H.R. 10926: Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act

This bill would add new federal penalties for interfering with elections by threatening or using force against people or property connected to voting.

What it covers

• It would make it a federal offense to use force, threaten force, commit violence, or threaten violence in order to stop or hinder someone from voting, registering, qualifying to vote, serving as a poll watcher, or serving as an election official.
• It would also cover people who are assisting election administration, including employees of contractors or vendors working for election officials.
• It would make it a federal offense to physically damage, or threaten to physically damage, property used as a polling place, vote tabulation center, or other election-related infrastructure, if done with the intent to interfere with an election or vote counting/certification.

Penalties

• For the basic offenses, the penalty could be a fine of up to $2,500, up to 6 months in prison, or both.
• If the conduct causes bodily injury, or involves a dangerous weapon, explosive, or fire, the penalty could increase to a fine of up to $5,000, up to 1 year in prison, or both.

Limits on what counts as a violation

• Minor, trivial damage to property would not count as a violation under this section.

Definition of election infrastructure

• The bill defines “election infrastructure” broadly to include election offices, election workers and volunteers, and physical or electronic items used to handle voter registration or ballot information, including items used for creating, distributing, voting, returning, counting, tabulating, auditing, storing, or otherwise handling that information.

Federal enforcement

• The federal government could only bring a prosecution if the Attorney General, or a designee, certifies in writing that:
  • the state does not have jurisdiction, or
  • the state asks the federal government to take over, or
  • a federal prosecution is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.

Relevant Companies

None found