18 U.S.C. § 592
Section 592 · Troops at polls
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 4 court decisions — leading case United States v. Acree (1972)
Most recently applied in 401 F. App'x 387 - United States v. Geddes (November 2010)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Whoever, being an officer of the Army or Navy, or other person in the civil, military, or naval service of the United States, orders, brings, keeps, or has under his authority or control any troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held, unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and be disqualified from holding any office of honor, profit, or trust under the United States.
This section shall not prevent any officer or member of the armed forces of the United States from exercising the right of suffrage in any election district to which he may belong, if otherwise qualified according to the laws of the State in which he offers to vote.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§55 and 59 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§22, 26, 35 Stat. 1092, 1093).
This section consolidates sections 55 and 59 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed.
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
In second paragraph, words “or member of the Armed Forces of the United States” were substituted for “soldier, sailor, or marine” so as to cover those auxiliaries which are now component parts of the Army and Navy.
Changes in phraseology were also made.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Cross References
Disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit, additional grounds for, see sections 204, 1901, 2071, 2381, 2385, and 2387 of this title.