Andrian Fontes is proposing the Voters First Act to the Legislature under bill SB1262. The Voters First Act helps protect our vote and establishes consistent best practices across the state. It strengthens early voting and helps ensure that our elections remain free, fair, and accessible for all voters.

ACCESSIBLE VOTING OPTIONS

• Vote centers available statewide

• Extended early voting hours

• Continuous ballot processing on Election Day

• Ballots mistakenly returned to the wrong county are still counted

ELECTION SECURITY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Strengthens defenses against errors, interference, and outdated systems.

• Modernized voter protection zones

• Participation in ERIC to maintain accurate voter rolls

• Dedicated funding for election IT and cybersecurity

VOTER COMMUNICATION & TRANSPARENCY
Keeps voters informed about their ballot from start to finish.

• Ballot tracking notifications

• Ballot curing alerts when a fix is needed

ADEQUATE ELECTION FUNDING
Ensures counties can run modern, consistent elections statewide.

• Allows election offices (Secretary of State and counties) to accept private grants

• Supports equipment upgrades, training, and voter education

Election systems play a critical role in ensuring every voice is heard. When systems are underfunded, ballots may be rejected for fixable issues, delays and errors can occur, and long lines may discourage voter participation. Secure and reliable elections require ongoing investment.