§ 18380 Election Materials Protection

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says you can't mess with anything at a voting place during an election – no taking away supplies, no ruining instruction cards, no changing voter lists, and no damaging signs – and if you do, it's a misdemeanor.

Key Takeaways

•Don't take or destroy any supplies or tools inside voting booths.
•Don't tear up or damage the instruction cards for voters.
•Don't mess with voter lists or rosters to hide or change any information.
•Don't remove, tear down, or damage signs that show where a polling place is or any area within 100 feet of it.
•Doing any of these things is a misdemeanor (a criminal offense).

Example

Someone pulls down the sign that tells voters where the polling place is and throws it on the ground.

Because the law says you can't remove or deface signs that show the location of a polling place, that person would be breaking the law and could be charged with a misdemeanor.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18380 Election Materials Protection

(a) A person, during any election, shall not do any of the following: (1) Remove or destroy any of the supplies or other conveniences placed in the voting booths or compartments for the purpose of enabling the voter to prepare his or her ballot. (2) Remove, tear down, or deface the cards printed for the instruction of voters. (3) Remove, tear, mark, destroy, or otherwise deface any voter list or roster with the intent to falsify or prevent others from readily ascertaining the name, address, or political preference of any voter, or the fact that a voter has or has not voted. (4) Remove, tear down, or deface the signs identifying the location of a polling place or identifying areas within 100 feet of a polling place. (b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 84. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

election misdemeanor voting booths voter list polling place

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18380.

§ 18380 Election Materials Protection

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 18380 Election Materials Protection

Key Takeaways

•Don't take or destroy any supplies or tools inside voting booths.
•Don't tear up or damage the instruction cards for voters.
•Don't mess with voter lists or rosters to hide or change any information.
•Don't remove, tear down, or damage signs that show where a polling place is or any area within 100 feet of it.
•Doing any of these things is a misdemeanor (a criminal offense).

Example

Someone pulls down the sign that tells voters where the polling place is and throws it on the ground.

Because the law says you can't remove or deface signs that show the location of a polling place, that person would be breaking the law and could be charged with a misdemeanor.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18380 Election Materials Protection

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

election misdemeanor voting booths voter list polling place

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18380.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References