California · Elections Code

ELEC §18107.5: (a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration to another person with the intent to induce the person to vote or to register to vote, or where

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A person is guilty of a crime if they knowingly pay or offer money or valuable consideration to another to induce voting or voter registration, or make payment contingent on voting status. Punishment includes fines up to $10,000 and/or 16 months to 3 years imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

(a) (1) A person who knowingly or willfully pays or offers to pay money or other valuable consideration to another person with the intent to induce the person to vote or to register to vote, or where the payment is contingent upon whether the person voted or the person’s voter registration status, is guilty of a crime. (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), “other valuable consideration” includes, but is not limited to, a chance to win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest. (3) This section does not apply to any of the following: (A) Transportation to or from a voting location. (B) Compensation provided to an individual by a governmental entity. (C) Granting time off to an employee to vote. (b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by a fine of up to 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.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.