elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index, shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status. This exclusion applies to the voters’ entire voter registration record and includes, but is not limited to, voter participation history and voter registration information before the voters’ confidential voter status.

(3) Within 60 days of moving to a new county, if available in the new county, apply for confidential voter status pursuant to subdivision (a). The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

(A) Contact the confidential voter and provide information regarding the application for confidential voter status in the new county.

(B) Honor the confidential voter status from the former county for 60 days from the date of notice.

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (2), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not obtained or cannot obtain confidential voter status pursuant to this section in the new county during the 60-day period.

(e) No action in negligence may be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(f) “A public safety officer” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a), (d), (e), (f), or (j) of Section 7920.535 of the Government Code.

SEC. 4.

Section 2166.8 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.8.

(a) A county elections official shall, upon application of a qualified worker, make confidential that worker’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration, voter registration record in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section.

(b) The application by the qualified worker shall contain a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the person is a qualified worker as defined in subdivision (f) and that a life-threatening circumstance exists as to the qualified worker or a member of the worker’s family. The application shall be a public record.

(c) The confidentiality granted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall terminate no more than two years after commencement, as determined by the county elections official. The officer may submit a new application for confidentiality pursuant to subdivision (a), and the new request may be granted for an additional period of not more than two years.

(d) The following apply to a person granted confidential voter status under subdivision (a):

(1) The elections official, in producing any list, roster, or index, shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status. This exclusion applies to the voters’ entire voter registration record and includes, but is not limited to, voter participation history and voter registration information before the voters’ confidential voter status.

(2) The person shall, within 60 days of moving to a new county, apply for confidential voter status pursuant to subdivision (a). The elections official of the new county, upon notice of the confidential voter moving into the county, shall do all of the following:

(A) Contact the confidential voter and provide information regarding the application for confidential voter status in the new county.

(B) Honor the confidential voter status from the former county for 60-days from the date of notice.

(C) Pursuant to paragraph (1), exclude the confidential voter in any list, roster, or index during the 60-day period.

(D) Remove the confidential voter status if the new voter has not obtained or cannot obtain confidential voter status pursuant to this section in the new county during the 60-day period.

(e) An action in negligence shall not be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section except by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(f) “Qualified worker” means a person who is employed by or contracts with the Secretary of State or a local election office who performs election-related work and interacts with the public or is observed by the public doing election-related work, but does not include a person who is a precinct board member who does not otherwise perform election-related work. For the purposes of this section, a qualified worker is not limited to those who exclusively perform direct election-related work for the Secretary of State or local election offices.

(g) The Secretary of State shall submit to the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, no later than January 10 of each year, a report that includes the total number of applications received for the program established by this section. The report shall disclose the number of program participants within each county and shall also describe any allegations of misuse relating to election purposes.

SECTION 1.SEC. 5.

Section 2166.9 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2166.9.

(a) (1) (A) For purposes of this section, “elected official or candidate” means a federal, state, or local elected official or a candidate who has qualified to appear on the ballot for an elected federal, state, or local office.

(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), and except as provided in subparagraph (C), an “elected official” includes any official elected to office at the state or local level, and any official appointed to an elective office at the state or local level.

(C) “Elected official or candidate” does not include a member of a political party’s county central committee or a candidate for that office.

(2) For purposes of this section, “immediate family member” means an elected official’s spouse, domestic partner, parent, or child who lives at the same residence.

(b) (1) An elected official or candidate may have their residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration voter registration record made confidential in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section if the elected official or candidate submits an affirmative written request for confidential voter status to the county elections official.

(2) The residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record of an elected official’s immediate family member may be included in a written request for confidentiality if both of the following requirements are met:

(A) The immediate family member is named in the request by the elected official.

(B) The request is accompanied by a statement, signed by the immediate family member, confirming that they want confidential voter status and that they understand they will lose the ability to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polls but will be able to vote and return their vote by mail ballot at a polling place or ballot dropoff location.

(3) Upon receipt of a written request for confidentiality, the county elections official shall make the information confidential and provide written notice to the household of the elected official or candidate that persons whose information would be confidential would lose their ability to vote a nonprovisional ballot in person at the polls.

(4) A county elections official, in producing any roster, voter list, or index, shall exclude voters with a confidential voter status pursuant to this section. This exclusion applies to the voters’ entire voter registration record and includes, but is not limited to, voter participation history and voter registration information before the voters’ confidential voter status. Any other list created by an elections official shall not include any confidential information of the elected official or candidate.

(c) (1) An elected official’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record shall remain confidential until two years after the official leaves the office.

(2) (A) For a candidate who opts into confidential voter status and participates in a primary election and who is not nominated to participate in the general election, the candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record shall not remain confidential following the completion of the official canvass for the primary election.

(B) For a candidate who opts into confidential voter status and participates in a primary election and who is nominated to participate in the general election, the candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record shall remain confidential until the completion of the official canvass for the general election at which a candidate is elected to the office.

