Just last month, a candidate for governor in Michigan was caught on video encouraging people to “be prepared to lock and load” on Election Day and “show up armed” to polling places. A Reuters special report identified more than 100 threats of death or violence made to U.S. election workers and officials in 2020.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI) and 22 colleagues introduced the Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act, a House companion to Senator Jon Ossoff's (D-GA) S. 3142. This bill amends Section 11 of the Voting Rights Act to clarify penalties and prohibitions on violence, threats of violence and intimidation that are directed towards election workers and polling places.
"As Republicans continue to perpetuate the Big Lie, voters across the country now fear for their safety in attempting to carry out their civic duty. Every single citizen should be able to cast their vote freely, and election workers, poll watchers, volunteers and staff should be able to administer elections without threats of violence or harassment," said Congressman Levin. "I am grateful for this important collaboration with my colleague Senator Ossoff to ensure every facet of the election process is protected from those aiming to subvert our democracy."
The Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act will amend the Voting Rights Act to:
- implement penalties, including monetary fines and prison sentences, for violence, threats of violence and intimidation that are directed towards election workers;
- expand protections to election volunteers and election equipment workers; and
- create prohibitions and penalties for damage done to polling places, tabulation centers or other forms of critical election infrastructure.
The Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act is cosponsored by: Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), André Carson (IN-07), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Lloyd Doggett (TX-05), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-05), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC - At Large), Katie Porter (CA-45), Deborah Ross (NC-02), John P. Sarbanes (MD-03), David Scott (GA-13), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) and Juan Vargas (CA-51).
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-levin-introduces-house-companion-sen-ossoffs-election-worker-and-polling
