Bill > S01524

This bill establishes the "Election Workers and Polling Places Protection Act," which creates new legal protections and criminal penalties for actions that interfere with election processes. The legislation makes it a class A misdemeanor to interfere with election officials, intimidate poll watchers, voters, or election workers, or obstruct access to polling places. It also establishes a class D felony for willfully damaging election infrastructure, such as polling places or vote tabulation centers. The bill allows the attorney general, county attorneys, or election officials to bring civil actions to prevent or restrain violations, with potential civil penalties up to $3,000 per violation. Importantly, the law covers actions whether or not they are committed under color of law, meaning it applies to both official and unofficial actors. The bill defines key terms like "election infrastructure" and "election worker" and specifies that minor (de minimis) damage would not constitute a violation. Individuals who are injured by prohibited acts can also bring civil actions to recover damages, and the legal remedies are cumulative, meaning they do not restrict other available legal actions. The act is designed to protect the integrity of elections by creating clear legal consequences for attempts to intimidate, interfere with, or obstruct election processes.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1524