House Bill 3941

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3941

        By Representatives Meek and Garcia






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to elections; amending s.

  3         97.021, F.S.; defining the term "legal

  4         residence"; amending s. 101.62, F.S.;

  5         restricting requests for absentee ballots to

  6         electors by mail or in person; providing

  7         requirements to receive an absentee ballot by

  8         mail or in person; amending s. 101.64, F.S.;

  9         revising the voter's certificate to include

10         reference to the requirements to receive an

11         absentee ballot; increasing the number of

12         witnesses required for an absentee ballot and

13         revising witnessing requirements; amending s.

14         101.65, F.S., relating to instructions to

15         absent electors, to conform; amending s.

16         101.68, F.S., relating to canvassing of

17         absentee ballots; providing that an absentee

18         ballot shall be considered illegal if it does

19         not include the signature and address, printed

20         name, and voter registration or driver's

21         license number of each attesting witness;

22         creating s. 104.042, F.S.; prohibiting fraud or

23         misconduct in connection with an absentee

24         ballot; providing a penalty; creating s.

25         104.043, F.S.; providing presumption with

26         respect to possession of altered or fraudulent

27         absentee ballot; amending s. 104.012, F.S.;

28         increasing the penalty for giving anything

29         redeemable in cash in consideration for

30         registration, for interfering with

31         registration, for soliciting registration for

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  1         compensation, and for altering a voter

  2         registration application; amending s. 104.013,

  3         F.S.; increasing the penalty for the

  4         unauthorized use, possession, or destruction of

  5         a voter registration identification card;

  6         amending s. 104.031, F.S.; increasing the

  7         penalty for making a false declaration to

  8         secure assistance in voting; amending s.

  9         104.045, F.S.; increasing the penalty for vote

10         selling; amending s. 104.051, F.S.; increasing

11         the penalty for an election official or

12         employee attempting to influence or interfere

13         with any elector voting a ballot; amending s.

14         104.0515, F.S.; increasing the penalty for

15         interfering with voting rights; amending s.

16         104.061, F.S.; increasing the penalty for

17         corruptly influencing voting; amending s.

18         104.081, F.S.; increasing the penalty for

19         employers who threaten employees regarding

20         voting; amending s. 104.185, F.S.; increasing

21         penalty for knowingly signing a petition more

22         than once and for signing another person's name

23         or a fictitious name; amending s. 104.24, F.S.;

24         increasing the penalty for fraudulently using a

25         name other than one's own in any part of the

26         election process or in voting; providing an

27         effective date.

28

29  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

30

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  1         Section 1.  Subsections (12) through (30) of section

  2  97.021, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (13)

  3  through (31), respectively, and a new subsection (12) is added

  4  to said section, to read:

  5         97.021  Definitions.--For the purposes of this code,

  6  except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the

  7  term:

  8         (12)  "Legal residence" means the residence for which

  9  the elector has filed for a homestead or, if no homestead has

10  been claimed by the elector, the residence where the elector

11  has continuously resided for at least 90 days prior to the

12  last day to register for the election in which the elector

13  will vote.

14         Section 2.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of

15  subsection (4) of section 101.62, Florida Statutes, are

16  amended to read:

17         101.62  Request for absentee ballots.--

18         (1)(a)  The supervisor may accept a request for an

19  absentee ballot only from an elector and only by mail or in

20  person.

21         1.  The request for an absentee ballot by mail shall be

22  honored if the elector provides documentation establishing

23  that he or she will be unable to physically vote on the

24  scheduled election date because of one of the following

25  reasons:

26         a.  Due to infirmity, illness, or advanced age, the

27  elector is physically unable to attend the polls.

28         b.  It is necessary that the elector be absent from the

29  precinct of his or her residence during the hours the polls

30  are open for voting on election day.

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  1         c.  The elector is an inspector, a poll worker, a

  2  deputy voting machine custodian, a deputy sheriff, a

  3  supervisor of elections, or a deputy supervisor who is

  4  assigned to a different precinct than that in which he or she

  5  is registered.

  6         d.  Because of the tenets of the elector's religion, he

  7  or she cannot attend the polls on the date of the general,

  8  special, or primary election.

  9         e.  The elector has changed his or her permanent

10  residency to another county in Florida within the time period

11  during which the registration books are closed for the

12  election. Such an elector may only vote for national and

13  statewide offices and statewide issues.

