Bill > SB73

This bill aims to strengthen election integrity and protect the administration of elections by prohibiting peace officers from interfering with election processes unless responding to urgent public health and safety threats, and allows for civil action to enforce this. It also prevents law enforcement agents from accessing, disrupting, or taking possession of voter lists, rosters, or certified voting technology without a court order, except in specific cases of investigating fraud or with prior agreements for logistical support. The bill clarifies that vote-by-mail observers cannot challenge a signature that has already been verified by the voter, and it expands the authority of the Secretary of State and Attorney General to object to the presence of armed individuals or uniformed security at polling places, making it a crime if such individuals remain after an objection. Additionally, it makes it a crime to remove packages containing voted ballots from the custody of election officials and requires the Attorney General to provide guidance to election officials on how to respond to law enforcement requests concerning ballot areas. The bill also declares itself an urgency statute to take effect immediately.