Pellerin and Berman Author Bill to Bar Hate Speech from Voter Guides

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) and Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) have introduced legislation to ensure that California's official state publications are no longer used to promote hate speech or targeted attacks. AB 1853 comes in response to a candidate statement that appeared in the June 2026 Official State Voter Information Guide that contained no information about the candidate's education and qualifications; instead, it used the voter guide as a platform to share hateful and antisemitic rhetoric. AB 1853 establishes clear, enforceable standards requiring that candidate statements remain factual, relevant, and appropriate for an official state publication while respecting constitutional free speech protections.

AB 1853, a priority bill for the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, strengthens standards that appear in official state and county voter guides. The bill limits candidate statements to information about a candidate's own education, professional experience, public service, community involvement, and qualifications for office. It prohibits content unrelated to a candidate's fitness for office qualifications, specifically barring attacks on individuals or groups, links to external content, false or misleading claims, and hateful or discriminatory content. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of State and county elections officials to omit or reject noncompliant content and allows any registered voter to seek judicial enforcement of these requirements.

"Californians deserve to trust that materials distributed by their state are factual, accurate, and free from hate speech. Official voter guides should inform voters - not serve as a platform for antisemitism or other targeted attacks. AB 1853 gives the Secretary of State and county elections officials the authority to uphold that standard. While we cannot undo the harm caused when voters opened their State Voter Guides and encountered hateful language and links to extremist content, I am committed to working with stakeholders to ensure it never happens again." - Assemblymember Pellerin.

"The State of California sent a voter guide into the homes of 23 million registered voters that included repugnant antisemitic rhetoric. We must make sure this never happens again. California must not allow itself to be used as a tool to spread vile rhetoric by hateful people. While the Jewish community was victimized this year, this puts a target on every vulnerable community in the state who might be next. AB 1853 will ensure that our state issued voter guides continue to be a reliable resource for California voters, and not a platform for hate speech and bigotry." - Assemblymember Berman.

"We were outraged to learn that the Official Voter Information Guide for the California Primary includes antisemitic conspiracy theories and links to websites with horrific racism, homophobia, and misogyny. This is dangerous, deeply offensive, and antithetical to California's proud tradition of standing up to hate. The California Legislative Jewish Caucus applauds Assemblymembers Pellerin and Berman for their leadership in advancing this important measure and strengthening the integrity of our democratic process." - Assemblymember Gabriel, Caucus Chair.

"Voter Guides are used as resources in libraries and in schools. This is why it's important that the information they contain is relevant, informative, and free from hate speech. I look forward to continued conversations with advocates as AB 1853 moves through the Legislative process." - Assemblymember Pellerin.

AB 1853 is co-authored by 14 other members and will be heard in the Senate Elections Committee in the coming weeks.