14         f.  The elector changed his or her permanent residency

15  to another state and is unable under the laws of such state to

16  vote in the general election. Such an elector may only vote

17  for President and Vice President or for an elector from any

18  person designated by such elector.

19         2.  The request for an absentee ballot made by the

20  elector in person shall be honored if the elector will be

21  absent from the precinct of his or her residence during the

22  hours the polls are open for voting on election day and agrees

23  to vote in person prior to the election. Such request may be

24  made in person, by mail, or by telephone.

25         (b)  One request shall be deemed sufficient to receive

26  an absentee ballot for all elections which are held within a

27  calendar year, unless the elector or the elector's designee

28  indicates at the time the request is made the elections for

29  which the elector desires to receive an absentee ballot. Such

30  request may be considered canceled when any first-class mail

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  1  sent by the supervisor to the elector is returned as

  2  undeliverable.

  3         (4)

  4         (b)  As soon as the remainder of the absentee ballots

  5  are printed, the supervisor shall deliver or mail an absentee

  6  ballot to each elector by whom a request for that ballot has

  7  been made as provided in subsection (1). Any elector may

  8  designate in writing a person to pick up the ballot for the

  9  elector; however, the person designated may not pick up more

10  than two absentee ballots per election, other than the

11  designee's own ballot, except that additional ballots may be

12  picked up for members of the designee's immediate family. For

13  purposes of this section, "immediate family" means the

14  designee's spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or

15  sibling of the designee or of the designee's spouse. The

16  designee shall provide to the supervisor the written

17  authorization by the elector and a picture identification of

18  the designee and must complete an affidavit. The designee

19  shall state in the affidavit that the designee is authorized

20  by the elector to pick up that ballot and shall indicate if

21  the elector is a member of the designee's immediate family

22  and, if so, the relationship. The department shall prescribe

23  the form of the affidavit. If the supervisor is satisfied that

24  the designee is authorized to pick up the ballot and that the

25  signature of the elector on the written authorization matches

26  the signature of the elector on file, the supervisor shall

27  give the ballot to that designee for delivery to the elector.

28         Section 3.  Section 101.64, Florida Statutes, is

29  amended to read:

30         101.64  Delivery of absentee ballots; envelopes;

31  form.--

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  1         (1)  The supervisor shall enclose with each absentee

  2  ballot two envelopes:  a secrecy envelope, into which the

  3  absent elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a

  4  mailing envelope, into which the absent elector shall then

  5  place the secrecy envelope, which shall be addressed to the

  6  supervisor and also bear on the back side a certificate in

  7  substantially the following form:

  8

  9         Note:  Please Read Instructions Carefully Before

10        Marking Ballot and Completing Voter's Certificate.

11                       VOTER'S CERTIFICATE

12         I, ...(print name)..., do solemnly swear or affirm that

13  I am a qualified elector in this election, that I am unable to

14  attend the polls on election day because of a reason set forth

15  in s. 101.62(1), Florida Statutes, and that I have not and

16  will not vote more than one ballot in this election.  I

17  understand that failure to sign this certificate and have my

18  signature witnessed will invalidate my ballot.

19                                       ...(Voter's Signature)...

20

21  Note:  Your Signature Must Be Witnessed By Two Witnesses One

22  Witness 18 Years of Age or Older as provided in Item 7. of the

23  Instruction Sheet.

24

25         I swear or affirm that the elector signed this Voter's

26  Certificate in my presence.

27                ...(Signature of First Witness)...

28  ...(Address)...                             ...(City/State)...

29               ...(Signature of Second Witness)...

30  ...(Address)...                             ...(City/State)...

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  1         (2)  The certificate shall be arranged on the back of

  2  the mailing envelope so that the lines for the signatures of

  3  the absent elector and the attesting witnesses witness are

  4  across the seal of the envelope; however, no statement shall

  5  appear on the envelope which indicates that a signature of the

  6  voter or any witness must cross the seal of the envelope. The

  7  absent elector and the attesting witnesses witness shall

  8  execute the certificate on the envelope. Each witness shall

  9  print his or her name next to his or her signature and shall

10  also list his or her voter registration number or driver's

11  license number for identification purposes on the certificate.

12  The failure to provide all this information shall invalidate

13  the absentee ballot.

