Existing law makes it a crime to conduct certain political activities, including electioneering, within 100 feet of a polling place, an election official’s office, or a satellite voting location, as defined. Existing law defines electioneering as displaying visible or disseminating audible information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot in specified locations. Existing law makes it a crime to conduct certain activities that constitute corruption of the voting process, including certain activities within 100 feet of a polling place with the intent of dissuading another person from voting.
This bill would extend the distance within which such activities are prohibited to 200 feet of the following: 1)
(1) the entrance to a building that contains a polling place, an elections official’s office, or satellite voting location, as defined; 2) (2) an outdoor site at which a voter may cast or drop off a ballot; or 3) (3) a ballot box for the collection of ballots; and 4) a voter who is in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot. ballots.
The bill would also prohibit a person from soliciting a vote, speaking to a voter about marking the voter’s ballot, or disseminating visible or audible electioneering information in the immediate vicinity of a voter in line to cast a ballot or drop off a ballot, as further specified. The bill would also require notice regarding prohibitions on electioneering and activity related to corruption of the voting process to be provided to the public. The bill would require the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations specifying the manner in which such notice would be given.
Existing law imposes, for specified acts of interference with the placement, collection, or counting of ballots, a fine not exceeding $1000, or imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years, or both.
This bill would also impose this penalty on
on: (1) a person who provides, or aids or abets in the provision of, an unofficial ballot box for the collection of ballots, including by marking or placing ballots and marks, places, or uses
the word “official” on an unofficial the
ballot box, or otherwise provides, or aids or abets in the provision of, an unofficial ballot box that is likely to deceive a voter into believing the voter is placing a ballot into a secure collection box that has been approved by an elections official; and (2) a person who encourages or solicits a voter to place a ballot in an unofficial ballot box. box, as specified.
Because this bill would change or expand the definition of certain crimes related to elections, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts
for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.