C.R.S. Title 1 Elections
Article 13 Election offenses
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Part 1 Offenses - general provisions
1-13-101. District attorney or attorney general to prosecute.
(1) Any person may file an affidavit with the district attorney stating the name of any person who has violated any of the provisions of this code and stating the facts which constitute the alleged offense. Upon the filing of such affidavit, the district attorney shall forthwith investigate, and, if reasonable grounds appear therefor, he shall prosecute the violator.
(2) The attorney general shall have equal power with district attorneys to file and prosecute informations or complaints against any persons for violating any of the provisions of this code.
1-13-102. Sufficiency of complaint - judicial notice.
Irregularities or defects in the mode of calling, giving notice of, convening, holding, or conducting any general, primary, or congressional vacancy election authorized by law constitute no defense to a prosecution for a violation of this code. When an offense is committed in relation to any general, primary, or congressional vacancy election, an indictment, information, or complaint for such offense is sufficient if it alleges that such election was authorized by law without stating the call or notice of the election, the names of the judges holding such election, or the names of the persons voted for at such election. Judicial notice shall be taken of the holding of any general, primary, or congressional vacancy election.
1-13-103. Immunity of witness from prosecution.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this code is a competent witness against any other violator and may be compelled to attend and testify at any trial, hearing, proceeding, or investigation in the same manner as other persons; but the testimony so given shall not be used in any prosecution or proceeding, civil or criminal, against the person so testifying, except for perjury in giving such testimony. A person so testifying shall not thereafter be liable to indictment, prosecution, or punishment for the offense with reference to which his testimony was given and may plead or prove the giving of testimony accordingly in bar of such indictment or prosecution.
Any person, having taken any oath or made any affirmation required by this code, who swears or affirms willfully, corruptly, and falsely in a matter material to the issue or point in question or who suborns any other person to swear or affirm as aforesaid commits perjury in the second degree as set forth in section 18-8-503, C.R.S., and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501, C.R.S.
1-13-105. False certificates by officers.
Any notary public or any officer authorized by law to administer oaths who knowingly makes a false certificate in regard to a matter connected with an election held under the laws of this state commits a class 1 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501, C.R.S.
Any person who falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any ballot before or after it has been cast, or who forges any name of a person as a signer or witness to a petition or nomination paper, or who forges any letter of acceptance, declination, or withdrawal, or who forges the name of a registered elector to a voter's mail-in or mail ballot commits forgery as set forth in section 18-5-102, C.R.S., and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S.
Any public officer, election official, or other person upon whom any duty is imposed by this code who violates, neglects, or fails to perform such duty or is guilty of corrupt conduct in the discharge of the same or any notary public or other officer authorized by law to administer oaths who administers any oath knowing it to be false or who knowingly makes a false certificate in regard to a matter connected with any election provided by law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-108. Anonymous statements concerning candidates or issues. (Repealed)
1-13-109. False or reckless statements relating to candidates or questions submitted to electors - penalties - definitions.
(1) (a) No person shall knowingly make, publish, broadcast, or circulate or cause to be made, published, broadcasted, or circulated in any letter, circular, advertisement, or poster or in any other communication any false statement designed to affect the vote on any issue submitted to the electors at any election or relating to any candidate for election to public office.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) commits a class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18- 1.3-501, C.R.S.
(2) (a) No person shall recklessly make, publish, broadcast, or circulate or cause to be made, published, broadcasted, or circulated in any letter, circular, advertisement, or poster or in any other communication any false statement designed to affect the vote on any issue submitted to the electors at any election or relating to any candidate for election to public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this subsection (2), a person acts "recklessly" when he or she acts in conscious disregard of the truth or falsity of the statement made, published, broadcasted, or circulated.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) commits a class 2 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18- 1.3-501, C.R.S.
(3) For purposes of this section, "person" means any natural person, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, political party, or other organization or group of persons, including a group organized under section 527 of the internal revenue code.
1-13-110. Wagers with electors.
