Elections Code section 18545

(a)

Any person who hires or arranges for any other person in possession of a firearm or any uniformed law enforcement officer, private guard, or security personnel or any person who is wearing a uniform of a law enforcement officer, guard, or security personnel, to be stationed in the immediate vicinity of, or posted at, a polling place or a county elections office without written authorization of the appropriate elections official or written authorization by a federal court order is punishable imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code and by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(b)This section does not apply to the owner or manager of the facility or property in which the polling place is located if the private guard or security personnel is not hired or arranged solely for the day on which the election is held.

(c)

For purposes of this section, “law enforcement officer” means either of the following:

(1)

A peace officer as defined in Section 830 of the Penal Code.

(2)

An officer or agent of a federal law enforcement agency or any person acting on behalf of a federal law enforcement agency.

Source: Section 18545, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=ELEC§ionNum=18545.­ (updated Oct. 1, 2025; accessed Oct. 27, 2025).

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Verified:
Oct. 27, 2025

§ 18545's source at ca​.gov