In Orange County, that partnership lands on fertile ground. Bob Page, our Registrar of Voters, has built on the foundation by Neal Kelley, and reamins one of the stronger local security postures in the state—practices that make the endless “election hacking” fever dreams look more like partisan performance art than serious risk assessment.
These are not theoretical safeguards. They are layered, tested, and transparent. You can observe much of the process. When conspiracy theorists wave around videos or claim “the machines can be hacked,” they are usually ignoring the air gap, the paper trail, the dual controls, the seals, the audits, and the fact that California voting systems do not transmit results over the public internet. Local officials here have spent years hardening the system precisely because public confidence matters. The result is a process designed so that a single point of failure—or a remote cyber actor—does not decide the outcome.CISA’s plan reinforces that state and local partners remain the front line. Federal support is offered on a voluntary basis.
What to do:
- Stay calm. Do not confront, argue with, film in a way that escalates, or physically interfere with the agents.
- Immediately report it. Call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline:
- English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
- Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
- Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE
- Arabic: 844-YALLA-US
- If you feel safe doing so, quietly notify a poll worker or election official on site. Local election officials and law enforcement can respond.
- If an agent approaches or questions you:
- Ask: “Am I free to go?” If yes (or no clear answer), calmly walk away.
- You have the right to remain silent. You can say: “I want to remain silent” and “I want a lawyer.”
- You generally do not have to answer questions about your citizenship or immigration status.
- Keep your hands visible and do not resist.
- Once you are safely away, write down details (time, location, descriptions, badge numbers if visible, what was said) and report them to the hotline.
- Safety first: If you feel unsafe, leave and return later, vote early another day, or use a mail/drop-box option if available.
Do not spread unverified reports on social media, as false alarms can themselves suppress turnout.I f you are asked for ID while standing in line to vote (California rules)In California, most voters are not required to show identification at the polls. Poll workers may request ID only in a narrow set of cases.
When ID may be required:
- You are voting for the first time in a federal election, and
- You registered by mail or online, and
- You did not provide a California driver’s license/state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number when you registered.
The voter roster will flag this requirement. Poll workers are not supposed to ask for ID unless the list indicates it is needed.Acceptable forms of ID (if required) include photo or non-photo options, such as:
- California driver’s license or state ID
- U.S. passport
- Student, military, or employee ID
- Utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or official mail from a government agency (including your sample ballot booklet)
If you are asked for ID:
- Politely ask the poll worker to show you where on the roster it indicates ID is required for you.
- If you have acceptable ID, you may show it.
- If you do not have ID or believe the request is improper, you still have the right to vote. Ask for a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be counted after election officials verify your registration and eligibility.
- You may voluntarily offer ID even if it is not required, but you cannot be turned away solely for lacking it in the ordinary case.
Note: Proposition 39 (a voter-ID measure) is on the November 2026 ballot but is not current law. Until and unless it passes and takes effect, the existing rules above apply. Extra practical tips
- Check your registration status in advance at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or your county elections site.
- Consider voting early in person or by mail/drop box if you want to avoid any Election Day uncertainty.
- Bring a friend or family member if that makes you more comfortable (non-citizens accompanying voters should use their own judgment about presence at the site).
- For Orange County-specific help, contact the OC Registrar of Voters or use the statewide Secretary of State voter hotline: (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
Your right to vote free from intimidation is protected. Report problems promptly through official channels rather than escalating on the spot, and use provisional ballots when needed so your vote can still be counted after verification.
My outdoor security camera viewing the mailbox in front of my home showed a thief stealing a birthday card to my 90 year old auntie in Texas. USPS ballots are not secure.
Ballot harvesting is legal in California. Undercover journalists showed the junkies in Los Angeles and San Francisco registering to vote for $5.
Newsom must be afraid. That explains the Nick Shirley Law specifically prohibiting any filming of illegal immigrant storefront resources and “Learing” centers.
Dominion and Scytle’s soft and hardware are manufactured, tested, used and certified in overseas countries.
Please explain why last year Riverside county had 45,000 less registered voters than the official ballot count in Sacramento.
The 20% of protected people in this election are illegal resident, dead, and/or uncertifiable voters. The “selected” winners will take five weeks after Nov. 3rd to tabulate!
Vote “No” on D regarding ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting is the gift that just keeps the cheat!