It is unlawful for any person, including any candidate for election to public office, before or during any election provided by law, to make any bet or wager with an elector, or take a share or interest in, or in any manner become a party to, any such bet or wager, or provide or agree to provide any money to be used by another in making such bet or wager upon any event or contingency arising out of such election. Each such offense is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-111. Penalties for election offenses.
In all cases where an offense is denominated by this code as being a misdemeanor and no penalty is specified, the offender, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1-13-112. Offenses relating to mail ballots.
Any person who, by use of force or other means, unduly influences an elector to vote in any particular manner or to refrain from voting, or who falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any mail ballot before or after it has been cast, or who destroys, defaces, mutilates, or tampers with such a ballot shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1-13-113. Interference with distribution of election material.
During the period beginning forty-five days before and ending four days after any election, any person who prevents, hinders, or interferes with the lawful distribution of any card, pamphlet, circular, poster, handbill, yard sign, or other written material relating to any candidate for election for any office or relating to any issue that is to be submitted to the electors in any election, or any person who removes, defaces, or destroys any lawfully placed billboard, sign, or written material from any premises to which it was delivered, commits a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars. Any person found guilty of removing, defacing, or destroying any billboard, sign, or written material shall pay the cost of replacement. The owner of the premises, an authorized agent of the owner, or any person charged with enforcement of any state law, ordinance, or regulation may remove any billboard, sign, or written material without penalty when placed without permission or authorization of the owner of such premises, or in violation of state law or county or municipal ordinance or regulation, or which is in place at any time other than during the period beginning forty-five days before and ending four days after any election.
1-13-114. Failure to comply with requirements of secretary of state.
Any person who willfully interferes or willfully refuses to comply with the rules of the secretary of state or the secretary of state's designated agent in the carrying out of the powers and duties prescribed in section 1-1-107 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Part 2 Offenses - qualifications and registration of electors
1-13-201. Interfering with or impeding registration.
Any person who intentionally interferes with or impedes the registration of electors, whether by act of commission or by failure to perform any act or duty imposed or required for the proper administration of parts 2 and 3 of article 2 of this title, or who knowingly permits or encourages another to do so is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111. A person who collects a voter registration application from an eligible elector for mailing or delivery to the county clerk and recorder and who fails to mail or deliver the application to the proper county clerk and recorder within five business days after the application is signed is guilty of a violation of this section; except that this section shall not apply to a voter registration drive circulator or voter registration drive organizer, who shall be subject to the penalties described in part 7 of article 2 of this title.
1-13-202. Unlawful qualification as taxpaying elector.
It is unlawful to take or place title to property in the name of another or to pay the taxes or to take or issue a tax receipt in the name of another for the purpose of attempting to qualify such person as a taxpaying elector or as a qualified taxpaying elector or to aid or assist any person to do so. The ballot of any person violating this section shall be void. Any person, company, corporation, or association violating this section shall forfeit and lose all rights, franchises, or other benefits accruing or to accrue to the benefit of such person, company, corporation, or association by or as the result of any such election. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-203. Procuring false registration.
It is unlawful for any person to procure his or her own name, or the name of any other person, to be registered in the statewide voter registration system for a precinct in which such person is not, at the time of such registration, entitled to be registered or for any person to procure any fictitious name to be registered in the statewide voter registration system. Any person who violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each violation is considered a separate offense.
1-13-204. Adding names after registration closed. (Repealed)
1-13-205. County clerk and recorder signing wrongful registration.
Every county clerk and recorder who willfully signs his name on the registration record opposite the name of any person knowing that said person is not legally entitled to be registered pursuant to the provisions of section 1-2-101 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-206. Disposition of mail voter registration application. (Repealed)
1-13-207. Signature on registration record is proof of oath.
Any elector, election official, or other person, by his signature on the registration record, shall be conclusively deemed in law to have duly verified such registration record. The registration record containing such signature, or a copy thereof certified by the county clerk and recorder, shall be admissible in evidence as proof of the taking of an oath or affirmation as to the information contained therein in all criminal proceedings pursuant to sections 1-13-104, 1-13-203, and 1-13-205.
1-13-208. Deputy county clerk and recorder - influencing party affiliation.
