Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 674 – Violations and penalties
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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1. Class E crime. A person commits a Class E crime if that person:
A. Knowingly removes a ballot from a voting place on election day except as authorized by this Title; [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RPR); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
B. Interferes with a voter attempting to cast a vote, including by knowingly blocking or attempting to block a voter’s access to a secured drop box; [PL 2023, c. 320, §1 (AMD).]
B-1. Interferes with a voter in marking that voter’s ballot; [PL 2003, c. 447, §15 (NEW).]
B-2. Attempts to influence a voter in marking that voter’s ballot; [PL 2003, c. 447, §15 (NEW).]
C. Assists or offers to assist another person at the voting place in marking that other person’s ballot, unless the person has been requested to do so by the warden or ward clerk; or [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RPR); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
D. [PL 2011, c. 342, §23 (RP).]
E. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
F. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
G. Having been entrusted with another voter’s marked ballot, intentionally or knowingly discloses the content of that ballot to another person. [PL 2011, c. 342, §24 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 320, §1 (AMD).]
Attorney's Note
Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B crime | up to 10 years | up to $20,000 |
| Class C crime | up to 5 years | up to $5,000 |
| Class D crime | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
| Class E crime | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 674
- Any election: means primary and general elections and referenda, whether regular or special. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Public official: means a person elected or appointed to serve the people, including but not limited to an election official, municipal clerk or registrar. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Voter: means a person registered to vote. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Voting place: means the building in which ballots are cast at an election. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
- Warden: means the presiding officer at a voting place. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A Sec. 1
2. Class D crime. A person commits a Class D crime if that person:
A. Assists another person in voting, knowing that the other person is not eligible to vote; or [PL 2021, c. 568, §5 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2003, c. 474, §17 (RP).]
C. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
D. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
E. Intentionally interferes by force, violence or intimidation or by any physical act with any public official who is in fact performing or who the person believes is performing an official function relating to a federal, state or municipal election. [PL 2021, c. 568, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 2021, c. 568, §§5, 6 (AMD).]
3. Class C crime. A person commits a Class C crime if that person:
A. Knowingly causes a delay in the registration or enrollment of another or knowingly causes a delay in the delivery of an absentee ballot or absentee ballot application with the intent to prevent a person from voting or to render that person’s vote ineffective; [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
B. Votes knowing that the person is not eligible to do so; [PL 2003, c. 447, §18 (AMD).]
B-1. Attempts to vote knowing that the person is not eligible to do so; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).]
B-2. Having once voted, whether within or outside this State, again votes at the same election; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).]
B-3. Having once voted, whether within or outside this State, attempts to vote at the same election; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).]
C. Votes by using the name of another; or [PL 2003, c. 447, §20 (AMD).]
D. Attempts to vote by using the name of another. [PL 2003, c. 447, §21 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 447, §§18-21 (AMD).]
4. Class B crime. A person commits a Class B crime if that person:
A. Tampers with ballots or voting lists or opens or breaks a seal of a sealed box or packages of ballots or voting lists with the intent of changing the outcome of any election, except as permitted by this Title. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RPR). PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 447, §§14-21 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 342, §§23, 24 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 568, §§5, 6 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 320, §1 (AMD).