(C) A candidate who opts into confidential voter status and is elected to the office shall automatically retain that status after being sworn into office. The elected official shall retain confidential voter status either until opting out or until two years after leaving office pursuant to paragraph (1).

(D) The residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record of a candidate in a local special election shall remain confidential until the vote for the special election has been certified by the local elections official.

(d) (1) The residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record of an elected official shall be made confidential by the county elections official in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section. A county elections official shall determine and identify the federal, state, and local elected officials residing in the county. Upon receipt of a written request from an elected official, the county elections official shall make the official’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record confidential.

(2) An elected official who moves into a new county may have their residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record made confidential by submitting a written request to the county elections official of the new county. Upon receipt of a written request, the county elections official of the new county shall make the elected official’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record confidential pursuant to paragraph (4).

(3) (A) An elected official who subsequently wishes to opt out of confidential voter status may submit a written request to the county elections official.

(B) A request made pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include the elected official’s full name, voter registration address, and a clear statement that they wish to opt out of having their residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record made confidential pursuant to this section.

(C) An elected official who opts out may subsequently request confidential voter status by submitting a written request at any time while serving in the official’s current office or while running for another office, and confidential voter status shall be reinstated in accordance with this section upon receipt of the request.

(4) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3), the county elections official shall add the confidential designation to, or remove it from, the elected official’s voter registration record within five business days.

(5) The county elections official shall notify the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State when the county elections official has added the confidential designation to, or removed it from, a federal or state elected official’s voter registration record. The county elections official shall notify any other relevant county elections official within five business days of processing the request.

(6) The county elections official shall notify an elected official at least 60 days before removing the confidential designation from a federal, state, or local elected official’s voter registration record.

(7) An elected official or candidate who opts out of confidential voter status thereby consents to the placement of their residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record in the roster of voters.

(8) A candidate who opts out may subsequently request confidential voter status by submitting a written request at any time during the candidate’s eligibility period for confidential voter status, and confidential voter status shall be reinstated in accordance with this section upon receipt of the request.

(e) (1) A candidate who wishes to have their residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of registration voter registration record made confidential shall do both of the following:

(A) When filing their declaration of candidacy, submit a written request on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State to the county elections official or other applicable local elections official.

(B) Qualify to appear on the ballot pursuant to paragraph (3).

(2) Upon a candidate’s request for confidentiality, the county elections official shall notify the Secretary of State when transmitting the declaration of candidacy to the Secretary of State or any other relevant county elections official.

(3) (A) When a candidate for a state or federal office qualifies to appear on the ballot, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State shall provide to the county elections official or officials with jurisdiction over the election for that office a list identifying each candidate for the office residing in the county or counties.

(B) When a candidate for a local office qualifies to appear on the ballot, as determined by the local elections official, the county elections official shall add the candidate’s name to a list identifying each candidate residing in the county.

(C) Within five business days of receipt of the list described in subparagraph (A) or the determination of qualification for a local office as described in subparagraph (B), the county elections official shall make confidential the residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record of a candidate who submitted the request described in paragraph (1) to the county elections official.

(4) (A) A candidate who has qualified to appear on the ballot and moves into a new county may have their residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record made confidential by submitting a written request to the county elections official of the new county. Upon receipt of a written request, the county elections official of the new county shall make the candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record confidential if the candidate has qualified for the ballot.

(B) The county elections official shall notify the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State when the county elections official has added the confidential designation to a federal or state candidate’s voter registration record. The county elections official shall notify any other relevant county elections official within five business days of processing the request.

(5) (A) A candidate who did not submit a written request pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) at the time of filing the declaration of candidacy may later submit a written request to the county elections official to have their residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record made confidential.

(B) If the candidate has qualified for the ballot, the county elections official shall make the candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address voter registration record confidential within five business days of the written request.

(C) The county elections official shall notify the Secretary of State on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State when the county elections official has added the confidential designation to, or removed it from, a federal or state candidate’s voter registration record. The county elections official shall notify any other relevant county elections official within five business days of processing the request.

(f) A county or county elections official shall not be liable for taking or failing to take the actions described in this section when the county or county elections official has received erroneous information from the Secretary of State.

(g) An action in negligence shall not be maintained against any government entity or officer or employee thereof as a result of the disclosure of the information that is the subject of this section, except by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, an elected official or candidate’s residence address, telephone number, and email address made confidential pursuant to this section may be disclosed only for bona fide journalistic or governmental purposes. A person seeking an elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for a journalistic purpose pursuant to this section shall apply to the Secretary of State or to a county elections official as specified in paragraph (2).

(2) (A) A person seeking a federal or state elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes shall submit all of the following to the Secretary of State:

(i) A completed California Voter Registration File Request application.

