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HomeElections CodeDiv. 18Ch. 6Art. 2§ 18521 Voter Bribery Prohibition

§ 18521 Voter Bribery Prohibition

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 18521 Voter Bribery Prohibition

This law makes it illegal to give or promise money, gifts, jobs, or anything valuable to anyone to influence how they vote, or whether they vote at all, before, during, or after an election.

Key Takeaways

  • •You cannot give or promise money, gifts, jobs, or anything valuable to affect anyone's voting or non‑voting.
  • •The rule applies before, during, and after the election.
  • •Breaking the rule can lead to up to three years in prison.

Example

A political group offers a neighbor $200 if the neighbor does not vote for a certain candidate.

Giving the money to change the neighbor's voting choice is not allowed under this law because it is a valuable thing given to affect voting behavior.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18521 Voter Bribery Prohibition

A person shall not directly or through any other person receive, agree, or contract for, before, during or after an election, any money, gift, loan, or other valuable consideration, office, place, or employment for himself or any other person because he or any other person: (a) Voted, agreed to vote, refrained from voting, or agreed to refrain from voting for any particular person or measure. (b) Remained away from the polls. (c) Refrained or agreed to refrain from voting. (d) Induced any other person to: (1) Remain away from the polls. (2) Refrain from voting. (3) Vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or measure. Any person violating this section is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 73. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

receiveagreecontractmoneygiftloanvaluable considerationofficeplaceemploymentvotedrefrained from votingremained away from the pollsinducedimprisonment

Related Statutes

  • § 18520 Voter Bribery Prohibition
  • § 18523 Election Bribery Prohibition
  • § 15460 County Committee Election Requirements
  • § 16520 Affidavit Hearing Scheduling
  • § 16521 Court Clerk Trial Citation Service

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18521.
View Official Source