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Bill

Bill

A 4928

Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction and harassment of an election officer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeffrey Dinowitz

Bill A 4928 increases penalties for assault, obstruction, and harassment of election officers, aiming to protect them and ensure a safer electoral process for all.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4928

Summary of Bill A 4928

Bill Overview

  • Bill Number: A 4928
  • Title: Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction, and harassment of an election officer
  • Status: Referred to Codes
  • Introduced On: February 10, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of Bill A 4928 is to enhance the legal penalties associated with the assault, obstruction, and harassment of election officers. This legislation aims to protect election officials and ensure the integrity of the electoral process by deterring violent or obstructive behavior directed at those who facilitate elections.

Key Provisions

  • Increased Penalties: The bill proposes to increase the penalties for individuals found guilty of assaulting, obstructing, or harassing election officers. Specific details regarding the new penalty structure have not been disclosed in the current version of the bill.
  • Definition of Offenses: The bill clarifies what constitutes assault, obstruction, and harassment in the context of election officials, ensuring that these definitions are comprehensive and applicable to various scenarios that may arise during elections.

Impact

  • Who is Affected: The legislation primarily affects election officers, who are responsible for conducting elections and ensuring that the electoral process runs smoothly. It also impacts voters and the general public by aiming to create a safer environment during elections.
  • Deterrent Effect: By increasing penalties, the bill seeks to deter potential offenders from engaging in violent or obstructive behavior against election officials, thereby promoting a more secure electoral process.

Legislative Process

  • Current Status: As of February 10, 2025, the bill has been referred to the Codes Committee for further consideration.
  • Related Legislation: This bill is related to prior-session bills A 9257 and A 1884, as well as the companion bill S 5696, which may address similar issues regarding election officer protection.

Conclusion

Bill A 4928 represents a legislative effort to strengthen protections for election officials by increasing penalties for those who would assault, obstruct, or harass them. As it progresses through the legislative process, further details regarding specific penalties and definitions are expected to emerge, which will clarify the bill's potential impact on election integrity and safety.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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