Any deputy county clerk and recorder for voter registration purposes, or employee of the department of revenue who is authorized to conduct voter registration at local driver's license examination facilities, or employee of a voter registration agency who is authorized to conduct voter registration who influences or attempts to influence any person during the registration process to affiliate with a political party or to affiliate with a specific political party is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-209. High school deputy registrar - influencing party affiliation.
Any high school deputy registrar for voter registration purposes who influences or attempts to influence any person during the registration process to affiliate with a political party or to affiliate with a specific political party is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13- 111.
Part 3 Offenses - political party organization
1-13-301. Fraud at precinct caucus, assembly, or convention.
Any person in authority at any precinct caucus, assembly, or convention who in any manner dishonestly, corruptly, or fraudulently performs any act devolving on him by virtue of the position of trust which he fills or knowingly aids or abets any other person to do any fraudulent, dishonest, or corrupt act or thing in reference to the carrying on of any precinct caucus, assembly, or convention or the ascertaining or promulgating of its true will is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-302. Fraudulent voting in precinct caucus, assembly, or convention.
Any person who fraudulently participates and votes in a precinct caucus, assembly, or convention when he or she is not a member of the political party holding the precinct caucus, assembly, or convention, as shown in the statewide voter registration system, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-303. Other offenses at precinct caucus, assembly, or convention.
(1) It is unlawful for any person at any precinct caucus, assembly, or convention:
(a) To fraudulently vote more than once; or
(b) To knowingly hand in two or more ballots deceitfully folded together; or
(c) To knowingly procure, aid, counsel, or advise another to vote or attempt to vote fraudulently or corruptly; or
(d) To falsely personate any elector and vote under his name or under an assumed name; or
(e) To fraudulently procure, aid, abet, or encourage, directly or indirectly, any person to attempt to falsely personate any elector or to vote under an assumed name; or
(f) To influence any voter in the casting of his vote by bribery, duress, or any other corrupt or fraudulent means; or
(g) To receive any money or valuable thing, or the promise of either, for casting his vote for or against any person or measure or to offer his vote for or against any person or measure in consideration of money or other valuable thing, or the promise of either.
(2) Each offense mentioned in subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
Part 4 Offenses - access to ballot by candidate
1-13-401. Bribery of petition signers.
Any person who offers or, with knowledge of the same, permits any person to offer for his benefit any bribe or promise of gain to an elector to induce him to sign any petition or other election paper or any person who accepts any bribe or promise of gain of any kind in the nature of a bribe as consideration for signing the same, whether such bribe or promise of gain in the nature of a bribe is offered or accepted before or after signing, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-402. Tampering with nomination papers - nomination petitions.
(1) Any person who, being in possession of any petition, certificate of nomination, or letter of acceptance, declination, or withdrawal, wrongfully or willfully destroys, defaces, mutilates, suppresses, neglects to file, or fails to cause to be filed the same within the prescribed time or who files any such paper knowing the same, or any part thereof, to be falsely made or who adds, amends, alters, or in any way changes the information on the petition as written by a signing elector is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
(2) Any person who willfully destroys, defaces, mutilates, or suppresses any nomination petition or who willfully neglects to file or delays the delivery of the nomination petition or who conceals or removes any petition from the possession of the person authorized by law to have the custody thereof, or who aids, counsels, procures, or assists any person in doing any of said acts commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1- 13-111.
1-13-403. Defacing of petitions other than nominating petitions.
Any person who willfully destroys, defaces, mutilates, or suppresses a petition; who willfully neglects to file or delays delivery of a petition; who conceals or removes a petition from the possession of the person authorized by law to have custody of it; or who aids, counsels, procures, or assists any person in doing any of the above acts commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
Part 5
(Reserved)
Part 6 Offenses - notice and preparation for elections
1-13-601. Tampering with notices or supplies.
Any person who, prior to an election, willfully defaces, removes, or destroys any notice of election posted in accordance with the provisions of this code, or who, during an election, willfully defaces, removes, or destroys any card of instruction or sample ballot printed or posted for the instruction of electors, or who, during an election, willfully defaces, removes, or destroys any of the supplies or conveniences furnished to enable a voter to prepare his ballot is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
Part 7 Offenses - conduct of elections
1-13-701. Interference with election official.
