Creates new class three election offenses

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 3182
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE WOODS.
6764H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 1 15.635, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to
elections, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 1 15.635, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 1 15.635, to read as follows:
1 15.635. 1. The following of fenses, and any others specifically so described by law ,
2 shall be class three election offenses and are deemed misdemeanors connected with the
3 exercise of the right of suff rage. Conviction for any of these of fenses shall be punished by
4 imprisonment of not more than one year or by fine of not more than two thousand five
5 hundred dollars, or by both such imprisonment and fine:
6 (1) Giving, lending, agreeing to give or lend, of fering, promising, or endeavoring to
7 procure, any money or valuable consideration, of fice, or place of employment, to or for any
8 voter , to or for any person on behalf of any voter , or to or for any person, in order to induce
9 any voter to vote or refrain from voting or corruptly doing any such act on account of such
10 voter having already voted or refrained from voting at any election;
11 (2) Making use of, or threatening to make use of, any force, violence, or restraint, or
12 inflicting or threatening to inflict any injury , damage, harm or loss upon or against any
13 person, in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting at any
14 election;
15 (3) Impeding or preventing, or attempting to impede or prevent, by abduction, duress
16 or any fraudulent device or contrivance, the free exercise of the franchise of any voter or , by
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
17 abduction, duress, or any fraudulent device, compelling, inducing, or prevailing upon any
18 voter to vote or refrain from voting at any election;
19 (4) Giving, or making an agreement to give, any money , property , right in action, or
20 other gratuity or reward, in consideration of any grant or deputation of of fice;
21 (5) Bringing into this state any nonresident person with intent that such person shall
22 vote at an election without possessing the requisite qualifications;
23 (6) Asking for , receiving, or taking any money or other reward by way of gift, loan, or
24 other device or agreeing or contracting for any money , gift, of fice, employment, or other
25 reward, for giving, or refraining from giving, his or her vote in any election;
26 (7) Removing, destroying or altering any supplies or information placed in or near a
27 voting booth for the purpose of enabling a voter to prepare his or her ballot;
28 (8) Entering a voting booth or compartment except as specifically authorized by law;
29 (9) On the part of any election of ficial, challenger , watcher or person assisting a
30 person to vote, revealing or disclosing any information as to how any voter may have voted,
31 indicated that the person had voted except as authorized by this chapter , indicated an intent to
32 vote or of fered to vote, except to a grand jury or pursuant to a lawful subpoena in a court
33 proceeding relating to an election of fense;
34 (10) On the part of any registration or election of ficial, refusing to permit any person
35 to register to vote or to vote when such of ficial knows the person is legally entitled to register
36 or legally entitled to vote;
37 (1 1) Attempting to commit or participating in an attempt to commit any class one or
38 class two election of fense ;
39 (12) Threat ening to harm or engaging in conduct reas onably calculated to harass
40 or alarm, including stalking under section 565.227, an election judge, challenger ,
41 watcher , or employee or volunteer of an election authority , or a member of such person's
42 family;
43 (13) Attempting to induce, influence, deceive, or pr essure an election official or
44 member of an election official's family to violate any prov ision of this chapter;
45 (14) Disseminating, thr ough any means, including by posting on the internet, the
46 home addr ess, home telephone number , mobile telephone number , personal email
47 addr ess, social security number , federal tax identification number , checking account
48 number , savings account number , credit card number , marital status, or identity of a
49 child under eighteen years of age, of an election judge, challenger , watcher , or employee
50 or volunteer of an election authority , or a member of such person's family , for the
51 purposes listed in subdivisions (12) and (13) of this section .
52 2. For the purposes of this section, the term "election official" includes the
53 election authority for the county , election judges, and other volunteers or employees of
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54 an election authority . If a violation of subdivision (12), (13), or (14) of subsection 1
55 r esults in death or bodily injury to an election official or a member of the official's
56 family , the offense shall be a class B felony .
✔
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