The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging element with which electric power consumption can be reduced, a method for operating the solid-state imaging element, an imaging device, and electronic equipment. After a signal output is outputted from a driver in an Nth row according to a selection signal from a vertical scanning unit, switchover is performed to transmit a signal output from a driver in an (N+1) row. Before the switchover, the drivers in the Nth and (N+1)th rows are brought into a floating state, and control signal lines to which the signal outputs from the drivers are transmitted are short-circuited for charge dispersion. This increases a potential of the control signal line of the next (N+1)th row to an intermediate potential. Thereafter, the driver in the (N+1)th row outputs the signal output. With this, the driver in the (N+1) row only needs to increase the potential from the intermediate potential to Hi level. This can reduce electric power consumption. The present disclosure is applicable to solid-state imaging elements.