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Bill

S 5696

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Raises penalties for assault, obstruction, and harassment of election officers to deter attacks and better protect those serving in elections.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5696

Summary: Senate Bill S 5696 — Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction and harassment of an election officer

  • Bill number: S 5696
  • Title: Relates to increasing penalties for assault, obstruction and harassment of an election officer
  • Status: Referred to Codes (Senate)
  • Introduced: February 28, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: James Skoufis
  • Committee referral: Codes (legislative action shows February 28, 2025; listed twice in the record)

Purpose and scope

  • The bill appears to focus on increasing penalties for crimes involving assault, obstruction, and harassment directed at election officers. The overarching aim is to enhance protections for individuals serving in official election capacities and to deter conduct that disrupts election administration.

Key provisions (availability of exact text not provided)

  • The specific statutory changes (definitions, offense tiering, penalty amounts, and scope) are not included in the summary provided. As drafted, the bill would likely:
    • Create or elevate penalties for acts of assault against an election officer.
    • Address obstruction of election officers in the performance of their duties.
    • Penalize harassment directed at election officers.
  • Exact penalties (e.g., severity levels, fines, mandatory minimums/maximums, or enhancements based on context) are not specified in the available information.

Who would be affected

  • The primary target groups are election officers (as defined by the bill) and individuals who assault, obstruct, or harass them while they are performing official duties. This typically includes poll workers, inspectors, clerks, and other personnel involved in administering elections, depending on the bill’s definitions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: February 28, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to Codes (Senate) on February 28, 2025. The record lists the referral twice, but no additional actions are shown.
  • Related/companion measures:
    • Senate: S 9267 (prior-session), S 9387 (prior-session)
    • Assembly: A 4928 (companion) mentioned (listed twice)
  • Implication: As a Codes-referred bill, it would proceed to committee consideration in the Senate, where amendments may be offered before potential floor votes.

Potential impact

  • Policy purpose: Strengthening protections for election officials could enhance safety and integrity in election administration.
  • Operational impact: If enacted, heightened penalties could deter assaults, obstructions, and harassment at polling places or during official duties, potentially affecting incident reporting and enforcement patterns.
  • Implementation considerations: Details on definitions, scope (which roles are covered, what constitutes “obstruction” or “harassment”), and the exact penalties would determine the practical impact and any impacts on civil liberties, prosecutorial discretion, or workload for law enforcement and courts.

Next steps to monitor

  • Track the bill’s movement in the Senate Codes Committee for amendments, potential floor votes, and any companion actions in the Assembly or related bills (A 4928; S 9267/S 9387) for alignment or differences.

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

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