§ 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says you can go to jail if you help or tell someone to vote when they aren't allowed to, or if you help with crimes listed in Section 18560.

Key Takeaways

•Helping or advising an unqualified person to vote is a crime.
•You can be punished even if you only give advice or encouragement.
•The same punishment applies if you help with any crime listed in Section 18560.

Example

A person knows their neighbor is not a U.S. citizen and therefore can't vote, but they still coach the neighbor on how to fill out a ballot and encourage them to vote.

Because the person is giving advice to someone who isn’t qualified to vote, the law says they could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties

Every person is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years who: (a) Procures, assists, counsels, or advises another to give or offer his vote at any election, knowing that the person is not qualified to vote. (b) Aids or abets in the commission of any of the offenses mentioned in Section 18560. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 81. (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

imprisonment procures assists counsels advises vote aids or abets Section 18560

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18561.

§ 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties

This law says you can go to jail if you help or tell someone to vote when they aren't allowed to, or if you help with crimes listed in Section 18560.

Key Takeaways

•Helping or advising an unqualified person to vote is a crime.
•You can be punished even if you only give advice or encouragement.
•The same punishment applies if you help with any crime listed in Section 18560.

Example

A person knows their neighbor is not a U.S. citizen and therefore can't vote, but they still coach the neighbor on how to fill out a ballot and encourage them to vote.

Because the person is giving advice to someone who isn’t qualified to vote, the law says they could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18561 Voter Fraud Assistance Penalties

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

imprisonment procures assists counsels advises vote aids or abets Section 18560

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18561.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References