Electioneering is the process by which political groups convince voters to cast ballots for or against particular candidates, parties, or issues (such as ballot issues, school board budgets, or referendums). Electioneering can include the display of campaign posters or signs, distribution of campaign materials, or solicitation of votes for or against any person or political party or position.
Electioneering can be restricted within a certain area by statute. For example:
- In Missouri, it is an offense to electioneer “on election day inside the building in which a polling place is located or within twenty-five feet of the building's outer door closest to the polling place,” under Section 115.637.
- In New York, it is an offense to electioneer “within the polling place or within one hundred feet [of the polling place],” under Section 17-102.
The Supreme Court decision in Burson v. Freeman upheld restrictions on electioneering as constitutional.
See e.g., Montanans for Community Development v. Mangan; People v. Maldonado N.Y.S.3d 408 (2019)
[Last updated in October of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]