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. Umberg has pointed to Elon Musk as an example; the former advisor to President Donald Trump paid some Wisconsin voters $1 million each earlier this year, during a tight state Supreme Court election.

Violators could face fines of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to five years or both, according to Umberg’s office.

This bill had broad bipartisan support in the Cal

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