California · Elections Code

ELEC §18541: (a) A person shall not, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, within the 100 foot limit specified in subdivision (b), do any of the following: (1) Solicit a vote or speak to a vote

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person commits an offense by intimidating voters near polling places through solicitation, photography, obstruction, or electioneering within specified distances. Violations are punishable by up to 12 months county jail or state prison; conspiracy to violate is a felony.

Read the full statutory text

(a) A person shall not, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, within the 100 foot limit specified in subdivision (b), do any of the following: (1) Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking the voter’s ballot. (2) Place a sign relating to voters’ qualifications or speak to a voter on the subject of the voter’s qualifications except as provided in Section 14240. (3) Photograph, video record, or otherwise record a voter entering or exiting a polling place. (4) Obstruct ingress, egress, or parking. (b) The activities described in subdivision (a) are prohibited within 100 feet of either of the following: (1) The entrance to a building that contains a polling place as defined by Section 338.5, an elections official’s office, or a satellite location. (2) An outdoor site, including a curbside voting area, at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot. (c) A person shall not, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, do any of the following within the immediate vicinity of a voter in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot: (1) Solicit a vote. (2) Speak to a voter about marking the voter’s ballot. (3) Disseminate visible or audible electioneering information. (d) A violation of this section is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 12 months, or in state prison. Any person who conspires to violate this section is guilty of a felony.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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