Any person who, at any election provided by law, interferes in any manner with any election official in the discharge of his duty or who induces any election official to violate or refuse to comply with his duty or any law regulating the same is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-702. Interfering with watcher.
Any person who intentionally interferes with any watcher while he is discharging his duties set forth in section 1-7-108 (3) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-703. Tampering with statewide voter registration system, registration list, or pollbook.
(1) Any person who mutilates or erases any name, figure, or word in any registration list or pollbook; or who removes a registration list or pollbook or any part thereof from the place where it has been deposited with an intention to destroy the same, or to procure or prevent the election of any person, or to prevent any voter from voting; or who destroys any registration list or pollbook or part thereof is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
(2) Any person who knowingly accesses without authorization the statewide voter registration system commits a class 6 felony and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3- 401, C.R.S.
1-13-704. Unlawfully refusing ballot or permitting to vote.
If at any election provided by law any judge of election willfully and maliciously refuses or neglects to receive the ballot of any registered elector who has taken or offered to take the oath prescribed by section 1-9-204 or knowingly and willfully permits any person to vote who is not entitled to vote at such election, such judge is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-704.5. Voting by persons not entitled to vote - penalty.
(1) Any person voting in any election provided by law knowing that he or she is not entitled to vote in such election commits a class 5 felony and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S.
(2) This section shall be enforced without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.
1-13-705. Personating elector.
Any person who falsely personates any elector and votes at any election provided by law under the name of such elector shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1-13-706. Delivering and receiving ballots at polls.
(1) No voter shall receive an official ballot from any person except one of the judges of election having charge of the ballots, nor shall any person other than such judge deliver an official ballot to such voter.
(2) No person except a judge of election shall receive from any voter a ballot prepared for voting.
(3) Any voter who does not vote the ballot received by him or her shall return his or her ballot to the judge from whom he or she received the same before leaving the polling location; except that nothing in this section prohibits an elector from obtaining an original or replacement ballot pursuant to section 1-5-102.9 (3)(j).
(4) Each violation of the provisions of this section is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-707. Inducing defective ballot.
Any person who causes any deceit to be practiced with intent to fraudulently induce a voter to deposit a defective ballot so as to have the ballot thrown out and not counted is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-707.5. Tampering with ballot box.
Any person who wilfully tampers with or who, except as provided by law, wilfully breaks open any ballot box, including a drop-off location receptacle, is guilty of a class 5 felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S.
1-13-708. Tampering with voting equipment.
Any person who tampers with any electronic or electromechanical voting equipment before, during, or after any election provided by law with intent to change the tabulation of votes thereon to reflect other than an accurate accounting is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501, C.R.S.
1-13-708.5. Elected officials not to handle electronic or electromechanical voting equipment or devices.
Any person who violates any provision of section 1-5-607 is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-709. Voting in wrong polling location.
Any person who, at any election provided by law, knowingly votes or offers to vote in any polling location in which he or she is not qualified to vote shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1-13-709.5. Residence - false information - penalty.
Any person who votes by knowingly giving false information regarding the elector's place of present residence commits a class 5 felony and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S.
1-13-709.6. Residence - conspiring to give false information - penalty.
Any person who knowingly aids or abets an elector in planning or committing the offense of knowingly giving false information regarding the elector's place of present residence described in section 1-13-709.5 commits a class 6 felony and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-401, C.R.S.
1-13-710. Voting twice - penalty.
(1) Any voter who votes more than once or, having voted once, offers to vote again in the state, or, during a federal election, votes in this state and another state, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) Nothing in this section prohibits a voter from voting in a special district election as a property owner in accordance with article 13.5 of this title or part 8 of article 1 of title 32, C.R.S.
1-13-711. Interference with voter while voting.
Any person who interferes with any voter who is inside the immediate voting area or is marking a ballot or operating a voting device or electronic voting device at any election provided by law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-712. Disclosing or identifying vote.
