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HomeElections CodeDiv. 16Ch. 2§ 16100 Election Contest Grounds

§ 16100 Election Contest Grounds

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 16100 Election Contest Grounds

This law lets voters in a county, city, or other local area challenge an election if there was misconduct, an ineligible winner, bribery, illegal votes, denied voting rights, counting mistakes, or computer errors.

Key Takeaways

  • •Voters can contest an election for many reasons, not just cheating on the ballot.
  • •If the winner wasn’t eligible at the time of the vote, the election can be challenged.
  • •Mistakes in counting votes or computer glitches are also valid reasons to contest.

Example

A voter discovers that the precinct board gave a cash reward to a candidate to help them win.

Because the law says giving a bribe to get elected is a reason to contest the election, the voter can file a challenge to have the results reviewed.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16100 Election Contest Grounds

Any elector of a county, city, or of any political subdivision of either may contest any election held therein, for any of the following causes: (a) That the precinct board or any member thereof was guilty of malconduct. (b) That the person who has been declared elected to an office was not, at the time of the election, eligible to that office. (c) That the defendant has given to any elector or member of a precinct board any bribe or reward, or has offered any bribe or reward for the purpose of procuring his election, or has committed any other offense against the elective franchise defined in Division 18 (commencing with Section 18000). (d) That illegal votes were cast. (e) That eligible voters who attempted to vote in accordance with the laws of the state were denied their right to vote. (f) That the precinct board in conducting the election or in canvassing the returns, made errors sufficient to change the result of the election as to any person who has been declared elected. (g) That there was an error in the vote-counting programs or summation of ballot counts. (Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 173, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

electorcontest any electionmalconductprecinct boardillegal votesvote-counting programs

Related Statutes

  • § 10242 Poll Operating Hours
  • § 10243 Polling Place Board Presence
  • § 14105.5 Polling Place Material Restrictions
  • § 14107 Voter Roster Requirements
  • § 16101 Candidate Nomination Contests

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 16100.
View Official Source