(ii) A letter of authorization or affiliation from the media outlet that the person represents. If the person submitting the request is a member of the media, a press pass may be submitted in lieu of a letter of authorization.

(iii) A declaration under penalty of perjury attesting to the intended journalistic use of the information.

(B) A person seeking a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes shall submit requests to the county elections official. The request shall include the necessary authorizations and documentation as required by each county elections official.

(C) A county elections official shall process a request for a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes consistent with the requirements of regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.

(D) The county elections official shall retain records of all requests for, and disclosures of, a local elected official or candidate’s confidential residence address, telephone number, and email address for journalistic purposes. The county elections official may reject a request that does not clearly adhere to the requirements of this subdivision.

(3) For purposes of this chapter, “journalistic purposes” shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.

(i) The Secretary of State and county elections officials shall implement this section immediately once the statewide voter registration database and county election management systems have made conforming changes.

(j) Notwithstanding subdivision (i), to facilitate the administration of elections through December 31, 2028, county elections officials may make best efforts to manually implement this section to the maximum degree possible before the completion of conforming changes to the statewide voter registration database and their own election management systems. This subdivision shall not be construed to authorize any reduction in current, ongoing implementation efforts.

(k) Participation in the confidential voter program does not override and cannot revoke confidentiality ordered by a court or confidentiality granted pursuant to Sections 2166.5, 2166.7, and 2166.8.

(l) Notwithstanding any other law and no later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary of State, in consultation with county election officials, shall develop and implement a process that permits a person with confidential voter status to vote at a polling place or vote center and retain confidential voter status. The Secretary of State may adopt regulations to ensure compliance and uniformity with the developed procedure.

SEC. 6.

Section 2194 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

2194.

(a) (1) Except as provided in Section 2194.1, the affidavit of voter registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code:

(A) Shall be confidential and shall not appear on any computer terminal, list, affidavit, duplicate affidavit, or other medium routinely available to the public at the county elections official’s office.

(B) Shall not be used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to:

(i) The harassment of any voter or voter’s household.

(ii) The advertising, solicitation, sale, or marketing of products or services to any voter or voter’s household.

(iii) Reproduction in print, broadcast visual or audio, or display on the internet or any computer terminal unless pursuant to paragraph (3).

(C) May be used by the Secretary of State for the purpose of educating voters pursuant to Section 12173 of the Government Code.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the California driver’s license number, the California identification card number, the social security number, and any other unique identifier used by the State of California for purposes of voter identification shown on the affidavit of voter registration of a registered voter, or added to voter registration records to comply with the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), are confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the signature of the voter shown on the affidavit of voter registration or an image thereof is confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, except as provided in subdivision (c).

(c) (1) The home address or signature of any voter shall be released whenever the person’s vote is challenged pursuant to Sections 15105 to 15108, inclusive, or Article 3 (commencing with Section 14240) of Chapter 3 of Division 14. The address or signature shall be released only to the challenger, to elections officials, and to other persons as necessary to make, defend against, or adjudicate the challenge.

(2) An elections official shall permit a person to view the signature of a voter for the purpose of determining whether the signature compares with a signature on an affidavit of registration or an image thereof or a petition, but shall not permit a signature to be copied.

(d) A governmental entity, or officer or employee thereof, shall not be held civilly liable as a result of disclosure of the information referred to in this section, unless by a showing of gross negligence or willfulness.

(e) For purposes of this section, “voter’s household” is defined as the voter’s place of residence or mailing address or any persons who reside at the place of residence or use the mailing address as supplied on the affidavit of registration pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 2150.

(f) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided in subparagraph (B), information regarding voters who did not sign a vote by mail ballot identification envelope or whose signature on the vote by mail ballot identification envelope did not compare with the voter’s signature on file shall be treated as confidential voter registration information pursuant to this section and Section 7924.000 of the Government Code. This information shall be provided with respect to any voter, subject to the provisions of

(B) Subject to Sections 2166, 2166.5, 2166.7, 2166.8, 2166.9, and 2188, a voter’s name, residence address, telephone number, email address, and party preference, to the extent any of this information is contained within the affidavit of voter registration information identified in Section 7924.000 of the Government Code, and no other information, shall be provided to any candidate for federal, state, or local office, to any committee for or against any initiative or referendum measure for which legal publication is made, and to any person for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes, or for governmental purposes, as determined by the Secretary of State, but otherwise shall not be disclosed to any person. Any disclosure of this information shall be accompanied by a notice to the recipient regarding Sections 18109 and 18540.

(2) Voter information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be updated daily, include the name of the voter, and be provided in a searchable electronic format. The daily update shall also include, as applicable, information regarding whether a form has been received from the voter to verify their signature pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 3019, whether a form has been received or the voter has otherwise provided a signature pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 3019, and whether the signature provided pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 3019 did or did not compare.

SEC. 2.SEC. 7.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.