California · Elections Code

ELEC §18403: 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

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Unauthorized persons who receive, examine, or solicit display of a voted ballot face fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment of 16 months to three years or up to one year in county jail.

Read the full statutory text

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.

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.