Voters in Ohio have the right to vote free from intimidation under federal and state law.footnote1_7O3oBFuN7QuPlicalIOcT6ATKXkmY8SXGi4LUkrWA0Y_f2CWIZ2N1AMS1See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 594; 52 U.S.C. § 10101(b); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3501.35, 3501.90, 3599.01, 3599.24, 3599.26.Federal law broadly prohibits intimidation, threats, or coercion throughout every stage of the election process;footnote2_QY2dUiYlF4pPLu3rzJo7Dn6zjiQ5N6UWuUWFNXebnLM_y4YijUijjJ7i2See U.S. Department of Justice, Voting Rights Fact Sheet (Sept. 2024), https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1366636/dl (summarizing federal laws that protect against intimidation).more information on the federal protections that apply to all states can be found here. In addition, the following actions are specifically prohibited by Ohio law:
- Obstructing access to a polling location.footnote3_QJ0JqsftxPjjfQ080U1GCoRzdafNhkskbrgir2lkEc_f72GtY6LPBjn3Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3501.90(A)(1)(A), 3501.35(A)(2).
- Obstructing, intimidating, or interfering with voting at a polling location.footnote4_IQL2NfaEwiMn0ikXwz8yvfVvXslBXrKjtg8V0rwpU_jxtes9tFcXTR4Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.90(A)(1)(A).
- Participating in a riot, violence, or disorder in and about a polling location.footnote5_IQL2NfaEwiMn0ikXwz8yvfVvXslBXrKjtg8V0rwpU_tJlJichXebVG5Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.90(A)(1)(A).
- Attempting by intimidation, coercion, or other unlawful means to induce a voter to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate, question, or issue.footnote6_H3RAifYiWsHHuaCF15xhHzBJg1uMn45r-OTqKQ2R5E_n25RWsojtapL6Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.01(2).
- Loitering in or about a polling place during the casting and counting of ballots so as to hinder, delay, or interfere with the conduct of an election.footnote7_onUVbKyxYSwx-2eUtdhxgYmyj7SpPaOPGm7OZDLdN8_gFJ0smMWBYem7Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.24(5).
- Soliciting or in any manner attempting to influence any voter in casting their ballot.footnote8_iwYjGTF6sMgWReJZ5BUlaPsmVZhDn4vCfHef5hxw9s0_tRtYRG2f6AxM8Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.35(A)(5).
- Engaging in any kind of election campaigning within 100 feet of a polling place, and if the line for voting extends beyond the 100-foot buffer, within 10 feet of any voter waiting in the line for voting.footnote9_u3zgOl7Z3SKcPxSdaISDmUoksLCZtQtTKMbV0fHVjBs_l6y0j1nAlpp69Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.35(A)(1).
- Unduly delaying or hindering a voter from attempting to vote or voting.footnote10_F2e2XEtnOxftgroM9EI3VNWHJ3MwCB-wUJ5gNGEl9c_w1ONkipimjLy10Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.26.
- Recklessly destroying any property used to conduct elections or removing materials that help a voter cast their ballot.footnote11_gCO0bYsRWRY0DRUngoMs5kjHnEFZXpKSlEDvvMNjhc_b7e4qwAj1oRb11Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.24(2), (6).
The below addresses the laws that serve as guardrails against specific threats of intimidation.
End Notes
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footnote1_7O3oBFuN7QuPlicalIOcT6ATKXkmY8SXGi4LUkrWA0Y_f2CWIZ2N1AMS
1
See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 594; 52 U.S.C. § 10101(b); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3501.35, 3501.90, 3599.01, 3599.24, 3599.26. -
footnote2_QY2dUiYlF4pPLu3rzJo7Dn6zjiQ5N6UWuUWFNXebnLM_y4YijUijjJ7i
2
See U.S. Department of Justice, Voting Rights Fact Sheet (Sept. 2024), https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1366636/dl (summarizing federal laws that protect against intimidation).
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footnote3_QJ0JqsftxPjjfQ080U1GCoRzdafNhkskbrgir2lkEc_f72GtY6LPBjn
3
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3501.90(A)(1)(A), 3501.35(A)(2). -
footnote4_IQL2NfaEwiMn0ikXwz8yvfVvXslBXrKjtg8V0rwpU_jxtes9tFcXTR
4
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.90(A)(1)(A). -
footnote5_IQL2NfaEwiMn0ikXwz8yvfVvXslBXrKjtg8V0rwpU_tJlJichXebVG
5
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.90(A)(1)(A). -
footnote6_H3RAifYiWsHHuaCF15xhHzBJg1uMn45r-OTqKQ2R5E_n25RWsojtapL
6
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.01(2). -
footnote7_onUVbKyxYSwx-2eUtdhxgYmyj7SpPaOPGm7OZDLdN8_gFJ0smMWBYem
7
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.24(5). -
footnote8_iwYjGTF6sMgWReJZ5BUlaPsmVZhDn4vCfHef5hxw9s0_tRtYRG2f6AxM
8
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.35(A)(5). -
footnote9_u3zgOl7Z3SKcPxSdaISDmUoksLCZtQtTKMbV0fHVjBs_l6y0j1nAlpp6
9
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.35(A)(1). -
footnote10_F2e2XEtnOxftgroM9EI3VNWHJ3MwCB-wUJ5gNGEl9c_w1ONkipimjLy
10
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.26. -
footnote11_gCO0bYsRWRY0DRUngoMs5kjHnEFZXpKSlEDvvMNjhc_b7e4qwAj1oRb
11
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3599.24(2), (6).