CHAPTER 10. ELECTION OFFENSES

§1461. Bribery of voters; penalties

A.(1) Bribery of voters is the giving or offering to give, directly or indirectly, any money, or anything of apparent present or prospective value to any voter at any general, primary, or special election, or at any convention of a recognized political party, with the intent to influence the voter in the casting of his ballot. The acceptance of, or the offer to accept, directly or indirectly, any money, or anything of apparent present or prospective value, by any such voters under such circumstances shall also constitute bribery of voters.

(2) Bribery of voters is also the giving or offering to give, directly or indirectly, any money or anything of apparent present or prospective value to secure or influence registration of a person or to secure or influence a person to sign or not sign a recall or other election petition.

B. Whoever violates any provision of this Section shall be fined not more than four thousand dollars or be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or both, for the first offense. On a second offense, or any subsequent offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisonment at hard labor for not more than five years, or both.

C. In the trial of persons charged with bribery of voters either the bribe-giver or the bribe-taker may give evidence, or make affidavit against the other, and may receive immunity from prosecution in favor of the first informer, except for perjury in giving such testimony.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 10, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 353, §1; Acts 1997, No. 594, §1; Acts 1997, No. 752, §1; Acts 1999, No. 985, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2004, No. 889, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 797, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2015, No. 347, §1.