"Starting next year, offering money or prizes for voting or registering to vote will be criminalized in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, Oct. 2, said he signed two election reform bills into law, including one that criminalizes lotteries for voter registration or participation. From Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, the idea is to ensure wealthy people or special interests cannot influence voter participation."
"This one will let California voters decide in November 2026 whether to overturn the statewide prohibition on counties and most cities setting up a public fund for campaign financing. If voters did so, it would be up to local governments and the state whether to enact public financing programs, along with requirements to ensure accountability and fairness. Now, only charter cities - Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Francisco, for example - are allowed to implement public financing programs, according to Umberg's office."
"Violators could face fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to five years or both, according to Umberg's office."
California will criminalize offering money or prizes for voting or registering starting next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two election reform laws on Oct. 2, including a measure to bar lotteries tied to voter registration or participation. Sen. Tom Umberg framed the measure as preventing wealthy individuals or special interests from influencing turnout, citing a high-profile example from another state. Violations carry fines up to $10,000, up to five years imprisonment, or both. A second law lets voters decide in November 2026 whether to lift the statewide ban on most local public campaign financing programs.
Read at The Mercury News
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