Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§609 Use of Military Authority to Influence Vote of Member of Armed Forces
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 29— ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES › § 609
Summary
An officer who uses military power to influence a service member’s vote, forces them to march to a polling place, or tries to do so can be fined under federal law, jailed up to five years, or both. Talking freely about politics or candidates is allowed.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §609
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being a commissioned, noncommissioned, warrant, or petty officer of an Armed Force, uses military authority to influence the vote of a member of the Armed Forces or to require a member of the Armed Forces to march to a polling place, or attempts to do so, shall be fined in accordance with this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Nothing in this section shall prohibit free discussion of political issues or candidates for public office.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 609, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 723, prescribed maximum contributions and expenditures limitation of $3,000,000 for any calendar year, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 92–225, title II, § 204, Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 10, effective sixty days after Feb. 7, 1972.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable with respect to elections taking place after Dec. 31, 1987, see section 204 of Pub. L. 99–410, set out as a note under section 20301 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 609
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60