Section 15.56.030. Unlawful interference with voting in the first degree.

   (a) A person commits the crime of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree if the person
        (1) uses, threatens to use, or causes to be used force, coercion, violence, or restraint, or inflicts, threatens to inflict, or causes to be inflicted damage, harm, or loss, upon or against another person to induce or compel that person to vote or refrain from voting in an election;
        (2) knowingly pays, offers to pay, or causes to be paid money or other valuable thing to a person to vote or refrain from voting in an election;
        (3) solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept money or other valuable thing with the intent to vote for or refrain from voting for a candidate at an election or for an election proposition or question;
        (4) violates AS 15.20.081(a) by knowingly supplying or encouraging or assisting another person to supply to a voter an absentee ballot application form with a political party or group affiliation indicated if the voter is not already registered as affiliated with that political party or group, and the person has been previously convicted of unlawful interference with voting in the second degree under AS 15.56.035(a)(5);
        (5) knowingly designs, marks, or encourages or assists another person to design or mark an absentee ballot application in a manner that suggests choice of one ballot over another as prohibited by AS 15.20.081(a), and the person has been previously convicted of unlawful interference with voting in the second degree under AS 15.56.035(a)(6); or
        (6) knowingly submits or encourages or assists another person to submit an absentee ballot application to an intermediary who could control or delay the submission of the application to the division of elections or who could gather data from the application form as prohibited by AS 15.20.081(a), and the person has been previously convicted of unlawful interference with voting in the second degree under AS 15.56.035(a)(7).
   (b) Violation of this section is a corrupt practice.
   (c) Unlawful interference with voting in the first degree is a class C felony.
   (d) For purposes of (a)(2) and (3) of this section, "other valuable thing"
        (1) includes
             (A) an entry in a game of chance in which a prize of money or other present or future pecuniary gain or advantage may be awarded to a participant wherein the total of the prizes offered is greater than $2 per participant with a maximum of $100; and
             (B) government employment or benefits;
        (2) does not include
             (A) materials having a nominal value bearing the name, likeness, or other identification of a candidate, political party, political group, party district committee, or organization, or stating a position on a ballot proposition or question;
             (B) food and refreshments provided incidental to an activity that is nonpartisan in nature and directed at encouraging persons to vote, or incidental to a gathering in support of or in opposition to a candidate, political party, political group, party district committee, organization, or ballot question or proposition;
             (C) care of the voter's dependents provided in connection with the absence of a voter from home for the purpose of voting;
             (D) services provided by a person acting as a representative under AS 15.20.072;
             (E) services provided by an election official as defined in AS 15.80.010; and
             (F) transportation of a voter to or from the polls without charge.

Authorities

15.20.072;15.45.110;15.45.340;15.45.580;15.56.090

Notes

Recent Bills that will modify this

HB 17 NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS

References

AS 15.20.072 Special needs voting.
AS 15.45.110 Circulation of petition; prohibitions and penalty.
AS 15.45.340 Circulation; prohibitions.
AS 15.45.580 Circulation; prohibitions.
AS 15.56.090 Improper subscription to petition.

History

(Sec. 205 ch 100 SLA 1980; am Sec. 1, 2 ch 87 SLA 1996; am Sec. 73 ch 82 SLA 2000; am Sec. 4 ch 4 SLA 2006)