14         Section 4.  Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         101.65  Instructions to absent electors.--The

17  supervisor shall enclose with each absentee ballot separate

18  printed instructions in substantially the following form:

19

20  READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING BALLOT.

21         1.  VERY IMPORTANT.  In order to ensure that your

22  absentee ballot will be counted, it should be completed and

23  returned as soon as possible so that it can reach the

24  supervisor of elections of the county in which your precinct

25  is located no later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election.

26         2.  Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the

27  ballot.

28         3.  Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy

29  envelope.

30         4.  Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed

31  mailing envelope which is addressed to the supervisor.

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  1         5.  Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out

  2  the Voter's Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope.

  3         6.  VERY IMPORTANT.  Sign your name on the line above

  4  "(Voter's Signature)."

  5         7.  VERY IMPORTANT.  In order for your absentee ballot

  6  to be counted, it must include the signatures and addresses

  7  signature and address of two witnesses a witness 18 years of

  8  age or older affixed to the Voter's Certificate. Each witness

  9  must also print his or her name next to his or her signature

10  and list his or her voter registration number or driver's

11  license number for identification on the certificate.  No

12  candidate may serve as an attesting witness.

13         8.  Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed

14  mailing envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if

15  mailed.

16         9.  VERY IMPORTANT.  Any person perpetrating or

17  attempting to perpetrate or aid in the perpetration of any

18  fraud in connection with an absentee ballot is guilty of a

19  felony and can be imprisoned for up to 5 years.

20         Section 5.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

21  101.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

22         101.68  Canvassing of absentee ballot.--

23         (2)

24         (c)1.  The canvassing board shall, if the supervisor

25  has not already done so, compare the signature of the elector

26  on the voter's certificate with the signature of the elector

27  in the registration books to see that the elector is duly

28  registered in the county and to determine the legality of that

29  absentee ballot.  An absentee ballot shall be considered

30  illegal if it does not include the signature of the elector,

31  as shown by the registration records, and the signature and

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  1  address, printed name, and voter registration or driver's

  2  license number of each attesting witness signature and address

  3  of an attesting witness.  However, an absentee ballot shall

  4  not be considered illegal if the signature of the elector or

  5  any attesting witness does not cross the seal of the mailing

  6  envelope. If the canvassing board determines that any ballot

  7  is illegal, a member of the board shall, without opening the

  8  envelope, mark across the face of the envelope:  "rejected as

  9  illegal."  The envelope and the ballot contained therein shall

10  be preserved in the manner that official ballots voted are

11  preserved.

12         2.  If any elector or candidate present believes that

13  an absentee ballot is illegal due to a defect apparent on the

14  voter's certificate, he or she may, at any time before the

15  ballot is removed from the envelope, file with the canvassing

16  board a protest against the canvass of that ballot, specifying

17  the precinct, the ballot, and the reason he or she believes

18  the ballot to be illegal. A challenge based upon a defect in

19  the voter's certificate may not be accepted after the ballot

20  has been removed from the mailing envelope.

21         Section 6.  Section 104.042, Florida Statutes, is

22  created to read:

23         104.042  Fraud or misconduct in connection with an

24  absentee ballot.--Any person perpetrating or attempting to

25  perpetrate or aid in the perpetration of any fraud or

26  misconduct in connection with an absentee ballot commits a

27  felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

28  775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Conduct prohibited by this

29  section includes, but is not limited to, false witnessing of

30  an absentee ballot, obtaining an absentee ballot from election

31  authorities through misrepresentation or false promises,

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  1  unlawful possession of an unopened envelope containing an

  2  absentee ballot, willful interference without authority in the

  3  delivery by election officials of an absentee ballot to a

  4  voter, and using a false address to allow registration or

  5  voting in an election in which that person would not otherwise

  6  be eligible to vote.

  7         Section 7.  Section 104.043, Florida Statutes, is

  8  created to read:

  9         104.043  Presumption if in possession of altered or

10  fraudulent absentee ballot.--Proof of possession of an altered

11  or fraudulent absentee ballot, unless satisfactorily

12  explained, gives rise to an inference that the person in

13  possession had knowledge of the alteration or fraud.

14         Section 8.  Section 104.012, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         104.012  Consideration for registration; interference

17  with registration; soliciting registrations for compensation;

18  alteration of registration application.--

19         (1)  Any person who gives anything of value that is

20  redeemable in cash to any person in consideration for his or

21  her becoming a registered voter commits a felony misdemeanor

22  of the third first degree, punishable as provided in s.

