The Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you accessed any part of an electronic voting system and tampered with it to affect a vote.

Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 33 “Computer Crimes.”

Learn more detailed information about the Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine offense below.

What is the current Texas law about Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine in Penal Code Section §33.05 as follows:^[1]

(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly accesses a computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, or computer system that is a part of a voting system that uses direct recording electronic voting machines and by means of that access:

(1) prevents a person from lawfully casting a vote;

(2) changes a lawfully cast vote;

(3) prevents a lawfully cast vote from being counted; or

(4) causes a vote that was not lawfully cast to be counted.

How can I be charged with Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine?

You can be charged with Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 33.05(b) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine?

A conviction for Tampering with Direct Recording Electronic Voting Machine is punished as a Felony of the First Degree,^[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and prison time of up to 99 years. Note that an “attempted” offense of this law is a felony of the third degree.^[3] Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §33.05^2. Texas Penal Code §33.05(d)^3. Texas Penal Code §33.05(e)