§ 18661 False Petition Certifications

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law makes it a crime for a government worker to knowingly lie on a petition or recall paper by giving false information or signatures.

Key Takeaways

•Lying on a petition or recall paper is a crime.
•Punishment can be a fine up to $5,000, jail up to a year, or both.
•Only applies when the person knows the information is false.

Example

A city clerk signs a petition to recall a council member but writes that he collected 1,000 signatures when he only collected 300.

Because he knowingly gave a false certification about the number of signatures, the clerk can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to a year, or both.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18661 False Petition Certifications

Every public official or employee is punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment, who knowingly makes any false return, certification or affidavit concerning any initiative, referendum, or recall petition or the signatures appended thereto. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 96. (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

false return certification affidavit initiative referendum recall petition

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18661.

§ 18661 False Petition Certifications

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 18661 False Petition Certifications

This law makes it a crime for a government worker to knowingly lie on a petition or recall paper by giving false information or signatures.

Key Takeaways

•Lying on a petition or recall paper is a crime.
•Punishment can be a fine up to $5,000, jail up to a year, or both.
•Only applies when the person knows the information is false.

Example

A city clerk signs a petition to recall a council member but writes that he collected 1,000 signatures when he only collected 300.

Because he knowingly gave a false certification about the number of signatures, the clerk can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to a year, or both.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 18661 False Petition Certifications

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

false return certification affidavit initiative referendum recall petition

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 18661.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References