23  775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. This section shall not

24  be interpreted, however, to exclude such services as

25  transportation to the place of registration or baby-sitting in

26  connection with the absence of an elector from home for

27  registering.

28         (2)  A person who by bribery, menace, threat, or other

29  corruption, directly or indirectly, influences, deceives, or

30  deters or attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any person

31  in the free exercise of that person's right to register to

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  1  vote at any time, upon the first conviction, commits a felony

  2  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided

  3  in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083 , or s. 775.084, and, upon any

  4  subsequent conviction, commits a felony of the second third

  5  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or

  6  s. 775.084.

  7         (3)  A person may not solicit or pay another person to

  8  solicit voter registrations for compensation that is based

  9  upon the number of registrations obtained. A person who

10  violates the provisions of this subsection commits a felony

11  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided

12  in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

13         (4)  A person who alters the voter registration

14  application of any other person, without the other person's

15  knowledge and consent, commits a felony misdemeanor of the

16  third first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or

17  s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

18         Section 9.  Section 104.013, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         104.013  Unauthorized use, possession, or destruction

21  of voter registration identification card.--

22         (1)  It is unlawful for any person knowingly to have in

23  his or her possession any blank, forged, stolen, fictitious,

24  counterfeit, or unlawfully issued voter registration

25  identification card unless possession by such person has been

26  duly authorized by the supervisor.

27         (2)  It is unlawful for any person to barter, trade,

28  sell, or give away a voter registration identification card

29  unless said person has been duly authorized to issue a

30  registration identification card.

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  1         (3)  It is unlawful for any person willfully to destroy

  2  or deface the registration identification card of a duly

  3  registered voter.

  4         (4)  Any person who violates any of the provisions of

  5  this section commits a felony misdemeanor of the third first

  6  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083,

  7  or s. 775.084.

  8         Section 10.  Section 104.031, Florida Statutes, is

  9  amended to read:

10         104.031  False declaration to secure assistance in

11  preparing ballot.--Any person who makes a false declaration

12  for assistance in voting, or in the preparation of his or her

13  ballot, in any election commits is guilty of a felony

14  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided

15  in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

16         Section 11.  Section 104.045, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         104.045  Vote selling.--Any person who:

19         (1)  Corruptly offers to vote for or against, or to

20  refrain from voting for or against, any candidate in any

21  election in return for pecuniary or other benefit; or

22         (2)  Accepts a pecuniary or other benefit in exchange

23  for a promise to vote for or against, or to refrain from

24  voting for or against, any candidate in any election,

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26  commits is guilty of a felony misdemeanor of the third first

27  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083,

28  or s. 775.084.

29         Section 12.  Subsection (4) of section 104.051, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

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  1         104.051  Violations; neglect of duty; corrupt

  2  practices.--

  3         (4)  Any supervisor, deputy supervisor, or election

  4  employee who attempts to influence or interfere with any

  5  elector voting a ballot commits is guilty of a felony

  6  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided

  7  in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

  8         Section 13.  Section 104.0515, Florida Statutes, is

  9  amended to read:

10         104.0515  Voting rights; deprivation of, or

11  interference with, prohibited; penalty.--

12         (1)  All citizens of this state who are otherwise

13  qualified by law to vote at any election by the people in this

14  state or in any district, county, city, town, municipality,

15  school district, or other subdivision of this state shall be

16  entitled and allowed to vote at all such elections without

17  distinction according to race, color, or previous condition of

18  servitude, notwithstanding any law, ordinance, regulation,

19  custom, or usage to the contrary.

20         (2)  No person acting under color of law shall:

21         (a)  In determining whether any individual is qualified

22  under law to vote in any election, apply any standard,

23  practice, or procedure different from the standards,

24  practices, or procedures applied under law to other

25  individuals within the same political subdivision who have

26  been found to be qualified to vote; or

27         (b)  Deny the right of any individual to vote in any

28  election because of an error or omission on any record or

29  paper relating to any application, registration, or other act

30  requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material

31  in determining whether such individual is qualified under law

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  1  to vote in such election.  This paragraph shall apply to

  2  absentee ballots only if there is a pattern or history of

  3  discrimination on the basis of race, color, or previous

  4  condition of servitude in regard to absentee ballots.

