LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeElections CodeDiv. 18Ch. 6Art. 4§ 18578 Mail Ballot Fraud Penalties

§ 18578 Mail Ballot Fraud Penalties

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

§ 18578 Mail Ballot Fraud Penalties

This law makes it a serious crime to sign someone else's name on a mail‑in ballot, whether the person is made‑up, a real voter, or someone who isn’t allowed to vote.

Key Takeaways

  • •Signing a fake or another person’s name on a mail ballot is a felony.
  • •Punishment can be up to 16 months to 3 years in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
  • •The law applies whether the name is completely made up, belongs to a real voter, or belongs to someone who can’t vote.

Example

Jane fills out a mail‑in ballot and signs her own name, but then also signs another ballot using her neighbor’s name without permission.

Because Jane used a name that isn’t hers to cast a vote, she could be charged with a felony and face jail time, a fine, or both.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18578 Mail Ballot Fraud Penalties

Any person who applies for, or who votes or attempts to vote, a vote by mail ballot by fraudulently signing the name of a fictitious person, or of a regularly qualified voter, or of a person who is not qualified to vote, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 88. (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

vote by mail ballotfraudulently signingfelonyimprisonmentfine

Related Statutes

  • § 18568 Election Ballot Tampering Penalties
  • § 18500 Voter Fraud Penalties
  • § 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties
  • § 18564 Election Equipment Tampering
  • § 18566 Election Return Forgery Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18578.
View Official Source