H. B. 2179

          (By Delegates Lane, C. Miller,
Armstead and Sobonya)

          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]


A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-9-14, relating to absentee ballot fraud and providing felony criminal penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
  That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-9-14, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 9. OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.
§3-9-14. Absentee ballot fraud; intimidation of voters; penalties.
__Any person who, with the intent to commit fraud, obtains, removes, completes or disseminates an absentee ballot or intimidates an absentee voter, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.
__For the purposes of this section, each ballot obtained is a separate offense.

  NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that absentee ballot fraud is a felony.

  §3-9-14 is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.