(1) (a) No voter shall place any mark upon his or her ballot by means of which it can be identified as the one voted by him or her, and no other mark shall be placed on the ballot by any person to identify it after it has been prepared for voting.
(b) Any voter may show his or her voted ballot to any other person as long as the disclosure is not undertaken in furtherance of any election violation proscribed in this article 13.
(c) Any voter who makes available an image of the voter's own ballot through electronic means after it is prepared for voting is deemed to have consented to the transmittal of that image.
(d) The ability of a voter to disclose his or her voted ballot as described in this subsection (1) at a voter service and polling center or at any other location at which votes are being tabulated is subject to the power of a county clerk and recorder to monitor activity at such voter service and polling center or other location, including placing reasonable restrictions on the use of photography in such settings or imposing other restrictions on activity in such settings as the county clerk and recorder finds necessary, to ensure the fair and efficient conduct of elections.
(2) No person shall endeavor to induce any voter to show how he marked his ballot.
(3) No election official, watcher, or person shall reveal to any other person the name of any candidate for whom a voter has voted or communicate to another his opinion, belief, or impression as to how or for whom a voter has voted.
(4) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
It is unlawful for any person directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person in his behalf, to impede, prevent, or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise of any elector or to compel, induce, or prevail upon any elector either to give or refrain from giving his vote at any election provided by law or to give or refrain from giving his vote for any particular person or measure at any such election. Each such offense is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-714. Electioneering - removing and return of ballot - definition.
(1) No person shall do any electioneering on the day of any election, or during the time when voting is permitted for any election, within any polling location or in any public street or room or in any public manner within one hundred feet of any building in which a polling location is located, as publicly posted by the designated election official. As used in this section, the term "electioneering" includes campaigning for or against any candidate who is on the ballot or any ballot issue or ballot question that is on the ballot. "Electioneering" also includes soliciting signatures for a candidate petition, a recall petition, or a petition to place a ballot issue or ballot question on a subsequent ballot. "Electioneering" does not include a respectful display of the American flag.
(2) Except as necessary for ballot counting, no person may remove any official ballot from the polling location before the closing of the polls.
(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-715. Liquor in or near voter service and polling center.
(1) It is unlawful for any election official or other person to introduce into any polling location, or to use therein, or to offer to another for use therein, at any time while any election is in progress or the result thereof is being ascertained by the counting of the ballots, any intoxicating malt, spirituous, or vinous liquors.
(2) It is unlawful for any officer or board of officers of any county or any municipality, whether incorporated under general law or by special charter, who may at any time be by law charged with the duty of designating polling locations for the holding of any general or congressional election therein, to select therefor a room wherein any intoxicating malt, spirituous, or vinous liquors are usually sold for consumption on the premises.
(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-716. Destroying, removing, or delaying delivery of election records.
(1) No person shall willfully destroy, deface, or alter any ballot or any election records or willfully delay the delivery of any such ballots or election records, or take, carry away, conceal, or remove any ballot, ballot box, or election records from the polling location or drop-off location or from the possession of a person authorized by law to have the custody thereof, or aid, counsel, procure, advise, or assist any person to do any of the aforesaid acts.
(2) No election official who has undertaken to deliver the official ballots and election records to the county clerk and recorder shall neglect or refuse to do so within the time prescribed by law or shall fail to account fully for all official ballots and other records in his charge. Informality in the delivery of the ballots and election records shall not invalidate the vote of any precinct if such records are delivered prior to the canvassing of the votes by the county board of canvassers.
(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-717. Penalty for destruction of supplies.
Any person who, during an election, willfully defaces, tears down, removes, or destroys any card of instruction or sample ballot printed or posted for the instruction of voters or who, during an election, willfully removes or destroys any of the supplies or conveniences furnished to enable a voter to prepare his ballot or willfully hinders the voting of others is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
1-13-718. Release of information concerning count.
Any election official, watcher, or other person who releases information concerning the count of ballots cast at polling locations or of mail-in or mail voters' ballots prior to 7 p.m. on the day of the election is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-719. Employer’s unlawful acts.
