Title
a. Receive a presentation related to Senate Bill (SB) 884 that allows the Board of Supervisors to expand the existing 100-foot no electioneering zone around all voting locations, elections offices and ballot drop-off locations to 200-feet and;
b. Provide direction to staff on whether the Board of Supervisors chooses to adopt the expanded no electioneering zone for all elections held from the November 2026 General Election through any elections held or proclaimed in 2029.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a presentation related to Senate Bill (SB) 884 that allows the Board of Supervisors to expand the existing 100-foot no electioneering zone around all voting locations, elections offices and ballot drop-off locations to 200-feet and;
b. Provide direction to staff on whether the Board of Supervisors chooses to adopt the expanded no electioneering zone for all elections held from the November 2026 General Election through any elections held or proclaimed in 2029.
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill (SB) 884, authored by Senator Umberg, was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 19, 2026. SB 884 was chaptered as urgency legislation and is now in immediate effect. The bill establishes new statewide requirements governing elections held from the November 3, 2026, General Election through 2029, including any election held or proclaimed in 2029. These provisions are intended to expand on current provisions related to electioneering, enhance administrative clarity, and address potential challenges election officials might encounter across the state. It is anticipated that adoption of the expanded no electioneering zone will impact accessibility and voting opportunities.
DISCUSSION:
A key provision of SB 884 grants county boards of supervisors the authority to expand the existing 100-foot no-electioneering zone surrounding polling places, elections offices, satellite voting sites, and ballot drop-off locations. Under this authorization, the Board may expand the no electioneering perimeter to a distance of 200 feet. Should the Board elect to adopt this expansion, it must notify the Secretary of State, and the approved distance must be applied uniformly across all voting locations and ballot return boxes within the county for the duration of the affected election period.
The Elections Office and the Schilling Place ballot drop box illustrate the practical implications of such an expansion. Under a 200-foot buffer, the restricted zone would extend to approximately the midpoint of the street Schilling Place and include adjacent street parking. The 24-hour exterior ballot drop box at the South Building would also create an expanded no electioneering zone, impacting visitor parking areas, public meeting rooms, and employee spaces. As a result, portions of workspaces, public meeting rooms, and commonly used parking for other county departments would be encompassed by the expanded boundary, creating a need for coordinated restructuring of parking and access around the facility.
Operational impacts associated with the expanded zone include the need for staff and visitors displaying electioneering materials (for example, bumper stickers) to park outside the 200-foot perimeter, potentially requiring use of more distant parking areas such as the employee parking lot across from 1441 Schilling Place. Individuals with mobility limitations may experience increased difficulty accessing facilities due to lost proximity parking. Enforcement of the expanded zone would also present challenges in public rights-of-way, off-street parking, public meeting spaces, and employee-designated areas. These challenges would be replicated county-wide, as the expanded perimeter would have to be enforced consistently around ballot drop boxes located at libraries, city halls, public parking lots, community event sites, polling places, and satellite election offices. In addition to imposing physical barriers to accessing voting locations and ballot return locations, the 200-foot zone would more frequently encroach on private property.
The fiscal impact is initially estimated at $4,000. The greater impact will be on the limitation of services and access to voting opportunities for the public at large. The Department will immediately suspend voting services at community-based events, relocate or close ballot return boxes at city halls, and potentially lose polling places due to the proximity of meeting spaces for campaign gatherings on Election Day. In addition, the Department will have to reassess private properties that fall within the expanded zone for campaign signs.
SB 884 further establishes several requirements that apply irrespective of Board action. The bill prohibits law enforcement officers from making arrests within 200 feet of a polling place on Election Day except in cases involving crimes that disrupt voting operations or involve harm to persons or property. Law enforcement agencies must also notify the Secretary of State and Attorney General of any suspected, planned, or actual violations of these restrictions. Additionally, county elections officials are authorized to extend poll-closing times if voting has been disrupted by prohibited conduct, and ballots cast during extended hours must be treated as provisional.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel was informed of this urgency legislation.
FINANCING:
The initial estimated fiscal impact for implementing updated signage, decals, and guidelines is approximately $4,000. Adoption of the expanded electioneering zone is optional, and state reimbursement is unlikely.
Funding for these expenditures will be incorporated into the FY 2026-27 budget, with portions of the costs to be allocated to participating jurisdictions for the November General Election.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This recommended action promotes an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management in the delivery of services that is in line with the Board’s strategic plan goals.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals [Include one or two sentences referencing the Ordinance, Code, Board Order/Resolution, etc. in relation to this selection]:
____ Well-Being and Quality of Life
_X_ Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
____ Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
____ Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
Prepared by: Mary Kikuchi, Management Analyst II, x1491
Approved by: Gina Martinez, Registrar of Voters, x1499
Attachments:
PowerPoint presentation