§ 18567 Election Vote Tampering Penalty

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says you can't mess with the vote counts in an election, whether the results are official or not.

Key Takeaways

•Changing any vote numbers, adding or taking away votes, is illegal.
•It applies to all elections and to any kind of vote report, official or unofficial.
•If you do it, you could be sent to prison for about 16 months to three years.

Example

A worker at a polling place adds extra votes for one candidate after the polls close.

Because they changed the vote totals, they would be breaking this law and could go to jail for up to three years.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18567 Election Vote Tampering Penalty

Every person who willfully adds to or subtracts from the votes actually cast at an election, in any official or unofficial returns, or who alters the returns, is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 84. (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

willfully alters the returns imprisonment subdivision (h) of Section 1170

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18567.

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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