This law states that it is a crime to knowingly register oneself or another person as a voter if that person is not eligible to vote. Additionally, it is illegal to sign or submit a false voter registration for a person who doesn't exist, such as a deceased person or an imaginary entity. Violators can face prison time ranging from 16 months to three years or up to one year in county jail.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18100(a) Every person who willfully causes, procures, or allows himself or herself or any other person to be registered as a voter, knowing that he or she or that other person is not entitled to registration, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail for not more than one year.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18100(b) Every person who knowingly and willfully signs, or causes or procures the signing of, an affidavit of registration of a nonexistent person, and who mails or delivers, or causes or procures the mailing or delivery of, that affidavit to a county elections official is guilty of a crime punishable by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail for not more than one year. For purposes of this subdivision, “nonexistent person” includes, but is not limited to, deceased persons, animals, and inanimate objects.
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(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 58. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
This law states that if someone knowingly fills out or helps fill out a voter registration form for someone who doesn't exist or didn't ask to be registered, they are committing a crime. The penalty could be up to three years in state prison or up to one year in county jail.
Every person who knowingly and willfully completes, or causes or procures the completion of, in whole or in part, an affidavit of registration or a voter registration card, with the intent to cause the registration or reregistration as a voter of a fictitious person or of any person who has not requested registration or reregistration as a voter, is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail for not more than one year.
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(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 59. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
This law states that any election official who knowingly registers a fake person, uses a false name or address, or registers someone who is not eligible to vote can be punished with jail time or imprisonment. Penalties include imprisonment for 16 months, two years, or three years, or up to one year in county jail.
Any deputy elections official or registration elections official who knowingly registers a nonexistent person, knowingly registers a person under a false name or address, or knowingly registers a person who is ineligible to register is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail for not more than one year.
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(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 60. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)
This law makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly or carelessly delay or interfere with the delivery of a completed voter registration form to the county elections official. It's also illegal to keep a voter's completed registration card without their permission for more than three days, not counting weekends and state holidays, or after voter registration has closed. Additionally, it is against the law to prevent a voter from submitting their own registration card to the county elections official. Violating this law is considered a misdemeanor and can result in a fine of up to $1,000.
Any person who knowingly or negligently (a) interferes with the prompt transfer of a completed affidavit of registration to the county elections official, (b) retains a voter’s completed registration card, without the voter’s authorization, for more than three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, or after the close of registration, or (c) denies a voter the right to return to the county elections official the voter’s own completed registration card, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
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(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
This law makes it a misdemeanor for anyone responsible for handling voter registration forms to deliberately not return them as required. If they fail to do so, the county elections official must report them to the district attorney, who will then decide on the necessary legal action, either civil or criminal.
An individual or organization having charge of affidavits of registration is guilty of a misdemeanor who knowingly neglects or refuses to return affidavits of registration as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 2138) of Chapter 2 of Division 2. The county elections official shall report to the district attorney of the county, under oath, the names of all individuals or organizations who have failed to return the affidavits. The district attorney shall take appropriate civil or criminal action.
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(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 106, Sec. 5. (AB 3370) Effective January 1, 2021.)
This law states that voter registration forms cannot have any statements showing support or opposition to a candidate or issue. Only the person registering can fill out these forms, and nothing else should be added by others. Anyone who breaks this rule is committing a misdemeanor, which is a minor crime.
No affidavit of registration or voter registration card shall contain, and no person other than the registrant shall write on or affix thereto, or cause to be written on or affixed thereto, any statement urging or indicating support or opposition to any candidate or measure.
Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
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(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
This law states that if someone, without consent, intentionally changes or damages a person's political party declaration on their voter registration form, they can be punished with jail time. The penalties can range from 16 months to three years in state prison, or up to one year in county jail. However, this does not apply to election officials who are doing their official duties.
Every person is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail for not more than one year who, without the specific consent of the affiant, willfully and with the intent to affect the affiant’s voting rights, causes, procures, or allows the completion, alteration, or defacement of the affiant’s party affiliation declaration contained in an executed, or partially executed, affidavit of registration pursuant to paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 2150 and Section 2151.
This section shall not apply to a county elections official carrying out his or her official duties.
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(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 47. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)
If someone intentionally breaks the rules outlined in Section 2158, they're committing a minor legal offense called an infraction. They could be fined up to $200 for this violation.
Every person who willfully violates Section 2158 is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200).
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(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
This law states that if someone is paid to help others register to vote by collecting their completed registration forms, they must follow specific rules (Section 2159). If they don't and it's their first or second offense, they may face a misdemeanor charge with penalties including a fine of up to $1,000, county jail time up to six months, or if done intentionally, up to a year of imprisonment or both. If they've been convicted three times or more for this specific failure, the penalties increase to a fine of up to $10,000, jail time up to a year, or both.
However, this law doesn't apply to public agencies or their employees, designated as voter registration agencies under federal law, when helping people register as part of their normal duties.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18108(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a person who receives money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, and fails to comply with Section 2159, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months or if the failure to comply is found to be willful, not exceeding one year, or both.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18108(b) A person who receives money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, upon a third or subsequent conviction, on charges brought and separately tried, for failure to
comply with Section 2159 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or both.
(c)CA Elections Code § 18108(c) This section does not apply to a public agency or its employees that is designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), if an elector asks for assistance to register to vote during the course and scope of the agency’s normal business.
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(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 123. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
If someone gets paid to help others register to vote and lies about their role in doing so on the registration form, they can be charged with a misdemeanor. This is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
If the person is caught doing this three or more times, the fine can increase to $10,000, with possible jail time extending to one year, or both penalties.
