Information About Prohibited Election Activities

Warning: Electioneering prohibited! 

Violations can lead to fines and/or imprisonment.  

The following activities are prohibited within the immediate vicinity of a person in line
to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, curbside voting or drop box: 

• DO NOT ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.

• DO NOT display a candidate’s name, image, or logo.

• DO NOT block access to or loiter near any ballot drop boxes.

• DO NOT provide any material or audible information for or against any candidate or ballot measure near any polling place, vote center, or ballot drop box.

• DO NOT circulate any petitions, including for initiatives, referenda, recall, or candidate nominations.

• DO NOT distribute, display, or wear any clothing (hats, shirts, signs, buttons, stickers) that include a candidate’s name, image, logo, and/or support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure.

• DO NOT display information or speak to a voter about the voter’s eligibility to vote.

The electioneering prohibitions summarized above are set forth in Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Division 18 of the California Elections Code.

Warning: Corrupting the voting process is prohibited!  

Violations subject to fine and/or imprisonment. 

The following activities are prohibited: 

• DO NOT commit or attempt to commit election fraud.

• DO NOT provide any sort of compensation or bribery to, in any fashion or by any means induce or attempt to induce, a person to vote or refrain from voting.

• DO NOT illegally vote.

• DO NOT attempt to vote or aid another to vote when not entitled to vote.

• DO NOT engage in electioneering; photograph or record a voter entering or exiting a polling place; or obstruct ingress, egress, or parking.

• DO NOT challenge a person’s right to vote or prevent voters from voting; delay the process of voting; or fraudulently advise any person that he or she is not eligible to vote or is not registered to vote.

• DO NOT attempt to ascertain how a voter voted their ballot.

• DO NOT possess or arrange for someone to possess a firearm in the immediate vicinity of a polling place, with some exceptions.

• DO NOT appear or arrange for someone to appear in the uniform of a peace officer, guard, or security personnel in the immediate vicinity of a polling place, with some exceptions.

• DO NOT tamper or interfere with any component of a voting system.

• DO NOT forge, counterfeit, or tamper with the returns of an election.

• DO NOT alter the returns of an election.

• DO NOT tamper with, destroy, or alter any polling list, official ballot, or ballot container.

• DO NOT display any unofficial ballot collection container that may deceive a voter into believing it is an official collection box.

• DO NOT tamper or interfere with copy of the results of votes cast.

• DO NOT coerce or deceive a person who cannot read or an elder into voting for or against a candidate or measure contrary to their intent.

• DO NOT act as an election officer when you are not one.

EMPLOYERS cannot require or ask their employee to bring their vote by mail ballot to work or ask their employee to vote their ballot at work. At the time of payment of salary or wages, employers cannot enclose materials that attempt to influence the political opinions or actions of their employee. 

PRECINCT BOARD MEMBERS cannot attempt to determine how a voter voted their ballot or, if that information is discovered, disclose how a voter voted their ballot. 

The prohibitions on activity related to corruption of the voting process summarized above are set forth in Chapter 6 of Division 18 of the California Elections Code.