Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act

Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act

This bill addresses certain protections for election workers and polling places.

In particular, the bill prohibits, with enhanced penalties for certain types of threats and harms (1) intimidation of poll watchers, election officials, and election agents, vendors, and contractors involving violence or threats of harm; and (2) physical damage to or threats to physically damage a polling place, tabulation center, or other election infrastructure.

Bill 117 HR 6872, also known as the Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act, aims to enhance the safety and security of election workers and polling places during federal elections in the United States. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 15, 2021.

The key provisions of the bill include:

1. Providing funding for training election workers on how to handle potentially dangerous situations and de-escalate conflicts that may arise at polling places. 2. Requiring polling places to have security measures in place, such as security cameras and panic buttons, to ensure the safety of election workers and voters. 3. Establishing a national database of incidents of violence or intimidation at polling places, in order to track and address any patterns of misconduct. 4. Increasing penalties for individuals who commit acts of violence or intimidation at polling places, in order to deter such behavior in the future. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties recognizing the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring the safety of election workers and voters. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to address the increasing threats and intimidation faced by election workers in recent years. Overall, the Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act seeks to safeguard the democratic process by enhancing security measures at polling places and providing support and resources to election workers who play a crucial role in ensuring fair and free elections in the United States.