25-2433. Advance voting suppression. Advance voting suppression is knowingly, with intent to impede, obstruct or exert undue influence on the election process: (a) Destroying or altering another person's advance voting ballot applied for, or completed, by a registered voter, unless such registered voter consents in writing to such destruction or alteration;

(b) obstructing the delivery of an advance voting ballot to a voter or a completed advance voting ballot to the county election officer;

(c) failing to deliver any such advance voting ballot to the appropriate county election officer within two business days or before the close of polls on election day, whichever first occurs;

(d) exercising undue influence upon an advance voter in applying for, delivering or marking an advance voting ballot; or

(e) opening an advance voting ballot envelope sealed by the voter or examining or disclosing the contents of such voter's advance voting ballot except as required to fulfill official duties as otherwise prescribed by law.

(f) Delivering an advance voting ballot to the United States mail, with first-class postage attached, at least five calendar days prior to election day for delivery to the county election officer shall not be a violation of this section.

(g) As used in this section:

(1) "Undue influence" means coercion, compulsion or restraint as to diminish the voter's free agency, and by overcoming the power of resistance, obliges or causes such voter to adopt the will of another; and

(2) "deliver" means hand-deliver, mail or otherwise transmit an advance voting ballot.

Advance voting suppression is a severity level 9, nonperson felony.

History: L. 2007, ch. 196, § 5; May 24.