§ 18613 Petition Signature Fraud Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

It is a felony to sign an initiative, referendum, or recall petition using a fake name or to have someone else do it for you, and you can be sentenced to 2‑4 years in prison.

Key Takeaways

•Using a fake name to sign a petition is a felony.
•The crime can lead to 2‑4 years in state prison.
•The law also covers causing another person to use a fake name.

Example

A person creates a fake online identity to sign a petition circulating for a ballot measure and submits the signature on behalf of a neighbor.

Because the person used a fictitious name to subscribe to the petition, the law treats it as a felony, and the court can impose a prison term of two, three, or four years.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18613 Petition Signature Fraud Penalties

Every person who subscribes to any initiative, referendum, or recall petition a fictitious name, or who subscribes thereto the name of another, or who causes another to subscribe such a name to that petition, is guilty of a felony and is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, three, or four years. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 90. (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

initiative referendum recall petition fictitious name felony

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18613.

§ 18613 Petition Signature Fraud Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 18613 Petition Signature Fraud Penalties

It is a felony to sign an initiative, referendum, or recall petition using a fake name or to have someone else do it for you, and you can be sentenced to 2‑4 years in prison.

Key Takeaways

•Using a fake name to sign a petition is a felony.
•The crime can lead to 2‑4 years in state prison.
•The law also covers causing another person to use a fake name.

Example

A person creates a fake online identity to sign a petition circulating for a ballot measure and submits the signature on behalf of a neighbor.

Because the person used a fictitious name to subscribe to the petition, the law treats it as a felony, and the court can impose a prison term of two, three, or four years.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18613 Petition Signature Fraud Penalties

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

initiative referendum recall petition fictitious name felony

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18613.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References