WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 919

Legislative bill overview

AB 919 creates confidentiality protections for voter information belonging to individuals with cognitive impairments in California. The bill specifically restricts access to personal data of cognitively impaired voters to prevent exploitation or misuse. This represents an expansion of existing voter privacy laws to address a vulnerable population.

Why is this important

Cognitively impaired individuals face heightened risks of voter coercion, manipulation, or financial exploitation through misuse of their personal information. Strengthening confidentiality protections for this group helps safeguard voting rights and personal autonomy. The measure addresses a gap in current voter protection frameworks that may not adequately account for disabled voters' specific vulnerabilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and identification challenges: Determining who qualifies as "cognitively impaired" and how election officials would identify eligible voters without creating a problematic registry system
  • Administrative burden: Implementing differentiated confidentiality protocols may create compliance costs and procedural complexity for county election offices
  • Balancing transparency: Conflict between voter privacy protections and public access to voter rolls for legitimate purposes like redistricting or election observation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.