In addition to any other penalty, a person who prints or otherwise duplicates, or causes to be printed or duplicated, a simulated ballot or simulated county voter information guide that does not contain the statement required by Section 20009, or that uses an official seal or insignia in violation of Section 20009, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Election CampaignsCampaign Literature
Section § 18301
This law states that if someone creates a fake ballot or a fake voter information guide without the necessary disclaimers, or improperly uses an official seal, they can be charged with a misdemeanor. It's an additional penalty to any other consequences they might face.
simulated ballot voter information guide misdemeanor
Section § 18302
This law makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally send or distribute false information about where a voter’s polling place is located if it doesn't match official records from the past 30 days. Additionally, it's illegal to knowingly spread false details about the location and dates of vote centers and drop-off points, voter eligibility, and mail-in voting rules through any means, including mail, broadcasts, calls, texts, emails, or online.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18302(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who knowingly causes to be mailed or distributed, or knowingly mails or distributes, literature to a voter that includes a designation of the voter’s precinct polling place other than a precinct polling place listed for that voter in an official precinct polling list that constituted the latest official precinct polling list at sometime not more than 30 days prior to the mailing or distribution.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18302(b) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor who, with actual knowledge and intent to deceive, causes to be distributed or distributes, including distribution by mail, radio or television broadcast, telephone call, text message, email, or any other electronic means, including over the Internet, literature or any other form of communication
to a voter that includes any of the following:
(1)CA Elections Code § 18302(b)(1) The incorrect location of a vote center, office of an elections official, satellite office of an elections official where voting is permitted, vote by mail ballot drop box, or vote by mail ballot drop-off location.
(2)CA Elections Code § 18302(b)(2) False or misleading information regarding the qualifications to vote or to register to vote.
(3)CA Elections Code § 18302(b)(3) False or misleading information regarding the qualifications to apply for, receive, or return a vote by mail ballot.
(4)CA Elections Code § 18302(b)(4) False or misleading information regarding the date of an election or the days, dates, or times voting may occur at a place described in paragraph (1).
misdemeanor incorrect polling place misleading voter information
Section § 18303
If someone breaks the rules about mass mailings described in Section 84305 of the Government Code, they can face penalties as laid out in Chapter 11, starting with Section 91000, of the same Code.
Every person who violates Section 84305 of the Government Code relating to mass mailing is subject to the penal provisions set forth in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 91000) of Title 9 of the Government Code.
mass mailing violation penalties Section 84305
Section § 18304
This law makes it a crime for anyone to use or let others use a copy of a county seal or local government agency seal in campaign materials or mass mailings if it's meant to trick voters. If the seal is used in a way that makes people mistakenly think the material is officially endorsed, that's considered evidence of trying to deceive. Local government agencies include school districts and other local boards or commissions.
(a)CA Elections Code § 18304(a) Any person who uses or allows to be used any reproduction or facsimile of the seal of the county or the seal of a local government agency in any campaign literature or mass mailing, as defined in Section 82041.5 of the Government Code, with intent to deceive the voters, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)CA Elections Code § 18304(b) For purposes of this section, the use of a reproduction or facsimile of a seal in a manner that creates a misleading, erroneous, or false impression that the document is authorized by a public official is evidence of intent to deceive.
(c)CA Elections Code § 18304(c) For purposes of this section, the term “local government agency” means a school district, special or other district, or any other board, commission, or agency of local jurisdiction.
county seal misuse campaign literature mass mailing
