A person who makes, uses, keeps, or furnishes to others, paper or cards watermarked or overprinted in imitation of ballot paper or ballot cards is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
Chapter 5Ballots
Section § 18400
This law makes it illegal for anyone to create, use, keep, or distribute paper or cards that look like official ballot papers or cards. If someone does this, they can be fined up to $1,000 and may also face imprisonment for a period between 16 months and three years, or both a fine and imprisonment.
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Section § 18401
This law states that it's a misdemeanor to print or distribute any election ballot that doesn't meet the specific requirements set out in a particular chapter of the election code. If someone knows the ballot doesn't follow those rules and still shares it, they're breaking the law.
Every person who prints any ballot not in conformity with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 13100) of Division 13, or who circulates or gives to another any ballot, knowing at the time that the ballot does not conform to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 13100) of Division 13, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
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Section § 18403
If someone, who isn't an elections official or a precinct board member, receives, examines, or asks to see a voted ballot, they can be fined up to $10,000, sent to prison for 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years, jailed for up to a year, or face both penalties. However, this doesn't apply to people returning mail ballots or helping voters under the specified sections of the law.
Any person other than an elections official or a member of the precinct board who receives a voted ballot from a voter or who examines or solicits the voter to show their voted ballot is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), 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 not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. This section does
not apply to persons returning a vote by mail ballot pursuant to
Section 3017 or persons assisting a voter pursuant to Section 14282.
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