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HomeElections CodeDiv. 18Ch. 6Art. 3§ 18541 Voter Intimidation Near Polling Places

§ 18541 Voter Intimidation Near Polling Places

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

§ 18541 Voter Intimidation Near Polling Places

This law says you can't try to stop someone from voting by talking to them, showing signs, recording them, or blocking them within 100 feet of a polling place or while they are in line.

Key Takeaways

  • •No one may talk to, sign, record, or block voters within 100 feet of a polling place or drop‑off site.
  • •The same rules apply right next to a voter who is standing in line to vote or drop off a ballot.
  • •Breaking these rules can lead to up to a year in jail, and planning to break them is a felony.

Example

A person stands on the sidewalk right outside a polling place holding a sign that says "Don't vote, you're not qualified" and records voters as they walk in.

Because they are within 100 feet of the polling place and are trying to discourage voting with a sign and a video, they are breaking the law.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18541 Voter Intimidation Near Polling Places

(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 specified in Section 3018. (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. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 318, Sec. 7. (SB 35) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

dissuading another person from voting100 foot limitsolicit a vote

Related Statutes

  • § 15470 Committee Candidate Election Requirements
  • § 16540 Affidavit Hearing Scheduling
  • § 18540 Voter Intimidation Prohibition
  • § 18542 Employer Political Pay Envelopes
  • § 18543 Voter Intimidation Prohibited

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18541.
View Official Source