Improper Signature-gathering Tactics - Initiative, Referendum, And Recall - Elections - CA

Section § 18600

This law makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally lie or make false statements about certain petitions in California. If you're involved in circulating, managing, or gathering signatures for a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition, you cannot falsely describe its contents or effects. You also can't lie about the petition’s major funders. Additionally, you must be truthful if a voter asks whether you're a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer.

Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:

(a) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, referendum or recall petition, intentionally misrepresents or intentionally makes any false statement concerning the contents, purport or effect of the petition, or the petition’s Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, to any person who signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for the person’s signature.

(b) Willfully and knowingly circulates, publishes, or exhibits any false statement or misrepresentation concerning the contents, purport or effect of any state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition, or the petition’s Official Top Funders disclosure required by Section 107, for the purpose of obtaining any signature to, or persuading or influencing any person to sign, that petition.

(c) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, intentionally makes any false statement in response to any inquiry by any voter as to whether the person is a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer.

misdemeanor false statements intentionally misrepresents ...

Section § 18601

This law states that anyone involved in promoting an initiative, referendum, or recall petition must allow people to read the measure or petition before signing. If they refuse, it's considered a misdemeanor. However, even if someone is arrested or convicted for this, any signatures they collected are still valid.

Any person working for the proponent or proponents of an initiative or referendum measure or recall petition who refuses to allow a prospective signer to read the measure or petition is guilty of a misdemeanor.

An arrest or conviction pursuant to this section shall not invalidate or otherwise affect the validity of any signature obtained by the person arrested or convicted.

initiative measure referendum measure recall petition ...

Section § 18602

If someone working to promote a statewide initiative or referendum hides or covers up the summary of the measure, which is written by the Attorney General, from someone who might sign it, that person can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Any person working for the proponent or proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum measure who covers or otherwise obscures the summary of the measure prepared by the Attorney General from the view of a prospective signer is guilty of a misdemeanor.

statewide initiative referendum measure Attorney General summary ...

Section § 18603

In California, it's a misdemeanor to pay someone to get their signature on any government-related petition, like for initiatives, referendums, or recalls.

Every person who offers or gives money or other valuable consideration to another in exchange for his or her signature on a state, county, municipal, or district initiative, referendum, or recall petition is guilty of a misdemeanor.

signature gathering initiative petition referendum petition ...

Section § 18604

If someone is convicted of breaking certain election laws, the court can impose a probation condition that bans them from getting paid to collect signatures for petitions like initiatives, referendums, or recalls.

Upon conviction of a violation of any provision of this article, Article 2 (commencing with Section 18610), Article 3 (commencing with Section 18620), Article 5 (commencing with Section 18640), Article 6 (commencing with Section 18650), or Article 7 (commencing with Section 18660), the court may order as a condition of probation that the convicted person be prohibited from receiving money or other valuable consideration for gathering signatures on an initiative, referendum, or recall petition.

conviction consequences probation condition paid signature gathering ban ...