OLR BILL ANALYSIS
AN ACT INCREASING PENALTIES FOR VOTER INTIMIDATION AND INTERFERENCE.
This bill increases the maximum penalties for violating certain election laws related to influencing or intimidating voters, making them a class C or a D felony. By law, the penalty for a class C felony is a fine of up to $ 10,000, one to 10 years in prison, or both. The penalty for a class D felony is a fine of up to $ 5,000, one to five years imprisonment, or both. Current law designates a separate and lesser maximum penalty for each offense included in the bill, as Table 1 shows.
Table 1: Penalties Under Current Law and the Bill
Section |
Crime |
Penalty Under Current Law |
Penalty Under the Bill |
§ 1 |
Circulating misleading instructions to any voter |
A fine of up to $ 500, up to five years in prison, or both |
Class D felony |
§ 2 |
Influencing or attempting to influence any voter to refrain from voting |
A fine of up to $ 500 and three months to one year in prison |
Class D felony |
§ 3 |
Threatening, forcing, or bribing a voter; suppressing or destroying any vote; miscounting any vote; or falsely or wrongfully announcing results |
A fine of up to $ 1,000, up to one year in prison, or both |
Class C felony |
§ 4 |
An employer who, within 60 days before an election, school district election, or municipal or school district meeting, attempts to influence, threatens, or later retaliates against an employee in connection with the election or meeting |
A fine of between $ 100 and $ 500, six months to one year in prison, or both |
Class D felony |
§ 5 |
Interfering with or attempting to determine another person's vote |
Up to five years in prison |
Class C felony |
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2012
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea |
9 |
Nay |
6 |
(03/12/2012) |