CALIFORNIA STATUTES AND CODES
SECTIONS 18600-18604
ELECTIONS CODE
SECTION 18600-18604
18600. Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:
(a) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or
control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state
or local initiative, referendum or recall petition, intentionally
misrepresents or intentionally makes any false statement concerning
the contents, purport or effect of the petition to any person who
signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who
makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for
his or her signature.
(b) Willfully and knowingly circulates, publishes, or exhibits any
false statement or misrepresentation concerning the contents,
purport or effect of any state or local initiative, referendum, or
recall petition for the purpose of obtaining any signature to, or
persuading or influencing any person to sign, that petition.
(c) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or
control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state
or local initiative, intentionally makes any false statement in
response to any inquiry by any voter as to whether he or she is a
paid signature gatherer or a volunteer.
18601. Any person working for the proponent or proponents of an
initiative or referendum measure or recall petition who refuses to
allow a prospective signer to read the measure or petition is guilty
of a misdemeanor.
An arrest or conviction pursuant to this section shall not
invalidate or otherwise affect the validity of any signature obtained
by the person arrested or convicted.
18602. Any person working for the proponent or proponents of a
statewide initiative or referendum measure who covers or otherwise
obscures the summary of the measure prepared by the Attorney General
from the view of a prospective signer is guilty of a misdemeanor.
18603. Every person who offers or gives money or other valuable
consideration to another in exchange for his or her signature on a
state, county, municipal, or district initiative, referendum, or
recall petition is guilty of a misdemeanor.
18604. Upon conviction of a violation of any provision of this
article, Article 2 (commencing with Section 18610), Article 3
(commencing with Section 18620), Article 5 (commencing with Section
18640), Article 6 (commencing with Section 18650), or Article 7
(commencing with Section 18660), the court may order as a condition
of probation that the convicted person be prohibited from receiving
money or other valuable consideration for gathering signatures on an
initiative, referendum, or recall petition.