§ 597. Expenditures to influence voting

Statutory text

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.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1948
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 597
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721
1994
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 title XXXIII § 330016(1)(H) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 597
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “shall be fined under this title” for “shall be fined not more than $1,000” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “shall be fined under this title” for “shall be fined not more than $1,000” in last par.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(H) in sections 81, 210, 211, 215, 217, 242, 245, 291, 292, 439, 442, 480, 483, 484, 490, 491, 494, 495, 503, 507, 510, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 604, 605, 641, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 661, 662, 665, 712, 751, 752, 756, 795, 796, 797, 836, 844, 871, 875, 876, 877, 879, 911, 912, 913, 924, 957, 959, 961, 1003, 1012, 1021, 1025, 1026, 1071, 1112, 1163, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1301, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1341, 1342, 1343, 1361, 1363, 1384, 1504, 1508, 1509, 1657, 1705, 1706, 1707, 1711, 1715, 1716, 1733, 1738, 1761, 1762, 2276, 2277, 2278, 2382, and 2389 by striking “not more than $1,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;
1996
Economic Espionage Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–294 title VI § 601(a)(12) · 110 Stat. 3488
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 597
Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “shall be fined under this title” for “shall be fined not more than $10,000” in last par
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “shall be fined under this title” for “shall be fined not more than $10,000” in last par.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(12) Section 597 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “fined not more than $10,000” and inserting “fined under this title”.

2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

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, §§ 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.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1994–1996 · 2 rounds

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.

Credits

1948–1996 · 3 acts

1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721
1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147
1996Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(12), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.

Show as published

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(12), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3498.)