---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 610"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "610"
heading: "Coercion of political activity"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/610"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 29 — Elections and Political Activities"
---

# §610. Coercion of political activity


It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, any [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the Federal Government as defined in [section 7322(1) of title 5](/usc/5/7322.md?p=1), United States Code, to engage in, or not to engage in, any political activity, including, but not limited to, voting or refusing to vote for any candidate or measure in any election, making or refusing to make any political contribution, or working or refusing to work on behalf of any candidate. Any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who violates this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–94, § 4(c)(1), Oct. 6, 1993, 107 Stat. 1005; amended Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3497.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 610, acts June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 723; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 10, 63 Stat. 90; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, § 20(c), 65 Stat. 718; Feb. 7, 1972, Pub. L. 92–225, title II, § 205, 86 Stat. 10; Oct. 15, 1974, Pub. L. 93–443, title I, § 101(e)(1), 88 Stat. 1267, prohibited campaign contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations, and labor organizations, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–283, title II, § 201(a), May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 496. See section 30118 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date; Savings Provision

Section effective 120 days after Oct. 6, 1993, and no provision of Pub. L. 103–94 to affect any proceedings with respect to which charges were filed on or before 120 days after Oct. 6, 1993, with orders to be issued in such proceedings and appeals taken therefrom as if Pub. L. 103–94 had not been enacted, see section 12 of Pub. L. 103–94, set out as a note under section 7321 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.