This law does not apply to public agencies or their employees that assist with voter registration as part of their usual duties under a federal voter registration law.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18108.1(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a person who receives money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, and knowingly misrepresents himself or herself as having helped register another to vote on a registration form, pursuant to Section 2159, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18108.1(b) A person who receives money or other valuable consideration to assist another to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration from the elector, upon a third or subsequent conviction, on
charges brought and separately tried, for misrepresenting himself or herself as having helped register another to vote on a registration form, pursuant to Section 2159, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(c)CA Elections Code § 18108.1(c) This section does not apply to a public agency or its employees that is designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501 et seq.), if an elector asks for assistance to register to vote during the course and scope of the agency’s normal business.
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(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 124. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)
This law states that any person, company, or organization that pays someone to help register voters and doesn't follow specific rules (Section 2159.5) can face criminal charges. Violations can result in fines up to $1,000, jail time up to six months, or both, with harsher penalties for willful violations or repeat offenses. Specifically, for a third or later violation, the fine can increase to $10,000, and jail time can be up to one year.
If an elections official finds three or more problematic voter registration affidavits, they need to inform the organization or person responsible. The official can also send details to the district attorney to consider legal action.
This section does not apply to public agencies or their workers assisting with voter registration during their regular duties under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18108.5(a) A person, company, or other organization that agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration, whether on a per-affidavit basis or otherwise, to a person who assists another person to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration, or by assisting with the submission of an affidavit of registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State, who fails to comply with Section 2159.5, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months or when the failure to comply is found to be willful, not exceeding one year, or both.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18108.5(b) A person, company, or other organization that agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration, whether on a per-affidavit basis or otherwise, to a person who assists another person to register to vote by receiving the completed affidavit of registration, or by assisting with the submission of an affidavit of registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State, upon a third or subsequent conviction, on charges brought and separately tried, for failure to comply with Section 2159.5 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or both.
(c)CA Elections Code § 18108.5(c) An elections official shall notify a person, company, or other organization that agrees to pay money or other valuable consideration, whether on a per-affidavit basis or otherwise, to a person who assists another person to register to vote by receiving the completed
affidavit of registration or by assisting with the submission of an affidavit of registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State, that three or more affidavits of registration submitted by a person who assisted another to register to vote do not comply with Sections 18100, 18101, 18103, or 18106. The elections official may forward a copy of each of the noncomplying affidavits of registration to the district attorney, who may make a determination whether probable cause exists to believe that a violation of law has occurred.
(d)CA Elections Code § 18108.5(d) This section shall not apply to a public agency or its employees that is designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20501
et seq.), when an elector asks for assistance to register to vote during the course and scope of the agency’s normal business.
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(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 732, Sec. 33. (AB 1536) Effective January 1, 2016.)
This law makes it a misdemeanor for someone to misuse certain voter information. If you have access to specific voter registration details, you can't use them for just any reason—they must be used legally. Plus, you can't get or use voter info from the Secretary of State or county elections officials unless you follow the proper legal procedures first.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18109(a) It is a misdemeanor for a person in possession of information identified in Section 2138.5, or obtained pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 2183) of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of this code or Section 7924.000 of the Government Code, knowingly to use or permit the use of all or any part of that information for any purpose other than as permitted by law.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18109(b) It is a misdemeanor for a person knowingly to acquire possession or use of voter registration information from the Secretary of State or a county elections official without first complying with Section 2188.
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(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 102. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)
This law section states that it's illegal for anyone to reveal the home address or phone number from a voter registration card of certain protected individuals, like active or retired peace officers, police department employees, and their families, without permission.
If someone does so and it's against the rules of another specified section (Section 2194), they're committing a misdemeanor. However, if revealing this information leads to bodily harm to those individuals, the offense becomes a felony.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18110(a) For purposes of this section, “home address” means only street address and does not include an individual’s city or post office address.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18110(b) Any person or public entity who, in violation of Section 2194, discloses the home address or telephone number listed on a voter registration card of any of the following individuals is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1)CA Elections Code § 18110(b)(1) An active or retired peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.
(2)CA Elections Code § 18110(b)(2) An employee of a city police department or a county sheriff’s office.
(3)CA Elections Code § 18110(b)(3) The spouse or children of the individuals specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) who live with those individuals.
(c)CA Elections Code § 18110(c) Any person or public entity, who in violation of Section 2194, discloses the home address or telephone number listed on a voter registration card of any individual specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision (b), and that violation results in bodily injury to any of those individuals, is guilty of a felony.
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(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1207, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1995.)
This law states that anyone who knowingly breaks Section 2138.5 commits an infraction, which is a minor legal violation. The punishment can be a fine up to $500. Importantly, being charged under this specific section doesn't stop the person from being prosecuted under other laws that might also apply.
Any person, individual, or organization that knowingly violates Section 2138.5 is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). Prosecution for a violation of Section 2138.5 shall not prohibit prosecution under any other applicable provision of law.
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(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 305, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)
If someone is found guilty of breaking a rule in this chapter, the court might stop them from earning money or getting anything valuable in exchange for helping others register to vote during their probation.
Upon conviction of a violation of any provision of this chapter, the court may order as a condition of probation that the convicted person be prohibited from receiving money or other valuable consideration for assisting another person to register to vote by receiving the completed
affidavit of registration.
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(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 372, Sec. 1. (AB 2101) Effective January 1, 2011.)
