18 U.S.C. § 594 — Intimidation of voters

Page 144 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 594 Whoever, being such officer or member, orders or compels or attempts to compel any election officer in any State to receive a vote from a per- son not legally qualified to vote; or Whoever, being such officer or member, im- poses or attempts to impose any regulations for conducting any general or special election in a State, different from those prescribed by law; or Whoever, being such officer or member, inter- feres in any manner with an election officer’s discharge of his duties— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and disquali- fied from holding any office of honor, profit or trust under the United States. This section shall not prevent any officer or member of the Armed Forces from exercising the right of suffrage in any district to which he may belong, if otherwise qualified according to the laws of the State of such district. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 56–59 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 23–26, 35 Stat. 1092, 1093). Four sections were consolidated with only such changes of phraseology as were necessary to effect the consolidation. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $5,000’’ in sixth par. § 594. Intimidation of voters Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other per- son to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presi- dential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commis- sioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 91–405, title II, § 204(d)(5), Sept. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 853; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 61, 61g (Aug. 2, 1939, 11:50 a.m. E.S.T., ch. 410, §§ 1, 8, 53 Stat. 1147, 1148). This section consolidates sections 61 and 61g of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes in phraseology only. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $1,000’’. 1970—Pub. L. 91–405 substituted ‘‘Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner’’ for ‘‘Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories and possessions’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1970 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 91–405 effective Sept. 22, 1970, see section 206(b) of Pub. L. 91–405, set out as an Effec- tive Date note under section 25a of Title 2, The Con- gress. § 595. Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or Territorial Governments Whoever, being a person employed in any ad- ministrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof, or by the District of Columbia or any agency or instru- mentality thereof, or by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States, or any political subdivision, municipality, or agency thereof, or agency of such political subdivision or munici- pality (including any corporation owned or con- trolled by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States or by any such political sub- division, municipality, or agency), in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States, or any department or agency thereof, uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not prohibit or make unlaw- ful any act by any officer or employee of any educational or research institution, establish- ment, agency, or system which is supported in whole or in part by any state or political sub- division thereof, or by the District of Columbia or by any Territory or Possession of the United States; or by any recognized religious, philan- thropic or cultural organization. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 91–405, title II, § 204(d)(6), Sept. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 853; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 61a, 61g, 61n, 61s, 61u (Aug. 2, 1939, 11:50 a.m., E.S.T., ch. 410, §§ 2, 8, 53 Stat. 1147, 1148; July 19, 1940, ch. 640, § 1, 54 Stat. 767; Aug. 2, 1939, ch. 410, §§ 14, 19, as added July 19, 1940, ch. 640, § 4, 54 Stat. 767; Aug. 2, 1939, ch. 410, § 21, as added Oct. 24, 1942, ch. 620, 56 Stat. 986). This section consolidates sections 61s, 61n, and 61g with 61a, all of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., in first para- graph, and incorporates section 61u as second para- graph. Words ‘‘or agency thereof’’ and words ‘‘or any depart- ment or agency thereof’’ were inserted to remove any possible ambiguity as to scope of section. (See defini- tions of department and agency in section 6 of this title.) Words ‘‘or by the District of Columbia or any agency or instrumentality thereof’’ were inserted upon author- ity of section 61n of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which pro- vided that for the purposes of this section, ‘‘persons employed in the government of the District of Colum- bia shall be deemed to be employed in the executive branch of the Government of the United States.’’ After ‘‘State’’ the words ‘‘Territory, or Possession of the United States’’ were inserted in two places upon