§ 18603 Paying For Petition Signatures

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

It is a crime to pay someone money or anything valuable to get them to sign a petition for a ballot measure.

Key Takeaways

•Paying people to sign petitions is illegal.
•The law applies to any official petition, like city or county measures.
•Violating this rule can lead to a misdemeanor charge.

Example

A campaign worker offers a neighbor $50 to sign a petition to put a new city ordinance on the ballot.

The worker is breaking the law because they are giving money in exchange for the neighbor's signature on the petition.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18603 Paying For Petition Signatures

Every person who offers or gives money or other valuable consideration to another in exchange for his or her signature on a state, county, municipal, or district initiative, referendum, or recall petition is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 714, Sec. 26. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

misdemeanor initiative referendum recall petition valuable consideration

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18603.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References