Federal Charges: Under U.S. federal law, election interference could be charged under several statutes:
18 U.S.C. § 241 - Conspiracy against rights, which can include election rights, carries penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, or up to 20 years if bodily injury results, or life imprisonment or possibly death if death results.
18 U.S.C. § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law, applicable if the interference involves someone misusing their official position, carries similar penalties.
52 U.S.C. § 20511 - Specifically addresses criminal penalties for certain acts of election interference, with a potential penalty of imprisonment for not more than 5 years.
For more severe cases involving treason, like attempting to overthrow the government or severely undermine election integrity, penalties could theoretically approach life imprisonment, though this would be extremely rare and for the most egregious of offenses.
Federal Charges: Under U.S. federal law, election interference could be charged under several statutes:
18 U.S.C. § 241 - Conspiracy against rights, which can include election rights, carries penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, or up to 20 years if bodily injury results, or life imprisonment or possibly death if death results.
18 U.S.C. § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law, applicable if the interference involves someone misusing their official position, carries similar penalties.
52 U.S.C. § 20511 - Specifically addresses criminal penalties for certain acts of election interference, with a potential penalty of imprisonment for not more than 5 years.
For more severe cases involving treason, like attempting to overthrow the government or severely undermine election integrity, penalties could theoretically approach life imprisonment, though this would be extremely rare and for the most egregious of offenses.