  5         (3)  No person, whether acting under color of law or

  6  otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt

  7  to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the

  8  purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to

  9  vote or not to vote as that person may choose, or for the

10  purpose of causing such other person to vote for, or not vote

11  for, any candidate for any office at any general, special, or

12  primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of

13  selecting or electing any such candidate.

14         (4)  No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting,

15  and no standard, practice, or procedure, shall be imposed or

16  applied by any political subdivision of this state to deny or

17  abridge the right of any citizen to vote on account of race or

18  color.

19         (5)  Any person who violates the provisions of this

20  section commits is guilty of a felony misdemeanor of the third

21  first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or s.

22  775.083, or s. 775.084.

23         Section 14.  Subsection (1) of section 104.061, Florida

24  Statutes, is amended to read:

25         104.061  Corruptly influencing voting.--

26         (1)  Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other

27  corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts

28  to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or

29  interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the

30  elector's right to vote at any election commits is guilty of a

31  felony misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as

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  1  provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084 for the

  2  first conviction, and a felony of the second third degree,

  3  punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

  4  775.084, for any subsequent conviction.

  5         Section 15.  Section 104.081, Florida Statutes, is

  6  amended to read:

  7         104.081  Threats of employers to control votes of

  8  employees.--It shall be unlawful for any person having one or

  9  more persons in his or her service as employees to discharge

10  or threaten to discharge any employee in his or her service

11  for voting or not voting in any election, state, county, or

12  municipal, for any candidate or measure submitted to a vote of

13  the people.  Any person who violates the provisions of this

14  section commits is guilty of a felony misdemeanor of the third

15  first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or s.

16  775.083, or s. 775.084.

17         Section 16.  Section 104.185, Florida Statutes, is

18  amended to read:

19         104.185  Petitions; knowingly signing more than once;

20  signing another person's name or a fictitious name.--

21         (1)  A person who knowingly signs a petition or

22  petitions for a candidate, a minor political party, or an

23  issue more than one time commits a felony misdemeanor of the

24  third first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or

25  s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

26         (2)  A person who signs another person's name or a

27  fictitious name to any petition to secure ballot position for

28  a candidate, a minor political party, or an issue commits a

29  felony misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as

30  provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

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  1         Section 17.  Section 104.24, Florida Statutes, is

  2  amended to read:

  3         104.24  Penalty for assuming name.--A person may not No

  4  registered elector shall, in connection with any part of the

  5  election process, fraudulently call himself or herself, or

  6  fraudulently pass by, any other name than the name by which

  7  the person elector is registered or fraudulently use the name

  8  of another in voting.  Any person who violates this section

  9  commits is guilty of a felony misdemeanor of the third first

10  degree, punishable as provided in  s. 775.082, or s. 775.083,

11  or s. 775.084.

12         Section 18.  This act shall take effect January 1 of

13  the year after the year in which enacted.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3941

    572-147-98






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  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      Amends various provisions of the Florida Election Code.
  4    Defines the term "legal residence." Restricts requests
      for absentee ballots to electors by mail or in person and
  5    provides requirements with respect thereto. Revises the
      voter's certificate to include reference to the
  6    requirements to receive an absentee ballot. Increases the
      number of witnesses required for an absentee ballot and
  7    revises witnessing requirements. Revises the instructions
      to absent electors, to conform. Provides that an absentee
  8    ballot shall be considered illegal if it does not include
      the signature and address, printed name, and voter
  9    registration or driver's license number of each attesting
      witness.
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11    Prohibits fraud or misconduct in connection with an
      absentee ballot and provides a penalty therefor. Provides
12    presumption with respect to possession of altered or
      fraudulent absentee ballot. Increases the penalty for
13    giving anything redeemable in cash in consideration for
      registration, interfering with registration, soliciting
14    registration for compensation, and altering a voter
      registration application; for unauthorized use,
15    possession, or destruction of a voter registration
      identification card; for making a false declaration to
16    secure assistance in voting; for vote selling; for any
      attempt by an election official or employee to influence
17    or interfere with any elector voting a ballot; for
      interfering with voting rights; for corruptly influencing
18    voting; for threats by employers against employees
      regarding voting; for knowingly signing a petition more
19    than once and for signing another person's name or a
      fictitious name; and for fraudulently using a name other
20    than one's own in any part of the election process or in
      voting. See bill for details.
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