§ 18541. — 18541. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 296, Sec. 8.)

California § 18541.

• Jurisdiction: California
• Code ELEC: Elections Code - ELEC
• Div. 18.: DIVISION 18. PENAL PROVISIONS
• Ch. 6.: CHAPTER 6. Corruption of the Voting Process
• Art. 3.: ARTICLE 3. Intimidation of Voters

Text

(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.
(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.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 296, Sec. 8. (AB 1249) Effective January 1, 2026.