§ 18201 Nomination Paper Fraud Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that if you lie on, mess up, or destroy any part of a nomination paper, you can be fined up to $1,000, go to jail for up to three years, or both.

Key Takeaways

•Making false statements or destroying any part of a nomination paper is illegal.
•You can be fined up to $1,000.
•You could be sentenced to 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail, or get both the fine and jail time.

Example

Jane pretends to be someone else on a nomination form for a school election and also tears off a section of the form to hide her mistake.

Because Jane made false information and destroyed part of the nomination paper, the law says she could be charged, pay a fine, and possibly be sent to jail.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18201 Nomination Paper Fraud Penalties

Any person who falsely makes or fraudulently defaces or destroys all or any part of a nomination paper, is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years or by both that fine and imprisonment. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 63. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

nomination paper fine imprisonment fraudulently defaces falsely makes

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18201.

§ 18201 Nomination Paper Fraud Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 18201 Nomination Paper Fraud Penalties

This law says that if you lie on, mess up, or destroy any part of a nomination paper, you can be fined up to $1,000, go to jail for up to three years, or both.

Key Takeaways

•Making false statements or destroying any part of a nomination paper is illegal.
•You can be fined up to $1,000.
•You could be sentenced to 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail, or get both the fine and jail time.

Example

Jane pretends to be someone else on a nomination form for a school election and also tears off a section of the form to hide her mistake.

Because Jane made false information and destroyed part of the nomination paper, the law says she could be charged, pay a fine, and possibly be sent to jail.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18201 Nomination Paper Fraud Penalties

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

nomination paper fine imprisonment fraudulently defaces falsely makes

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18201.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References