Voter Complaint & Reporting Violations

According to the California Secretary of State website

Voter Complaint :: California Secretary of State

Investigative Services investigates election related criminal violations, as provided by the California Elections Code.

If you believe that you are a victim of election fraud or have witnessed a criminal violation of the California Elections Code, you may use the Election Voter Complaint Form to report the violation to our office.

Web Form for online submission

Downloadable form:

• Election Voter Complaint Form - English (PDF)
• Election Voter Complaint Form - Spanish (PDF)

Los Angeles County

Report an Issue with a Ballot Drop Box  REPORT AN ISSUE

It is our mission to uphold the integrity of all elections in a transparent and accessible manner. If you see something that looks suspicious, report it!

 Electioneering Prohibited!

Violations Can Lead to Fines and/or Imprisonment

Where?

• Within the immediate vicinity of a person in line to cast their ballot or within 100 feet of the entrance of a polling place, curbside voting or drop box the following activities are prohibited.

What activities are prohibited?

• DO NOT ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.
• DO NOT display a candidate’s name, image, or logo.
• DO NOT block access to or loiter near any ballot drop boxes.
• DO NOT provide any material or audible information for or against any candidate or ballot measure near any polling place, vote center, or ballot drop box.
• DO NOT circulate any petitions, including for initiatives, referenda, recall, or candidate nominations.
• DO NOT distribute, display, or wear any clothing (hats, shirts, signs, buttons, stickers) that include a candidate’s name, image, logo, and/or support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure.
• DO NOT display information or speak to a voter about the voter’s eligibility to vote.
• The electioneering prohibitions summarized above are set forth in Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Division 18 of the California Elections Code.

Ventura County

If you or someone you know experiences or witnesses an issue while voting or observing, always first bring it to the attention of the Elections Worker and escalate to the Elections Supervisor onsite as necessary. Be kind and patient. Take note of everything that's happening.

If you don't get a resolution, review the Elections Division Voter's Rights page to learn about your rights (better yet, do that now so you know your rights!). To report the incident, call the Ventura County Elections Hotline at 800-500-3555. Report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to the VC Elections Hotline and Secretary of State and/or the Ventura County Sheriff. If you are witnessing something illegal in real time you can also call VC Sheriff dispatch at (805) 654-9511 to have a deputy sent to the location.

Restore the Vote Ventura County has their own form: 

RTVV Elections Incident Report

Other Types of Complaints

The following is a list of resources for some of the most common complaints not handled by the Secretary of State  office.

1. Political Reform Act violations. Allegations of conflict of interest by public officials or complaints involving campaign contributions, gifts, statements, forms, disclosures or any other potential violation of the Political Reform Act (Government Code sections 81000 through 91014) should be directed to:

Fair Political Practices Commission
1102 Q Street, Suite 3000
Sacramento, CA 95811
(866) 275-3772 or (916) 322-5660
http://www.fppc.ca.gov/

1. Proposition 218 related assessments. The passage of Proposition 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes Act in 1996 established new balloting procedures that allowed all property owners who would have to pay a proposed assessment to decide if it should be imposed. Examples are benefit or special assessments that fund street lights, sewers, sidewalks, levees and other improvements that benefit an assessed property. Ballots are weighted according to the amount each property owner will pay. Only those owning property in the district to be assessed are eligible to receive and cast ballots (instead of registered voters, many of whom do not own property and would not have to pay the assessment). For more information on the rules governing assessments, see Article XIIID of the California Constitution and Government Code section 53753. Complaints about assessment proceedings can be made to the entity conducting ballot processing or to the superior court.
2. Los Angeles Neighborhood council elections. Complaints about Los Angeles Neighborhood Council elections should be directed to:

General Manager
Los Angeles City
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
334 - B East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
http://done.lacity.org/dnn/

1. Homeowner association elections. These elections are bound by the terms set forth in the homeowner association covenants, conditions and restrictions and by the Davis-Stirling Act, found in California Civil Code sections 1363.03-1363.09. Association members that believe election procedures under this code have not been followed should contact a private attorney or the California Attorney General's office. For details, see: https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/homeowner_assn.
2. Theft/vandalism of campaign signs. This is typically a local issue and is not mentioned in the Elections Code. Some cities have specific ordinances that prohibit campaign sign theft/vandalism -- check with your local code enforcement department. Otherwise, sign theft/vandalism is treated as any other minor property crime and can be reported to your local police or sheriff's office.

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