24.2-607 - Prohibited conduct; intimidation of voters; disturbance of election; how prevented; penalties. - Virginia Statutes

§ 24.2-607. Prohibited conduct; intimidation of voters; disturbance ofelection; how prevented; penalties.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder, intimidate, or interferewith any qualified voter so as to prevent the voter from casting a secretballot. The officers of election may order a person violating thissubsection to cease such action. If such person does not promptly desist,the officers of election, or a majority of them, may order the arrest of suchperson by any person authorized by law to make arrests, and, by theirwarrant, may commit him to the county or city jail, as the case may be, for aperiod not exceeding twenty-four hours. Any person violating this subsectionshall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. No person shall conduct himself in a noisy or riotous manner at or aboutthe polls so as to disturb the election or insult or abuse an officer ofelection. Any person authorized to make arrests may forthwith arrest aperson engaging in such conduct and bring him before the officers of theelection, and they, by their warrant, may commit him to the county or cityjail, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours; butthey shall permit him to vote if he is so entitled.

(Code 1950, §§ 24-190, 24-192; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-104; 1993, c. 641.)