Voter immunity from arrest

[seamusTX]

I ran across this gem in the Texas Election Code:

Sec. 276.005. VOTER'S PRIVILEGE FROM ARREST. A voter may not be arrested during the voter's attendance at an election and while going to and returning from a polling place except for treason, a felony, or a breach of peace.

Breach of the peace is not very clearly defined, but it usually means things like fighting, threats, and malicious mischief (breaking stuff).

- Jim

[suthdj]

I ran across this gem in the Texas Election Code:

Sec. 276.005. VOTER'S PRIVILEGE FROM ARREST. A voter may not be arrested during the voter's attendance at an election and while going to and returning from a polling place except for treason, a felony, or a breach of peace.

Breach of the peace is not very clearly defined, but it usually means things like fighting, threats, and malicious mischief (breaking stuff).

- Jim

Like breaking the law , however that would not make since to have the law in the first place now would it.

[seamusTX]

By "breaking stuff" I meant property damage, which is the main definition of malicious mischief.

- Jim

[ELB]

In Indiana, where I grew up, one of the polling place officials was a "sheriff," whose job it was to keep the peace at that polling station, prevent campaigning within the boundaries, etc. In nepotism run amok my mom, who was precinct committeeman for our area, appointed me a sheriff for the election right after I turned 18. It was kind of like jury duty -- it only paid about $5 for the day, and she had a hard time getting anyone else to do it. Alas, I did not get to arrest anyone, and went home after the polls closed. She was one of two judges and spent all night counting paper ballots by hand.

I have no idea if Indiana still has poll sheriffs...