(1) It is unlawful for any employer, whether corporation, association, company, firm, or person, or any officer or agent of such employer:
(a) In any manner to control the action of his employees in casting their votes for or against any person or measure at any precinct caucus, assembly, or convention; or
(b) To refuse to an employee the privilege of taking time off to vote as provided by section 1-7-102, or to subject an employee to a penalty or reduction of wages because of the exercise of such privilege, or to violate any of the provisions of section 1-7-102 in any other way; or
(c) In paying his employees the salary or wages due them, to enclose their pay in pay envelopes upon which there is written or printed any political mottoes, devices, or arguments containing threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions, views, or actions of such employees; or
(d) Within ninety days of any election provided by law, to put up or otherwise exhibit in his factory, workshop, mine, mill, boardinghouse, office, or other establishment or place where his employees may be working or be present in the course of such employment any handbill, notice, or placard containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinions or actions of his employees.
(2) Each offense mentioned in subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111. In addition thereto, any corporation violating this section shall forfeit its charter and right to do business in this state.
1-13-720. Unlawfully giving or promising money or employment.
(1) It is unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:
(a) To pay, loan, or contribute, or offer or promise to pay, loan, or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any other person, to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting at any election provided by law or to induce any elector to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or to induce such elector to go to the polls or remain away from the polls at such election or on account of such elector having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person or issue or having gone to the polls or remained away from the polls at such election; or
(b) To advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to or for the use of any other person with the intent that the same, or any part thereof, shall be used in bribery at any election provided by law or to knowingly pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or partially expended in bribery at any such election; or
(c) To give, offer, or promise any office, place, or employment or to promise, procure, or endeavor to procure any office, place, or employment to or for any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting at any election provided by law or to induce any elector to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person or issue.
(2) Each offense set forth in subsection (1) of this section is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-721. Receipt of money or jobs.
(1) It is a misdemeanor for any person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:
(a) Before or during an election provided by law, to receive, agree to accept, or contract for any money, gift, loan, or other valuable consideration, office, place, or employment, for himself or any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for going or agreeing to go to the polls, or for remaining away or agreeing to remain away from the polls, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, or for voting or agreeing to vote or refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting for any particular person or measure at any election provided by law;
(b) During or after an election provided by law, to receive any money or other valuable thing on account of himself or any other person for voting or refraining from voting at such election, or on account of himself or any other person for voting or refraining from voting for any particular person at such election, or on account of himself or any other person for going to the polls or remaining away from the polls at such election, or on account of having induced any person to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person or measure at such election.
1-13-722. Defacing or removing abstract of votes. (Repealed)
1-13-723. Penalty for neglect of duty - destruction of ballots - breaking seal.
(1) Every officer upon whom any duty is imposed by any election law who violates his duty or who neglects or omits to perform the same is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
(2) Any official or person, except one authorized by law, who breaks or loosens a seal on a ballot or a ballot box with the intent to disclose or learn the number of such ballot or ballot box is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
Part 8 Offenses - mail voting and voting by new residents
1-13-801. Mailing other materials with mail ballot.
It is unlawful for any county clerk and recorder to deliver or mail to a registered elector, as a part of or in connection with the mail ballot, anything other than the voting material as provided in article 7.5 of this title. Each such offense is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-802. Delivery of a mail ballot outside county clerk and recorder's office.
No county clerk and recorder shall make personal delivery of any mail ballot to an elector unless such delivery occurs within the confines of the official office of such county clerk and recorder, except as otherwise provided in section 1-7.5-113. Any delivery contrary to this section renders void the ballot to which it relates. Each violation of this section is a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, the offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-13-111.
1-13-803. Offenses relating to voting by mail ballot.
Any election official or other person who knowingly violates article 7.5 or 13.5 of this title relative to the casting of mail ballots or who aids or abets fraud in connection with any vote cast, to be cast, or attempted to be cast by a mail voter shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Part 9
(Reserved)
This is not an official copy of the statutes. Please visit LexisNexis Legal Resources for the most current version.