Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§598 Coercion by Means of Relief Appropriations
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 29 — ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES › § 598
Summary
Using Congress’s funds for relief or for job-creating public‑works loans and grants, or using powers from those laws, to pressure or stop someone from voting is a crime. The punishment can be a federal fine, up to one year in jail, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §598
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever uses any part of any appropriation made by Congress for work relief, relief, or for increasing employment by providing loans and grants for public-works projects, or exercises or administers any authority conferred by any Appropriation Act for the purpose of interfering with, restraining, or coercing any individual in the exercise of his right to vote at any election, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 61f, 61g (Aug. 2, 1939, 11:50 a.m., E.S.T., ch. 410. §§ 7, 8, 53 Stat. 1148). This section consolidates section 61f and 61g of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes of phraseology necessary to effect consolidation. The punishment provision was derived from section 61g of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which, by reference, was made applicable to this section.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 598
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102