The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 6, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Election deniers, take notice.  Since just 2022, 20 states have tightened laws to protect election workers, upping penalties, expanding definitions of harassment, protecting personal information, and prohibiting “doxing.”  In other words, “Don’t mess with election workers.”

The 2020 post-election harassment of poll workers, egged on by reckless candidates and supporters, took state and federal officials by surprise.  In 2023, a change by the Department of Homeland Security required 3% of a $1 Billion dollar grant program to be devoted to better security for poll workers. Millions more in Help American Vote Act funding helped state, county and local officials to install bulletproof glass, panic buttons, more cameras and other on-site security.  

Federal law already makes it illegal to harass or intimidate election workers, as do state statutes.  But earlier this year, Virginia made attacks on election workers a hate crime, allowed civil lawsuits for threats and harassment, criminalized the hindering of election administration, gave a liability shield to those who act to protect election workers, and allowed election workers to keep their personal information private.  Oregon and nine other states made it illegal to “dox”, or release the address and personal information, of election officials.  

They’re sending the message, “Don’t mess with our poll workers.”

We have more on new protections for election workers at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The 19th – (2023)  With an eye on 2024, some states consider new protections for election workers
Public Citizen – Tracker: State Legislation to Protect Election Officials
Brennan Center for Justice – Guide to Laws Against Intimidation of Voters and Election Workers
Brennan Center for Justice – Federal Homeland Security Grant Funds Directed to Election Security

General Assembly of Virginia – Virginia Voting Rights Act
Oregon House – House Bill 4144
Pew Research Center – Key facts about U.S. poll workers

Groups Taking Action:

Issue One, Protect Democracy, Common Cause, Election Official Legal Defense Fund, Public Citizen

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
  

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers #ElectionSecurity

The post States Increased Security in Election Offices and Polling Places, and Increased Penalties for Threatening or Harassing Election Officials  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.