§ 597. — Expenditures to influence voting.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC597]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 29--ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Sec. 597. Expenditures to influence voting
Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either
to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate;
and
Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in
consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one
year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under
this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104-294,
title VI, Sec. 601(a)(12), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on sections 250, 252, of title 2, U.S.C., 1940 ed., The
Congress (Feb. 28, 1925, ch. 368, title III, Secs. 311, 314, 43 Stat.
1073, 1074).
This section consolidates the provisions of sections 250 and 252 of
title 2, U.S.C., 1940 ed., The Congress.
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary
in view of definition of ``principal'' in section 2 of this title.
The punishment provisions of section 252 of title 2, U.S.C., 1940
ed., The Congress, were incorporated at end of section upon authority of
reference in such section making them applicable to this section.
Words ``or both'' were added to conform to the almost universal
formula of the punishment provisions of this title.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1996--Pub. L. 104-294 substituted ``shall be fined under this
title'' for ``shall be fined not more than $10,000'' in last par.
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``shall be fined under this
title'' for ``shall be fined not more than $1,000'' in last par.
