(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.

Terms Used In California Elections Code 18541

  • Electioneering: means the visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot within the 100 foot limit specified in subdivision (b). See California Elections Code 319.5
  • Elections official: means the county elections official, registrar of voters, or city clerk. See California Elections Code 18546
  • Immediate vicinity: means the area within a distance of 100 feet from the room or rooms in which the voters are signing the roster and casting ballots. See California Elections Code 18546
  • Polling place: means a location where a voter casts a ballot and includes the following terms, as applicable: poll, polling location, and vote center. See California Elections Code 338.5
  • Voter: means any elector who is registered under this code. See California Elections Code 359

(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.)

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