RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 347 (HB 640) 2015 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Existing law provides that 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. Provides that 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. Provides that 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
to sign a recall or other election petition.
Existing law provides that whoever violates existing law shall be fined or imprisoned, or
both. Provides for imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years
for the first offense and for imprisonment at hard labor for not more than five years for a
second or subsequent offense.
Prior law provided for a fine of not more than $2,000 for the first offense and a fine of not
more than $5,000 for a second or subsequent offense as an alternate or additional penalty.
New law increases the maximum fine for a first offense from $2,000 to $4,000 and increases
the maximum fine for a second or subsequent offense from $5,000 to $10,000.
Effective August 1, 2015.
(Amends R.S. 18:1461(B))